Additional titles
Hot Air Balloon / Letter to the Brothers Mongolfier

Dated
Date of origin: unknown to KOLK 17

Geographical reference
Place of origin: Germany

Material / technique
Wood, sawed, colored, inscribed
Linen, glued
Thread, attached
Metal, nailed

Dimensions
Object dimension: 19 x 45 x 25 cm
Weight: 2,34 kg
Puppet volume: 129 x 81,5 x 26 cm

Acquisition note
Estate Schichtl 1990

Creditline
KOLK 17 Figurentheater & Museum, Lübeck

Inventory no.
TF001047

Keywords
Music-hall Europe Central Europe

Object description
The prop changes in appearance when it is used. At first it appears as a black wooden box, the front of which is designed like an envelope. It is labelled: ‘To the Mongolfier brothers’. If you now pull the strings that disappear inside the box, the lid of the box folds down and conceals the letter. You can now see a balloon basket. If you continue to pull the strings, parts begin to unfold from the inside in several stages, eventually forming the skin of a hot air balloon. (28.04.2025, EF)

Object history
The Schichtl estate came to the TheaterFigurenMuseum in Lübeck in 1990. It consists of 262 puppets, 53 puppet heads, stages, props, roll decorations, text books, sheet music, advertising material, posters and accounting books. Xaver's daughter, Dorle Schichtl, handed over the estate as part of a presentation in the Great Exchange Hall in the Town Hall of Lübeck. The prop was probably part of a play about ballooning: since the Montgolfier brothers are the inventors of the hot air balloon. “Mongolfier” could be the incorrect translation into German. (27.05.2025, EF)