Hunter marionette, by William Simmonds

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Date:1920

Description:William Simmonds (1876-1968) trained initially as an architect. He then studied at the Royal College of Art under Walter Crane, and at the Royal Academy schools, exhibiting at the Academy from 1903. During World War I he worked on tank and aircraft design.

In 1919 he settled in Gloucestershire, at Far Oakridge near Stroud. It was here he performed his first puppet shows for a children's party. He was involved with the Arts & Crafts movement and was an active member of the Guild of Gloucestershire Craftsmen.

William Simmonds work included carvings in ivory, wood and stone, sculptures and pottery as well as book designs, paintings and drawings. He also made marionettes and performed puppet shows. During the 1920s and 1930s he and his wife Eve held professional puppet shows, including a regular slot at the Grafton Theatre in London.

This marionette forms part of the Hayward Puppet Collection, now part of the Staffordshire County Museum collection.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1870s
Portrait of a woman
Portrait of a woman

Cabinet card portrait of Susy MacNaghten, from an album of photographs belonging ...

1900s
Shugborough Hall
Shugborough Hall

A view of the west front of Shugborough Hall, taken before the attic storey of the ...

1920s
Stick puppet, by William Simmonds
Stick puppet, by William Simmonds

William Simmonds (1876-1968) trained initially as an architect. He then studied ...

1940s
Priest or Roman marionette, by Waldo Lanchester
Priest or Roman marionette, by Waldo Lanchester

Mariionette of a Roman Senator or Priest wearing cream and red robes and a solemn ...

1960s
Pianist marionette, by Douglas Hayward
Pianist marionette, by Douglas Hayward

Pianist used by Douglas Hayward in his puppet shows. Douglas Hayward had already ...

1980s
Crow glove puppet
Crow glove puppet

This glove puppet is designed to fit a child's hand. The crow has a tuft of hair, ...

Related themes:

Puppetry Cinemas & Theatres

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Donor ref:2007.022.0325 (37/27145)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.