19th Century Sicilian Italian Marionette Folk Art Puppet 'Opera dei Pupi'

A oversized late 19th century Marionette in original untouched condition, originating from Palmero Italy. The figure is missing both arms, its original clothing is heavily fad...

A wonderfully detailed and intricately decorated early 19th century shell work figure. Depicting a traditionally dressed Chinese gent, with his wispy beard, hat and holding his bask...

A wonderful pair of hand crafted puppets by John Car, depicting Pierrot (little Peter) a clown character from European pantomime and his female equivalent Pierette. John was a fine wood carver and his wife Eva costumed the puppets, the marionettes where made around 1935/1945 and performed into the early 70's by John, Eva and their four children Marjorie, Nancy, Barbara and John (Junior) The puppets are not strung to be used, only for decorative purposes. Age related wear, fading and deterioration to the silk costumes, elderly repairs but complete with their original painted paper mache heads...

A rather odd pair of hardwood carved furniture feet from South Tyrolean region Italy, possibly from a ecclesiastical piece like a chest. They remind me of the early imagery of the S...

A large carved and polychrome painted tobacconist's figure almost certainly 17th or early 18th century For a related example see Edward H. Pinto, Treen and other Wooden Bygones, Bell and Hyman, London 1969. Page 412, plate 436. Originally this may well have been a tobacconist's shop window figure. For a similar, but slightly earlier unpainted example, see Sotheby's, The W. J. Shepherd collection of treen, 30th November 1983, Lot 393, illustrated in Pinto "Wooden Bygones of Smoking and Snuff Taking", plate 1. Carved wooden figures, often painted, were placed outside tobacconist's shops as signs from the 17th century onwards. The earliest of these figures is the 'black boy' or 'blackamoor'. 'At the sign of the black boy' or 'at the sign of the blackamoor' was a popular address for tobacconists since the early 17th century. The 17th century figures...

A really fabulous pair of Folk Art collages by a Sophie Louise Munns (signed on the original backing paper). Full length portraits in interior sett...

19th century Scotsman (Highlander) Carousel large carved and painted standing figure wearing kilt with plume hat on large round base.

A wonderful work complete with a unique wood-carved and hand-painted face and original textile garment. From a group of 7 Chinese opera puppets, we acquired from a collector. Each puppet shows clear signs of previous stage use. Likely from the early 1900s. Would make for a great addition to any Chinese artifacts...

A wonderful work complete with a unique wood-carved and hand-painted face, long grey beard, and original textile garment. From a group of 7 Chinese opera puppets...

A wonderful work complete with a unique wood-carved and hand painted face, a wonderfully fabulous hairdo, and an original textile garment. From a group of 7 Chinese opera puppets, we acquired from a collector. Each puppet shows clear signs of previous stage use. Clearly original works. Likely from the early 1900s. Would make for a great addition to any Chinese artifacts...

A wonderful work complete with a unique wood-carved and hand painted face and original textile garment. From a group of 7 Chinese opera puppets...

A wonderful work complete with a unique wood-carved and hand-painted face and original textile garment. From a group of 7 Chinese opera puppets...