Mr. Punch in the Arts: A Glass Paperweight Featuring Mr. Punch and Toby, 1873

Pressed Glass Paperweight
John Derbyshire & Co.
1873-1876
The Victoria & Albert Museum

From his first appearance as Pulcinello, a marionette, in Covent Garden, Mr. Punch has been Britain’s most beloved grouch and a source of inspiration for artists in every possible medium.


This green glass paperweight shows the burgeoning interest in pressed glass figures. Produced by John Derbyshire in Salford, Manchester, the paperweight dates between 1873 and 1876. We see Mr. Punch in all of his deformed beauty, seated atop a chair beneath which his faithful companion, Toby, rests comfortably.

This is one of a pair of paperweights produced by Derbyshire. The companion shows Judy, seated similarly, with her cat.

The Victoria & Albert Museum

The Victoria & Albert Museum

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch’s Russian Cousin, Petrushka

An antique "Petrushka"
marionette

Mr. Punch has cousin all over the world who look and act quite a bit like him. His Russian counterpart is called “Petrushka” (meaning Parsley). Dressed in red with a jester’s painted face, Petrushka has a long nose like Mr. Punch and a very similar “swazzle”-created voice.


Petrushka also relies on slapstick comedy, but the stories take a slightly different approach than the adventures of Mr. Punch. Petrushka stories focus on his military service, his medical treatment and his training of a horse.

Thanks to Chris van der Craats (Australia’s “Professor Whatsit”), we get this fascinating glimpse at this Russian puppet cousin to our Mr. Punch.

Person of the Week: Mr. Punch

He has been known as many things: a loveable rascal, a rogue, a murderer, an adulterer, an innocent, a father, a husband, an abuser, a friend and foe of animals, a sausage-maker, an ornery neighbor, a scamp, an imp, a national icon and an international celebrity. He’s Mr. Punch. And, today is his 349th birthday.


No, he’s not technically a person, but he’s an enduring personality who has been repeatedly brought to life by thousands of artists all over the world for centuries. Throughout the past few months, we’ve explored Mr. Punch’s history—from his Italian roots, to his “birth” in England’s Covent Garden to his many cousins worldwide. This plucky puppet has inspired countless literary works (including Punch’s Cousin), a magazine named in his honor, grand works of art and humble folk arts. Interestingly enough, he’s risen above his origins to become something of a symbol of Britain and the people who inhabit it. He gets away with the things that we all wish we could do. He beats the devil! He triumphs over his problems! And, he does it all with a great amount of confidence and humor.

We shouldn’t really consider Mr. Punch to be a role model. Some of his behavior is quite questionable. But, we do have to admire his attitude and we can all adapt some of his unrelenting spirit into our own lives. He’s the best and the worst part of each of us—represented in figures of wood and felt. He encourages us to be the puppeteers of our own lives and to always be prepared to say, “Huzzah, I beat the Devil.”

For his 349 years of entertainment and enlightenment and for becoming more than the wooden-headed hunchback that first appeared in Covent Garden, Mr. Punch is our “Person of the Week.” Or, at the very least, “The Puppet of the Week.”

Happy Birthday, Mr. Punch.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Punch!

On Monday, May 9, Mr. Punch celebrates his 349^th birthday.  Let’s all wish him the very best for another 349 years of slap-sticking, sausage-grinding fun!  That’s the way to do it!

Mr. Punch in the Arts: The Piccini Punch

"Piccini Punch" by Chris van der Craats

As we approach the beginning of Covent Garden’s May Fayre on Sunday and Mr. Punch’s 349th birthday on Monday, May 9, it’s the perfect time to revisit the work of “Piccini.” In the early Nineteenth Century, a travelling puppeteer known as Giovanni Piccini was attracting enthusiastic audiences to his Punch & Judy shows. His work was recorded by artist George Cruikshank who made the image of Mr. Punch famous. It is this variant of Mr. Punch which often comes to mind when thinking of good old Punch.


Punch & Judy Professors occasionally use puppets based on Piccini’s. Australian puppeteer and puppet-maker, Chris van der Craats makes an attractive and authentic reproduction of Piccini’s grimacing hero. He looks good for his age, Mr. Punch does.

(This video shows the puppet in action.  It's an odd size, so don't think it's your computer). 

Schematic for the puppet.
Chris van der Craats

Friday Fun: Mr. Punch in Australia

“He’s trying to eat you!”  This video clip of Mr. Punch, filmed by Chris van der Craats (“Professor Whatsit”) at the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, Australia, demonstrates exactly why the art of the Punch Professor is so wonderful.  The interaction with the children in the audience is remarkable.