overall (without strings): 14 1/2 in x 5 in x 2 1/2 in; 36.83 cm x 12.7 cm x 6.35 cm
Object Name:
puppet
Place made:
United States: Missouri, Kansas City
Made at:
United States: Missouri, Kansas City
Date made:
1950
Description (Brief):
Teto the Clown marionette dates from the 1950s and is made of tenite plastic. He is dressed in a red and white polka dot cotton suit and matching hat and is controlled using a seven string, airplane control.
Teto the Clown was created by puppeteer Hazelle Hedges Rollins. Rollins trained with Tony Sarg and is the creator of over 300 string, hand, and finger puppet characters. She holds four patents in the puppetry field, including the airplane control marionette that revolutionized the movement of the puppet and is used with Teto the Clown. By 1975, Hazelle Inc was the world's largest exclusive manufacturer of marionettes, hand, and finger puppets.
