Punch and Judy puppet: the Doctor

A glove puppet, part of a Punch and Judy set belonging to puppeteer Peter Butchard (1909-2009). The puppet has a wooden head and hands which have been carved and painted. The body is made of green, sateen-woven fabric covered with black sateen. A key pattern ribbon woven in black and gold thread is sewn down the front. The figure wears a pill box hat, decorated with trellis-pattern black and gold ribbon. The hat has a black veil down the back. The puppet has a gathered white ruff round the neck A plastic curtain ring is sewn to the back of the body to hang it up. The puppet is machine and hand sewn. It represents the character of the Doctor, see the account of Butchards performances in the 'New Yorker' (19 June 1978) p.24: 'the Doctor came on wearing Chinese robes and speaking with an Irish accent'.

Object Details

ID: ZBA2313
Collection: Toys, games and music
Type: Puppet
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Unknown
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 390 x 230 x 70 mm