Huge Rare Early 19th Century Sicilian Marionette Puppet Opera Dei Pupi 47 Tall

Stunning and very rare Sicilian Marionette dating to the early 19th century. This particular example is the largest I’ve ever owned, standing at 47 inches tall (119cm) & weighing the same as a small child. Very solid in structure throughout, made from a timber skeleton, which is connected with metal rods and finished with stuffing, such as horse hair, and finally covered in material. There would of been more clothing, and potentially a suit of armour. The hands, feet and head are all beautifully hand carved, the eyes on this particular example also move up and down. Wear commensurate with age, crack on the head as picture shows, which is still solid and intact. They became popular in Sicily late in the Middle Ages, during the fifteenth century, and marionettes are still considered an important part of Sicilian folk culture. Sicilian puppet theatre (opera dei pupi) or, more properly, “marionette theatre, ” developed into its present form in the eighteenth century. Strictly speaking, “puppets” fit over the hand, while marionettes are figures controlled by strings, but in common parlance the terms are often used interchangeably; what we’re describing are actually marionettes. Typically, the marionettes and their theatre depict medieval characters and legendary events based loosely on history. 47 / 119cm Tall. 15 / 38cm wide at shoulders.