Venetian figure?

Any help on this figure, the seller said it was Venetian... height 12".

 

It's a marionette, isn't it. Not a "figure"?

Debora

 

With that helmet it could be Sicilian, a puppet from the "Opera dei pupi":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_dei_Pupi

https://www.visitsicily.info/en/puppet-opera/

 

Almost looks Japanese or around the Mongolian area? The shoes look Asian to me, but I know nada.

 

Does anyone else remember similar items coming in a few years back as decorative items? Or does my memory not hold?

Debora

 

Agree, it does look Japanese, also with those shoes and puttees.

 

Maybe you mean those Burmese puppets? Those are a revived tradition, but genuine, although also made for export.

 

Perhaps that was what I was thinking of.

Debora

 

When I was in Sicily we went to the International Puppet Museum in Palermo and another one in Catania. I'd say this is not Sicilian.

 

The museum's puppets seem to be larger and more finely rendered. I'm still thinking India, decorative and new-ish.

Debora

 

They did a show for us. The puppets were popular before the majority of people were able to read. They performed Bible stories and history. In smaller villages they performed in the town square. Fascinating history. They take their puppets very seriously because it's keeping a tradition alive.