There are four main puppet types – glove, rod, string, and shadow. In traditional European puppet theatre, the puppets are operated by a single puppeteer, who has a portable booth and a set of puppets. This puppet, called 'Pearlie' belonged to the puppeteer Walter Wilkinson who tried to revive puppet theatre in England in the 1920s and 1930s. With his puppets on a hand-barrow, he travelled through English country villages, giving shows.

View database record 1985.36.10