String puppet depicting a wizard wearing a long blue robe with a white front panel decorated with mystic symbols and a fur collar. The plaster head which has a white beard and a tall peaked hat, as well as the hands and feet, are painted brown. Metal rod and operating bar attached through the head with four vegetable fibre strings tied to the hands and legs.
In the first half of the 20th century there were 4 main manufacturers of puppets, with around 100 different characters. The characters were largely stock characters which could be used to tell a variety of stories. Story books were also produced and families would perform the stories in their homes. Faust and Don Juan were popular. Many were Czech folk tales. 'Death and the Godmother' was one. The devil featured in many stories. Šaldová, Lenka, Dr. Theatre Department, Czech National Museum. 2014.
