How to Build Czech-Style Marionettes
According to Puppets in Prague, puppetry was first imported into Bohemia in the late 17th century by itinerant puppeteers from what is today Holland, England, France and Italy. Puppets gained favor among theaters in the region because performances could be staged with puppets more cheaply than they could with live actors. Today, the Czech Republic is recognized around the world for the hand-carved marionettes produced there. To make your own troupe of Czech-style marionettes, you need woodworking skills.
Things You'll Need
- Cottonwood (or other softwood)
- Wire
- Circular saw
- Chisels
- Wooden dowels
- Fabric scraps
- Needles
- Thread
- Decorations
Instructions
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Draw sketches of the marionettes you want to make, the same size as you want the marionettes to be. These marionettes will be hand-carved, so draw each marionette from several angles. Think about how many joints you want the figures to have, keeping in mind that the more joints they have, the more complicated they are to manipulate. Draw sketches for all pieces that are carved separately, as well as the fully assembled marionette. You don't need to focus on every detail, but you do need to give yourself a good idea of what the puppets look like from every angle. Try to keep the shape of your puppets streamlined so that protruding elements (such as noses) don't get caught in the wires or strings.
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2
Draw scaled versions of the puppets. Czech marionettes are not proportioned like human beings. The head of the puppet should be about 1/5 of the body. The hands should be scaled twice as large as they would be on a real person. The body should be about 1/5 shorter than the legs, which should be very long if you want your puppet to walk. The heaviest weight on your puppet needs to be in the hips; if you want to make the hips small, you'll need to add a lead weight to them. The puppet also needs long feet to be stable. Traditional Czech puppets have one open hand and one closed one, so they can carry objects like swords or flowers. They also have the hair carved directly into the heads.
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3
Make technical drawings of the puppets' joints and their locations. Puppets should be able to walk, kneel and sit. Czech puppets are designed along a center line. This is the line where the hands, head and other joints are connected. The puppet must weigh the same on each side. Draw the strings into your technical drawing to ensure they do not obstruct the figure's movements.
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4
Cut blocks of wood with a circular saw into pieces that match the general dimensions of the puppet's pieces. Cutting the wood in smaller pieces reduces the time spent carving. Use a pencil and draw the pattern directly onto the wood blocks. Cut the blocks into the shape of the pieces and the joints using a band or table saw. Drill holes at the locations of the joints. Ensure all pieces that are supposed to be able to move can move.
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5
Use chiseling tools and complete the carving. Chisel the general shape (rounding the head, for example) before adding details, such as eyes or lips. Refer to the drawings you made while you carve. Make sure you maintain the center line on the puppet to maintain the balanced weight distribution.
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6
Use the wire to connect all the joints of the puppets. Traditional Czech marionettes are built with no nails because they make the puppets too difficult to take apart. Loop the wire through the holes of the joints. Test to ensure all of the parts move as intended.
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7
Make the puppet costumes out of material scraps. Measure the completed marionettes and draw costume patterns. Once the costumes have been made, sew the costumes directly onto the marionettes, taking them apart if you need to.
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8
Attach wires or strings to the head and limbs of your puppets, so you can move them from afar. Puppets that are wired are easier to manipulate than puppets on strings. The length of the wires or strings depends upon the type of stage the puppets perform on. The wires need to be long enough for you to remain out of site while manipulating the puppets from above the stage. Loop the ends of the wires or strings, and insert wooden dowels through them to make handles.
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Tips & Warnings
In the Czech Republic, it is traditional for theater groups to make the marionettes together. One person draws the plan; another does the wood carving and another makes the costumes.
Use costumes to conceal mistakes made during the carving process.
You must have experience with wood working to carve the puppets; otherwise, you could injure yourself.
References
- Photo Credit prague puppets image by michael luckett from Fotolia.com
