This is a series of photos taken by Marc Wilson of the DeCordova Museum, showing the construction of The Puppet Theater
This is my sawmill. It's basically a bandsaw turned on its side that runs along a track.
After squaring the logs I can now cut them to size.
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| I make detailed drawings so I will be able to locate and drill holes and cut joints before carving. | The blue chalk helps in shaping the ball and socket joints, marking where wood needs to be carved away. |
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| Eyes are set in and each piece of the figure is painted before being assembled. | |
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| Here I'm attaching a spring that will hold the head to the torso. | An assembled puppet waiting for clothes and hair. |
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| Next comes the construction of the stage... | ...and working out how the puppets will be strung. |
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| The strings of the puppets are interconnected by a system of pulleys. | The final locations of the four puppets. |
This is my wigmaking apparatus. Strands of hair are strung into a fringe.
Frings of hair are sewn into the "scalp"
A pattern must be custom made for each figure
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| The puppets are dressed before being strung. | Painting the stage. |
This figure hangs from strings on a rolling control bar...
... that are counter balanced by weights behind the stage.
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| A backstage view... | ... and the finished piece from the front. |