{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1111036"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1111036/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA8411/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA8411/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NA8411","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018LC1507","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1111036","accessionNumber":"S.321&C-1980","objectType":"Puppet","titles":[{"title":"Sicilian rod puppet of a Saracen warrior","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Catanian puppets such as this are the tallest and heaviest type of Sicilian puppet, less flexible than the smaller puppets from Palermo.  Made of wood, as tall as 140cms and weighing as much as 35 kilos, they usually have heavy metal armour and are operated by men standing on a bridge above the stage, holding the gauge rod which passes through the head and supports the body. Another rod operates the sword arm whilst the shield is worked by a string. \n\nFigures like this were used in traditional Sicilian puppet shows (‘opera dei pupi)’, dating from the 19th century. The shows dramatised the conflict between Christians and Saracens with a lot of action and noisy sword fighting, and are still performed in Sicily for tourists.\r\n\n","physicalDescription":"Carved and painted rod puppet of a Saracen warrior. He wears upper body armour (breastplate, pauldrons, vambraces and rerebraces) of embossed metal, trousers of yellow-gold fabric, a yellow-gold cloak of a different fabric, and a tall helmet with a padded yellow fabric band and a plume of yellow wool yarn. In his right hand he holds a metal scimitar and in his left an embossed metal shield. The sword, shield and rod are detachable.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"cloth","id":"AAT162391"},{"text":"wool yarn","id":"x30441"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"embossing","id":"AAT53826"},{"text":"cutting (dividing)","id":"AAT53069"},{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved  and painted wood with metal and mixed fabrics","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Puppetry","id":"THES266219"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021NA8411","2018LC1507"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA011B","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA011B","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA011B","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA011B","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"rod puppets","id":"AAT226128"}],[{"text":"rod puppets","id":"AAT226128"}],[{"text":"rod puppets","id":"AAT226128"}],[{"text":"rod puppets","id":"AAT226128"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Sicily","id":"x29142"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"20th century","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1999-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.427-1980","id":"O1161196"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.428-1980","id":"O1161197"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.429-1980","id":"O1161198"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by the Azienda Autonoma Soggiorno Turismo (Taomina Tourist Authority)","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to the museum by the Azienda Autonoma Soggiorno Turismo (Taomina Tourist Authority) (RF1980/787)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sicilian rod puppet of a Saracen warrior, Catanian, 20th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Catanian puppets like this were the tallest and heaviest type of Sicilian puppet, traditionally made to enact batttles between Charlemagne's knights and Saracens. They were operated from a bridge above the stage. A string worked the puppet's shield arm and the rod attached to the sword arm allowed more precise movement in the fights.","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.321-1980","S.321A-1980","S.321B-1980","S.321C-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"321","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"","id":""},"number":""}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-07-01","availableToBook":false}}