We are delighted to offer an early wooden marionette portraying the classic Commedia dell'Arte character Arlecchino, in English, Harlequin. This iconic character is a clownish, charming (and sometimes scheming) servant who pines in vain for the beautiful maidservant, Columbine.
His carved and painted wooden head includes a skillfully executed black mask with a combination of devilish and animal features and a classic red bump (symbolizing his many comedic falls and mishaps). He possesses reverse-painted black pupil-less eyes and wears a wig of black lambswool and a white felt hat.
He is on a jointed wooden body with stuffed cotton arms terminating in carved wooden hands (which retain the original holes for marionette strings). Harlequin’s classic costume (meant to represent a suit made of colorful rags) is rendered here in heavy white cotton with a profusion of colorful patches in a variety of fabric types and trimmed in a loose weave cotton gauze and gaily tinkling bells.  He wears black leather, slipper style shoes over cream cotton stockings. He does present scattered, age-related wear, yet displays wonderfully.
Due to the size, we cannot offer international shipping on this piece.
Measures: 33” long

$995.00

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