Josephine Baker Marionette

Josephine Baker Marionette

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Description (Brief)
This dancing marionette painted black with a blond wig was made by the Yale Puppeteers in 1937 and bears a striking resemblance to the famous exotic dancer, singer, and film star Josephine Baker. Baker made her claim to fame in the United States only after becoming a hit in her adopted city of Paris, France.
Made of wood and paper mache, she is dressed in a red feather trimmed collar, armbands, cuffs, skirt, and anklets with silver-heeled slippers. She is worked with one bar and nine strings.
The Yale Puppetteers became synonomous with the finest accomplishments in puppetry for more than 25 years. She was purchased from the Yale Puppeteers by Hazelle and J. Woodson Rollins, who donated her to the National Museum of American History Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Puppet
puppet
Date made
1936
depicted (sitter)
Baker, Josephine
maker
Yale Puppeteers
Physical Description
paper mache (overall material)
feathers (overall material)
wood (overall material)
paint (overall material)
string (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 28 in; 71.12 cm
ID Number
1979.1164.06
accession number
1979.1164
catalog number
1979.1164.06
Credit Line
Gift of Hazelle H. and J. Woodson Rollins
subject
Puppetry
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Puppets
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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