Antique Large Chinese Beijing Opera Puppet Late Qing/Republic

A colorful handmade puppet from the Beijing opera of the late 19th century or early 20th century.

The puppet has a hand painted composite head, a cloth costume, cloth legs with wood feet, cloth body, and cloth arms with wooden hands. The costume is handmade with rabbit fur trim, metal discs, small mirrors, and cash like sequins. The puppet’s head has long hair coming from under a headdress. It feels like horsehair.

19 ½” (49.5 cm) long x 12” (30.5 cm) wide. Weighs 1 lb 4.3 oz (1575 g)

The head is generally in good condition, but with a few losses at the back and middle. There is wear and soiling to the costume with some loose stitching and few missing metal discs and mirrors. There are a few small holes in the costume and lining. The headdress has some losses at the top back and holes at the front. The tie at the neck of the costume is unraveled. The puppet probably had strings for movement by the puppeteer. These are missing.

A folk art puppet from China that is colorful and definitely old.