Where did shadow puppets originate from?

It is believed that shadow puppetry originated in China during the Han Dynasty, which is more than two thousand years ago. Shadow plays feature transparent shapes or puppets that are worked against a screen and lit from behind. Their colors and details are seen by the audience, so they aren’t just a shadow but a much more dynamic representation. Shop a collection of Chinese puppets from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Balinese Shadow Puppet

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Sculptures

Materials

LED Light, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Hari and Deepti
"I Said to the Universe...", Handcut Archival Paper Diorama, Watercolor, Stars, 2023

H 12 in Dm 12 in

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Questions About Balinese Shadow Puppet

Where did shadow puppets originate from?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
It is believed that shadow puppetry originated in China during the Han Dynasty, which is more than two thousand years ago. Shadow plays feature transparent shapes or puppets that are worked against a screen and lit from behind. Their colors and details are seen by the audience, so they aren’t just a shadow but a much more dynamic representation. Shop a collection of Chinese puppets from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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