A collection of four, superbly executed, early C20th folk art puppets.
An old crone or witch, town crier with working bell and removable hat and, perhaps most interestingly, two characters that would appear to be Dracula and Van Helsing.
The ‘Dracula’ puppet bears a striking resemblance to Bela Lugosi’s sinister portrayal of 1931 but also, perhaps move relevantly, to Raymond Huntley‘s Dracula in Hamilton Deane’s original stage production of 1924.
The heads are painted papier mâché with hand stitched cloth bodies.
English, c1920’s.
Approximate height: 18” (46cm), varies slightly.