Handmade Hand Puppet with Painted Wood Face The Living Arts protfolio 25”l x 1

25”l x 1

purchased from the estate of a gallerist and collection who had accumulated many very fine textiles from around the world

but also just as a lovely little object for display

These were traditionally used in the Chancay culture

Handmade Hand Puppet with Painted Wood Face The Living Arts protfolio 25”l x 1I don't know anything about the history of this old hand puppet, which I found at an antique shop in Maine and just could not leave behind such humanity in this deeply carved and painted wooden face, with chunky screwed on nose and big drippy red mouth! And then this curly wool hair or maybe meant to be a cap, as there is another layer of brown hair peeking out at the back of his neck. He's had a life for sure, with holes now in his grey knitted wool