What materials do you use for marionettes?
As mentioned in my short post about what materials to use when making a puppet, there’s no hard and fast rules as to what to use when building a puppet. However, marionettes are generally one of the puppet types that have some standard industry materials.
The most well known and more traditional materials to use for the body/head/limbs is wood. Carved wood is extremely popular, but does require some carving and sculptural skill. Preference by puppet makers to the type of wood used is: linden, limewood, pine, basswood (there’s also an Asian wood that is popular, but I can not find a reference or actual name for it… I’ll put it in here when I find it). Whatever wood you use, it must be easy to carve.
Another one is papier mache; some puppet makers just use papier mache, others use foam and cover it with papier mache in order to protect the foam.Well-known marionetter Ronnie Burkett uses papier mache for his puppets.(By the way, that link above is an excellent discussion on materials for marionettes in general… well worth a look)
Additionally, paper clay or polymer clay, and the more expensive fibreglass can be used. One method you could try is using cloth, either to sew a three-dimensional (stuffed) character, or to create something more one dimensional. A good example (or two) of a cloth marionette is the ’scarf’ marionette.
Another cheeky idea is to recycle parts from dolls, using the heads, hands or feet and attach them to a cloth body.
The main issue in making marionettes is the weight. You need the puppet to be light enough to move effortlessly, and not be heavy for the puppeteer to hold up, but on the other hand, the puppet also needs a certain amount of heaviness or gravity in order for it to hang correctly and move naturally.
Joints can be made by carving the wood and inserting leather straps (to make flexible hinges), or by adding in metal nails as pivots. If using cloth, then joints can be made easily by sewing the fabric at the point required.
Weight is an important factor for marionette feet, in order to get them to hang correctly, provide gravity to the whole puppet, and to make them walk easily. Puppet makers often use fishing weights and instal them in the bottom of the heels of the puppet… as well as adding a couple in the hips, in order to give the marionette a centre of balance.
Controls are usually made of wood, although some marionettes (like those made in Italy or in the Czech Republic) also have a wire control running from the top of the marionette’s head. Wooden controls can be either dowel or specially shaped planks.
Strings… well, that’s sort of self-explanatory. More will be given on strings later. Attaching strings can use a number of methods, whether it’s through screw-eyes attached to the puppet, making holes in the papier mache, or drilling holes in the wood.
Another good thing to have is a wooden gallows, which makes it easier to attach strings, controls and other things, and to double check the weight/gravity of the puppet.
Do read the post on making puppet clothing; any clothing for the marionette should be made before stringing the puppet and dressed beforehand as well. Any costuming should allow flexibility in the movement of joints, as well as having easy access to where you string the marionette from. Other handy materials are acrylic paints for painting on facial features, etc., marbles, etc for eyes (eyes discussed more here, and noses here).
I highly recommend purchasing the following book, which not only goes into detail on the types of materials you can use, but explains a number of processes of how to use those materials, as well as a whole lot more about making marionettes.
I will be adding extended posts on joints, strings and controls in the future. Read the post on untangling strings here. Read about the myth of marionettes. Additionally, you can find my list of free marionette patterns here. How to make a marionette is discussed here. How to string a marionette is discussed here.
… This post AKA what do you need to make a marionette, AKA what materials are used to make a marionette, AKA what do we need to make a marionnette, AKA what do you need to make a marionette
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