Additional titles
The Beautiful Helena

Dated
Date of origin: unknown to KOLK 17

Geographical reference
Place of origin: Europe

Material / technique
Wood, carved, polychromed
Velvet, sewn, nailed
Woven fabric, sewn

Dimensions
Object dimension: 55,3 x 43,5 x 13 cm
Weight: 0,6 kg
Puppet volume: 55 x 25,5 x 19 cm

Creditline
KOLK 17 Figurentheater & Museum, Lübeck

Inventory no.
TF003858

Keywords
Europe Manipulation from below Performance by concealed performer Human being

Object description
The hands and head of this glove puppet are carved from wood. She has light grey, pinned-up hair and wears a tiara. She has a brown scarf with light-coloured dots tied around her neck. She is also wearing a velvet dress decorated with metal thread trims on the sleeve hems and in the burst area. The original colour can no longer be described due to heavy soiling. However, it was probably a light-coloured textile. There is a small label on a metal ring on the black underskirt that reads ‘Erw. Celle Thüringen 11’. (28.04.2025, EF)

Object history
According to Jürgen Maaßen, this figure of a woman could be ‘The beautiful Helena’ from ‘Faust’. The figurine is labelled with the inscription ‘Erw. Celle Thüringen / 11’. The abbreviation on the label may refer to Erwin Celle from Thuringia - unfortunately, it is unclear to KOLK 17 who Erwin Celle could be and how he would relate to Thuringia or the figure. (28.04.2025, EF)