In 1808, Laurent Mourguet created the "Guignol", a puppet character that gave birth to an entire theater genre and became a true French icon! Guignol is a representation of the working class of the period and brings the humor and wit of the everyman to life. Like his English counterpart, Mr. Punch, he uses humor to challenge the powerful and has gathered fans from all over the world.
Here's a nice example of an authentic and old Guignol hand puppet made in France circa early 1900s. This puppet is small and was likely made for children. He represents the Gendarme, one of the main characters of the show. His expressive head is carved and hand painted. His body is made from fabric with flat pieces of wood nailed to it as hands. This simplistic feature creates a very interesting clapping sound when manipulated. Despite his imperfections and age related wear this puppet still displays beautifully and will be a great addition to any antique collection! ~ The last image shows the other 2 characters sold separately.
- Condition: Used and pre-owned antique puppet. Age wear with paint loss, chips, aging, stains, tears etc. Please determine the condition by yourself, taking a close look at all pictures and asking questions.
- Origin: Lyon, France
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Brand: unmarked
- Year: circa early 1900s
- Size: 11in/28cm tall
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Materials: polychrome wood, fabric, felt
WARNING: This antique puppet does not comply with current safety standards and is intended for adult use only.