Marionettes and Puppets are considered by many to have originated in Italy. Both Xenophon and Plutarch made reference to the use of puppets. Puppet comes from the latin word "pupus" or "pupi" which means little child.
After the fall of Rome the Christian Church continued to use puppets to perform morality plays. The word "marionette" may originate from the figures of the Virgin Mary or "Mary doll" used in the performances. When some puppeteers began to inject comedy into the the morality plays, the church became concerned (with probable justification) that the inclusion of such comedy could be viewed as poking fun at religion. The church decided to ban the use of puppets. While the Church ban ended the use of puppets in morality plays, it did not end puppetry. Instead, the puppeteers set up stages outside cathedrals, where puppet plays became even more ribald and filled with slapstick comedy.
Puppetry not only continued in Italy, but spread out to other European countries whree puppets were used in place of actors. For the purposes of this guide, I am going to concentrate on the continued development of puppetry in Italy, particularly Sicily.
In Italy, puppet plays outside the Cathedrals developed into the type of theater called Commedia dell'Arte. Themes of puppet plays relied more and more on local events and legends rather than religious stories. After the time of Charlemagne (crowned Holy Roman Emperor 800 A.D.), stories about Charlemagne and his knights became popular themes. Most of the puppet theaters operated in Naples and Rome, but from the first half of the 1800's, the puppet theater in Sicily (particularly in the city of Palermo) was where this Italian art form reached its full development. Frankish romantic poems centering on the Medieval epic poem "The Song of Roland" combined with the Sicilian troubadour tradition of cantastori (sing stories) were put on in puppet theaters featuring wooden puppets. This Sicilian puppet theater became known as the Opira dei pupi (Opera of the puppets).
MARIONETTES VS PUPPETS:
The terms "marionette" and "puppet" are often used interchangeably though "puppet" applies to a broader range of dolls such as: finger puppets, glove or hand puppets, rod puppets, and shadow puppets. Marionettes are generally considered the most complex of puppets having many moving parts that are controlled by strings attached to a cross-piece held above the doll. Sicilian "marionettes" are among the simplest forms of marionettes to operate. The puppet is usually carved out of wood and has a sturdy rod extend up through the body into the head. This rod has two strings attached (one for each of the puppet's hands) is used to manipulate the puppet. Thus, the Sicilian puppet is often called a rod or string marionette.
WHAT ARE THE PLAYS ABOUT?
The Sicilian puppet plays were made by and for the people putting into action popular folk lore. The puppets acted out the people's dilemma between being faithful or not, Christian or pagan, good vs. evil, poor vs. rich. The puppet plays represented a dramatic dialogue offering an interpretation of history that the common man could understand and debate. The marionettes exemplified the hopes, the struggles, the victories and the defeats of their own existence. Although they idealized the nobility which ruled Sicily and reinforced the feudal society that continued to exist in the countryside, puppetry allowed the people to make political comments without fear of persecution.
The stories were very long and meant to be watched by the local people in installments every evening for months. Often the audience even participated in the play by throwing items such as fruit at the villains.
There are many characters in the Sicilian Puppet Theater. The stories are based on historical and literary characters and only loosely on actual historical events of the Middle Ages. Charlemagne of course is included. Two others usually found are Orland (better known as Roland a great fighter and friend of Charlemagne), Rinaldo (a knight who is a more romantic Robin Hood sort of character), and the Norman knights of King Roger of Sicily. These heroes are pitted in battles with the Saracens / Moors. Sometimes they fight dragons or devils. Sometimes the heroes fight each other over the love of a particular lady, the beautiful Angelica.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PUPPETS:
Sicilian wood puppets were not dressed in armor or carried swords in the early days as they are today. In modern times, some of these Sicilian marionettes in the theater are quite large (nearly the size of a twelve-year-old human child). Fast-paced battles where "heads fly and blood (beet juice) flows" have entertained audiences for two centuries. Smaller models of the puppets are sold to tourists and collectors.
Quality of the puppets varies. The best Sicilian marionettes are considered among the world's finest. There are a few families who specialize in making puppets and/or in performing in the plays. Both arts require years of training and highly developed skills. Each marionette is hand crafted with different facial expressions and different costumes composed of brass, copper, velvet and wood.
SAMPLES OF THE SICILIAN PUPPETS:
Puppets from left to right include: Orlando (Roland), Angelica, Charlemagne, a Saracen, and Rinaldo.
STATUS OF SICILIAN PUPPETS TODAY:
From the late 1800's the Sicilian puppet theaters began to deline as first Italian nationalism, and then Fascism made the medieval crusading themes obsolete. After World War II, these puppet plays nearly disappeared as Italians became more prosperous and more urbanized. Movies and television replaced the excitement of puppet shows. A few theaters have survived and some interest in them has
revived this folk art and rescued it through public funding.
Outside of Italy, the marionettes and puppet theater most like those found in Sicily are found in Belgium.
n 2001 UNESCO declared the Sicilian Puppet Theater a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity." Despite this world recognition, Sicilian puppets and theaters are quickly disappearing.
PRICES range (depending on size) anywhere from about $25 to over $100. If they are very large, of a high quality, signed by the maker, and vintage, they will bring a much higher price from the collector.
KEY WORDS to use in searching for these puppets are:
Sicilian puppet, knight puppet, rod puppet, string puppet, marionette, knight doll, conquistidor, Spanish puppet, Italian puppet . . . . (note that puppet and marionette are often interchangeable in these catch phrases).
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