Construction

Planning, designing, construction

construction of a marionette

Not only the technical but also the artistic aspects are to be observed. Technical design illustrates proportions, the size of the limbs, and articulations. The artistic draft sketches styling and colouring.

Galerie construction

First, we design the figure and define outer appearance and proportions. In terms of proportions, both head and hands are larger than those of human beings.

The Atelier

Marlene Gmelin

The parts of a cat are cut and fitted together again and again.

The hands and feet usually are carved from limewood

The basic prerequisite for a puppet to function properly are properly placed centers of gravity and joints.

A massive wooden head would be too heavy. We therefore use a wood modelling medium that is as stable and durable as wood, yet much lighter. Only marionette heads with interior mechanisms such as movable mouth or eyes are carved from limewood and hollowed

Visible joints are a challenge for the marionette maker. In every movement and every posture which the marionette is able to adopt, the two segments that meet at the joint should form a smooth match, both physically and visually.

It may take the marionette maker hours of concentrated work to find the ideal connection points.

If both the figure itself and the control bar are optimally designed and made, the marionette will perform convincingly.