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Brander Matthews Dramatic Museum realia, 1700-1966

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Series I: Puppets

This collection now contains 391 objects; mostly puppets, including marionettes, hand puppets, rod puppets, pantins, and shadow puppets, but also a number of figurines, dolls and dioramas, and three textiles. It appears that non-puppet three-dimensional objects were included in the puppet series before 1971. The puppets were assigned identification numbers during a cataloging project in the 1960s. All puppet identification numbers higher than P69 were assigned in 2009.

The earliest acquisitions were gifts of Brander Matthews. The most recent acquisitions, and also the collection's newest items, are three beggar figurines made by Russian émigrés living in Iran during WWII. They were the gift of Majorie Windust Halper in 1989.

What began as a collection of English, French and Italian puppets gradually became a collection of considerable breadth, with puppets from Burma, China, India, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, Java, Japan, and Mexico, among other countries. The oldest puppets are two 18th century French marionettes of Joseph and one of the Magi. Highlights of the collection include two eight-foot tall puppets designed by Robert Edmond Jones and constructed by American theatre pioneer Remo Bufano for the Metropolitan Opera's 1931 production of Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex.

Subseries I.1: Burma

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P20 Accession


Box 1 Burmese marionette of male with white face and red robe

Box 1 Burmese marionette of male with white face and sand-colored robe

Box 1 Burmese marionette of male with flesh-colored face


Box 38 Horse marionette

Subseries I.2: China

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P14 Accession


Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

Box 26 Chinese Shadow puppet

P15 Accession


Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with pink face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with pink face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with pink face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with pink-white face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of female with white face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with white face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with pink face

Box 3 Chinese jigging puppet of male with stylized makeup

P24 Accession


Box 35 Chinese female Figurine with red robe and white, painted face

Box 35 Chinese Figurine, missing head, with purple robe

Box 35 Chinese female Figurine with green robe and white, painted face

Box 35 Chinese female Figurines with long, red dress and elaborate headdress


Box 36 Chinese Figurine, missing head, with long, red dress

Box 36 Chinese female Figurine with long, red dress and white,painted face

Box 36 Chinese male Figurine with orange robe and long mustache

Box 36 Chinese male Figurine with long, green robe


Box 37 Chinese male Figurine, missing head, in gray robe over red robe

Box 37 Chinese male Figurine, bald and in light green robe

Box 37 Masked Chinese male Figurine with headdress and striped pants

Box 37 Masked Chinese male Figurine with long beard and striped pants


Box 35 Crown for Chinese Figurine

Box 35 Crown for Chinese Figurine

Box 35 Crown for Chinese Figurine

Box 35 Crown for Chinese Figurine

Box 35 Man's head from a Chinese figurine

Box 35 Woman's head from a Chinese figurine

Box 35 Woman's head from a Chinese figurine

P26 Accession


Box 39 Female Peking Opera figurine in black

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with white, painted face and blue, striped pants

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine in green robes and gold headdress

Box 39 Female Peking Opera figurine in pink and blue with elaborate headdress

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with long ponytail

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with staff and yellow and green hat

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine in blue and white headress, fighting

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine in black with silver staff

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with long heard, arm raised, fighting

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with long beard and dark blue robe

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with painted face and very elaborate headress

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with painted face, two feathers on headdress

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with orange and white face, gold hat

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine in green robe, blue, orange and white face

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with weapon on back

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with with red face and green robe

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with red, white, black face and gold headdress

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with blue headdress and green robe

