{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1280322"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1280322/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1280322","accessionNumber":"S.431-2014","objectType":"Stage property","titles":[{"title":"Jester's stick","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"A stick, or marotte, was traditionally carried by a fool or jester and featured a miniature jester's head reflecting the dress of the person to whom it belonged. The head on this stick is made of leather, stuffed and hand-sewn, although jester's sticks were often entirely carved and painted. Metal beads were originally sewn to each of the points of the head-dress on this stick, and would have made a noise when the stick was shaken.\n\nThis is possibly a theatrical prop. The tragic jester Jack Point in Gilbert and Sullivan's 1888 opera <i>The Yeomen of the Guard</i> carries a similar stick and this may have been made and used in one of the many productions of that opera. Since the donor bought it as a curio without any provenance however, its origins are unknown.","physicalDescription":"Jester's stick or marotte consisting of a wooden handle with a stuffed leather jester's head and dagged collar at one end, one of the three points of its head-dress trimmed with five brass beads. Threads remaining in the other two points of the head-dress are evidence of similar brass beads on those. The handle is pierced for a leather loop for suspension, and remnants of the original leather loop remain in the hole.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"},{"text":"stuffing","id":"AAT231130"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood and leather","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES355413"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"jester's stick","id":""}],[{"text":"theatrical prop","id":""}],[{"text":"marotte","id":"AAT211127"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by John Massey Stewart","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"49.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum length, with central point of head dress extended","date":{"text":"06/02/2014","earliest":"2014-02-06","latest":"2014-02-06"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum width of collar","date":{"text":"06/02/2014","earliest":"2014-02-06","latest":"2014-02-06"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The donor cannot remember where or when he bought it but he was a keen collector of odds and ends, as he called them, and thinks he probably purchased this as a curio at a junk or antique shop in the 1950s. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Jester's stick or marotte, possibly carried by Jack Point in a production of <i>The Yeomen of the Guard</i>, wood and leather with brass beads, probably 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.431-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"431","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2014-02-06","availableToBook":true}}