Marvelous Antique Folk Art Painted Wooden Marionette matador snake-like handle is a drafting

snake-like handle is a drafting  brush

In addition to being simply gorgeous

it's about 18 1/2" long

The heights of the sides are a bit uneven and the application of the glazes far from precise

The doll will sit with a little effort on the right sized thing while also learning lightly against a wall or surface

Marvelous Antique Folk Art Painted Wooden Marionette matador snake-like handle is a draftingThis marionette ranks among my favorite finds ever, and feels a lot like my favorite sort of 19th century naive schoolgirl watercolor come to life! And look at those unmatched socks, one gray and one yellow, with black painted shoes that just peek out below the belly of the mule (I assume) on the reverse side. The manner of the figure, and face particularly, makes me think late 19th century or so, and it seems possible the figure (which I first took