Box 39 Male Peking Opera figurine with long beard in yellow and orange

P57 Accession


Box 8 Han Chung-Li figurine

Box 8 Tsao Kuo-Shin figurine

Box 8 Chang Kuo-Lao figurine

Box 8 Lu Tung-Pin figurine

Box 8 Li The-Kwai figurine

Box 8 Lan Tsai-Ho figurine

Box 8 Tsao Kuo-Shin figurine, duplicate of P57.2

P60 Accession


Box 28 Figurine in Imperial dress

P70 Accession

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Box 28 Miniature diorama

Subseries I.3: England

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P04 Accession


Box 1 Milkmaid marionette with yoke and two pails


Box 2 Male marionette in exotic yellow costume

P32 Accession


Box 24 Robin Hood pantin

Box 24 N*** pantin

Box 24 Female Volunteer pantin

Box 24 Maid Marian pantin

Box 24 Lord Dundreary pantin

Box 24 Robin Hood pantin

Box 24 The Magic N*** pantin

Box 24 Jester pantin

Box 24 Merry Andrew pantin

Subseries I.4: France

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P05 Accession


Box 50 Housemaid marionette, 1870-1899


Box 4 Jester marionette, 1870-1899

Box 4 Dog marionette, 1870-1899


Box 5 Female marionette with four children in her pockets, 1870-1899


Box 6 Peg-leg sailor marionette with fiddle and bow


Box 7 Elegant eighteenth-century female marionette, 1870-1899

P06 Accession

Box 7 Saint Joseph marionette, 1800-1899

Box 7 Marionette of one of the Magi, 1800-1899

P07 Accession


Box 22 Wood ledge puppet of an eighteenth century man, 1800-1899

P08 Accession


Box 9 Male hand puppet with green hat


Box 10 Old, bald male hand puppet


Box 9 Nurse hand puppet

Box 9 Male hand puppet with mustache and bicorne hat


Box 10 Black devil hand puppet

Box 10 Hand puppet with red scarf

Box 10 Male hand puppet with missing tooth

Box 10 Female hand puppet with kerchief and purple scarf

Box 10 Female hand puppet with kerchief and brown scarf

Box 10 Male hand puppet with purple clothes

Box 10 Bearded male hand puppet with green scarf

P09 Accession


Box 11 Male hand puppet with green cap

Box 11 Green and orange devil hand puppet


Box 12 Male hand puppet in white vest with black bird print


Box 11 Elderly male hand puppet with long nose, green cap, eyeglasses


Box 12 Female hand puppet with black and white dress and white apron


Box 13 Chef hand puppet


Box 12 Female hand puppet with white, red dress and blue, white apron


Box 11 Male hand puppet with bicorne hat


Box 13 Clown hand puppet dressed in white and red

Box 13 Male head of hand puppet


Box 12 Male hand puppet with red and blue hat


Box 13 Male hand puppet with white and gold vest, blue coat


Box 12 Elderly male hand puppet with long nose, green cap, eyeglasses


Box 14 Female hand puppet with blue ribbon around neck


Box 13 Green and orange devil hand puppet


Box 14 Bald hand puppet in blue flower print robe

Box 14 Male hand puppet with black hair and blue robe


Box 9 male hand puppet with red and blue hat, protruding stomach


Box 15 Head of bald male hand puppet, with brown glass eyes

Box 15 Head of a clown hand puppet, with face painted white, red and black

Box 15 Head of a hand puppet, with blue cap and long nose

Box 15 Head of male hand puppet with mustache and bicorne hat worn front-to-back

Box 15 Head of male hand puppet with mutton chops and bicorne hat worn side-to-side

