This popular doll-puppet

The doll-puppet is known to mankind from time immemorial. Her device to genius is simple. This theatrical doll, managed by the puppeteer with the help of several strings, is successfully used in our time. The relationship between manager and managed has long been used to compare a person with a puppet whose actions and lives are led by someone from above. It is not known for certain who and when the puppet-doll was invented, but it has been used for many centuries in all corners of the Earth. It is assumed that as an alternative to static images of various gods, people invented a simple figure. Her head and limbs were set in motion with the help of threads tied to them, which were guided by man. The box with puppets was an indispensable attribute of the old theaters, in which the most famous stories of those times were played out. Since most theatrical stories were based on religious themes, even their name was derived from the name of the figurine of the Mother of God - Marionette, Marion.

Distribution of puppet dolls

Some historians believe that the first such dolls appeared in ancient Egypt. Representations with them were associated with various festivals of this country. The doll-puppet was also known in the states of Latin America, in ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and in the territory of modern Syria. And in the eastern countries (China, Vietnam, Indonesia) puppets are an integral part of any solemn performances. In the East still love the theater of puppets, many residents go to the performances, even knowing the plot of the play by heart. In modern Greece and Italy, you can still meet people who give performances in the so-called "Bethlehem box". All the plots of such a spectacle are connected with the Christian religion. At the beginning of its history, the doll puppet, as a rule, was an attribute of wandering actors, but already in the 16th century it gradually began to part with its wandering life, as small theatricals began to appear visually reminiscent of many famous scenes of that time. Puppets performed the most popular operas in combination with ballets. Most of the plays were very long (5 acts). Every year the art of such a theater was improved, and the puppeteers achieved maximum accuracy, imitating human gestures. Over time, puppets spread throughout Europe. They also appeared in the Russian Empire.

How to make a puppet?

In our country recently interest in these dolls again resumed. Many people make their own, because they are not particularly available on sale. The most important thing in this business is to thoroughly study the structure of the body of the doll and the principles of its action. The puppet can be made of different materials, but most often this doll is made of wood. To the trunk, made of wood, clay or cloth, attach moving limbs (legs, hands) and head, which can be made from any improvised material. The doll is worn and the face is decorated. It should be borne in mind that such dolls should be small, since it is very difficult to manage massive and heavy ones. Threads tied to the limbs and head are attached to a special rocker arm (vag), consisting of a rod and attached to its axis a movable rocker and a fixed bar. Raising the sides corresponds to raising the legs of the doll. The main threads include the hand, the temporal and the dorsal. They can be replaced with a thick line. With their help, the basic movements of the puppet are realized. To play more complex actions, additional threads will be required.