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Opera de Pupi has been a long revered art form based out of southern Italy since the 1800s. Artisans created detailed puppets based on characters popular in literature, tales and farces and animated them in skits. Unfortunately, the art form began to decline with the invention of film. Today original puppets from the 1800s and early 1900s are highly sought after as there are not many that come up on market.
This is an absolutely stunning example of an early Italian Opera de Pupi marionette. This puppet is hand carved out of wood and hand painted. The puppet dawns a heavy set of metal armor including a breast plate, shield and sword with sheath. There is a metal rod attached to the head and one of the arms that controls the movement of the puppet.
There is a tag attached to the back of the puppet that says "antique sicilian marionette, Mrs. H.M. Torelli(?) 1925"
Additional Details
Date: Early 1900s
Materials: Wood, metal, cotton
Measurements: Puppet 15 1/2" x 5 1/2", Metal Rods 15"& 18
Markings: None
Condition: Good. This puppet does have overall wear from use and age. There is minor paint loss to the face and hand. There is some minor staining to the fabric and discoloration, the original blue color has faded from the front of the dress. The fabric attaching the arms to the torso has stretched out making his arms appear longer. Despite these flaws, the puppet shows beautiful and truly shows its age and use throughout the years.