Box 15 Head of male hand puppet with dark eyes and a painted moustache

Box 15 Head of male hand puppet with dark eyes and a small painted beard

Box 15 Head of male hand puppet with wig, rosy face, painted moustache

Box 15 Head of hand puppet with wig, painted moustache and beard


Box 14 Crocodile hand puppet


Box 15 Face for a hand puppet

Box 15 Face for a hand puppet

Box 15 Face for a hand puppet

Box 15 Face for a hand puppet

P10 Accession


Box 16 Picket fence shadow puppet

Box 16 Running dog shadow puppet

Box 16 Bare tree shadow puppet

Box 16 Head with hinged jaw shadow puppet

Box 16 Seal and unattached rod from a shadow puppet

Box 16 Ballerina shadow puppet

Box 16 Monkey shadow puppet

Box 16 Man with fuzzy hair shadow puppet

Box 16 Running man shadow puppet

Box 16 Table with purse shadow puppet

Box 16 Boat with rudder shadow puppet

Box 16 Profile of person with hinged arm shadow puppet


Box 17 Donkey shadow puppet

Box 17 Large bird shadow puppet

Box 17 Butterfly shadow puppet

Box 17 Fisherman and fish shadow puppet

Box 17 Large head with hinged jaw shadow puppet

Box 17 Man with hat and whip shadow puppet

Box 17 Man with fork shadow puppet

Box 17 Small bird shadow puppet

Box 17 Bull shadow puppet

Box 17 Cat shadow puppet

Box 17 Fence shadow puppet


Box 18 Boat with wheel and two sails shadow puppet

Box 18 Sailboat with sails attached shadow puppet

Box 18 Sailboat shadow puppet

Box 18 Large boat with potholes and netting shadow puppet


Box 19 Large sailboat marked C12 shadow puppet

Box 19 Large sailboat marked C10 shadow puppet

Box 19 Small sailboat marked C8 shadow puppet

Box 19 Steamship shadow puppet

P43 Accession


Box 24 Ombre chinoise, female dancer

Box 24 Ombre chinoise, female dancer

P44 Accession


Box 34 Toutatoua Prix de Beaute d'Afrique doll

Box 34 Tah-Dhor Prix de Beaute d'Asie doll

Box 34 Latin female doll

Box 34 Greek or Russian male doll

Box 34 Chinese female doll

Box 34 Chinese female doll

Subseries I.5: Ghana

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P50 Accession


Box 46 African rod puppet

Subseries I.6: India

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P42 Accession


Box 45 Green worm or fish rod puppet

Box 45 Elephant rod puppet

Box 45 Horse rod puppet

Box 45 Horse and chariot rod puppet

Box 45 Rooster rod puppet

Box 45 Yellow [goat] rod puppet

Box 45 Bull rod puppet

P51 Accession


Box TSP33 Rama shadow puppet


Box TSP25 Lakshmana shadow puppet


Box TSP38 Sita, shadow puppet


Box TSP35 Rakshana, shadow puppet


Box TSP37 Supanaka, shadow puppet


Box TSP41 Head of Dasa Kanta Ravana, shadow puppet


Box TSP32 Body of Dasa Kanta Ravana, shadow puppet

P52 Accession


Box TSP26 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP27 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP28 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP29 Indian shadow puppet; on horse


Box TSP30 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP31 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP34 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP36 Indian shadow puppet


Box TSP39 Indian shadow puppet

TSP Accession


Box TSP40 Indian shadow puppet

Subseries I.7: Indonesia

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P18 Accession


Box 31 Wajang Golek rod puppet with light yellow face


Box 32 2 upper arms and 2 lower arms from Wajang Golek puppet P18.2


Box 31 Wajang Golek rod puppet with orange/pink face


Box 33 Wajang Golek rod puppet with white face

P39 Accession


Box 32 Wajang golek rod puppet


Box 33 Wajang golek rod puppet with red face


Box 32 Wajang golek rod puppet

Box 32 Wajang golek rod puppet

P80s Accession


Box 30 Wayang puppet

Box 30 Wayang puppet


Box 32 Arm of missing Wayang Golek rod puppet

Box 32 Six rods for Wayang Golek rod puppets

Box 32 Two wings for Wayang Golek rod puppet

Subseries I.8: Italy

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P11 Accession


Box 20 Arlecchino marionette


Box 21 Arlecchino marionette


Box 20 Brighella marionette

Box 20 Pantalone marionette

Box 20 Il Dottore marionette

Box 20 Marionette of figure in white with black mask

Box 20 Marionette of figure in white with black mask

Box 20 Marionette of red-headed male in white with black cap and buttons


Box 21 Marionette of female in white with black buttons

Box 21 Skeleton marionette

Box 21 Marionette of red-headed king

Box 21 Marionette of queen in red dress

Box 21 Marionette of boy in tricorne hat

Box 21 Marionette of maid in black with white apron

Box 21 Marionette of young girl with blue flowers in hair

Box 21 Marionette of old woman with red ribbon around neck

P12 Accession


Box 27 Orlando rod puppet, 1875-1900

Box 27 Rinaldo rod puppet, 1875-1900

P33 Accession

Box 27 Rinaldo, 1900-1960

P34 Accession


Box 43 Sicilian rod puppet with cross on armor and shield


Box 44 Sicilian rod puppet with bird on armor and shield

Subseries I.9: Japan

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P16 Accession


Box 25 Japanese female marionette

P17 Accession


Box 42 Japanese rod puppet, 1800-1899

P27 Accession

Box 42 Little man marionette

Box 42 Lion / Dragon marionette

P28 Accession

Box 42 Small mask of elderly man with beard

Box 42 Small mask of elderly woman

Box 42 Small mask of young woman

P37 Accession


Box 22 Japanese wig for a puppet

Box 22 Japanese wig for a puppet

P38 Accession

Box 22 Figurine with set of hair dressings of Japanese women artistically arranged in several forms

P46 Accession


Box 53 Clothed figure or doll of Shio-Kumi

P56 Accession


Box 47 Figurine on stand of male with cloth covering face

Box 47 Figurine on stand of male in black, holding scroll

Box 47 Figurine on stand of male in black, holding scroll

Box 47 Figurine on stand of male, fighting, painted white

Box 47 Figurine on stand of male, fighting, painted white

Box 47 FMusic stand with instruments

Box 47 Music stand with instruments

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

Box 47 Banner on stand with Japanese characters

P95 Accession


Box 22 Japanese male doll

Subseries I.10: Mexico

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P48 Accession


Box 40 Jigging puppet of black figure with white hat

Box 40 Jigging puppet of male in blue and white cap

Box 40 Jigging puppet of woman with polka dot skirt

Box 40 Jigging puppet of female in polka dot top and purple skirt

Box 40 Jigging puppet of female in purple dress

Box 40 Jigging puppet of male in white shirt and pants with pink belt

Box 40 Jigging puppet of pink [devil]

Box 40 Jigging puppet of man with mustache and white hat

Box 40 Jigging puppet of man with mustache and white hat

Box 40 Jigging puppet of clown in white with black polka dots

Subseries I.11: Russia

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P89 Accession


Box 34 Beggar doll made by Russian emigres living in Iran during WWII.

Box 34 Beggar doll made by Russian emigres living in Iran during WWII.

Box 34 Beggar doll made by Russian emigres living in Iran during WWII.

Subseries I.12: Thailand

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P54 Accession


Box 31 Lakshana shadow puppet


Box 30 Laba shadow puppet

Box 30 Sita shadow puppet

P55 Accession


Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

Box 47 Head with headdress for court dancer figurine

P72 Accession

Box 47 Sculpture of Siamese dancer

Box 47 Sculpture of Siamese dancer

TSP Accession


Box TSP01 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP02 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP03 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP04 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP05 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP06 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP07 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP08 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP09 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP10 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP11 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP12 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP13 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP14 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP15 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP16 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP17 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP18 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP19 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP20 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP21 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP22 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP23 Thai shadow puppet


Box TSP24 Thai shadow puppet

Subseries I.13: Turkey

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P13 Accession


Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of building with columns, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of rhinoceros, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of man with goat body, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of man with goat body, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of man with red striped cap, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of trees, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of man with horse/donkey body, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of Devil holding watering can, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of trees, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of rocks, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of woman holding flower, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of trees, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of tree, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of flag with X marked on it, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of small square, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of chest of drawers, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of closet, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of trees, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of L-shaped piece and attachment, 1800-1899

Box 23 Turkish shadow puppet of monkey on man's back, holding gun, 1800-1899

Subseries I.14: United States

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P22 Accession


Box 6 Little Boy Blue marionette

P30 Accession


Box 24 Weight-lifter pantin

Box 24 Toe dancer pantin

Box 24 Wire walker pantin

Box 24 Trapeze artist pantin

Box 24 Horizontal bar gymnast pantin

Box 24 Loop-the-loop bicyclist pantin

Box 24 Elephant and trainer pantin

Box 24 Clown musician and dog pantin

Box 24 Clown with two dogs on see-saw pantin

Box 24 Horse with trainer pantin

P47 Accession


Box 57 Oedipus (sighted) marionette, 1931


Box 58 Jocasta marionette, 1931


Box 59 Don Quixote marionette, 1924


Box 49 Giant marionette, 1894-1948


Box 48 Dragon marionette, 1923


Box 56 Model for Clown puppet, 1934-1935

Subseries I.15: Puppets of Unknown Origin

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P70s Accession


Box 51 Dollhouse accessories


Box 41 Model of Shakespeare's house, apparently for  tealights

P.75 Accession

Box 41 Ceramic figurine of unnamed comedian, with green jacketand red waistcoat

Box 41 Fred French ceramic figurine

Box 41 JH Stead ceramic figurine

P.76 Accession


Box 44 Small Textile

Box 44 Small Textile


Box 33 Small Textile

P.77 Accession


Box 2 Eskimo hand puppet with fur trim

Box 2 Hand puppet of female with head scarf

P.78 Accession


Box 60 Shadow puppet


Box 61 Shadow puppet

P.79 Accession


Box 54 Model of Helen Hayes as Queen Victoria

P80s Accession


Box 30 Wayang kerutjil puppet


Box 15 Weapon fragment belonging to an unidentified puppet


Box 32 Apron for a puppet


Box 29 Shadow puppet

P.90s Accession


Box 22 Wooden figurine of Shahuntola and Deer


Box 46 Figurine of elongated man


Box 52 Japanese theater diorama