$5,000
Ventriloquist Figure. Chicago, Frank Marshall, ca. 1935. With four movements: mouth, one winking eye, upper lip, and tube for cigarette smoking. Carved wooden hands. Early replacement clothes. Paint worn, one eye loose, otherwise good working condition. Frank Marshall is one of the best-known puppet makers of all time. He apprenticed in the Chicago woodcarving shop of Theodore Mack, where Charlie McCarthy was built. There has been a longstanding debate over whether or not Marshall was the one who carved Bergen’s figure. Regardless, Marshall’s reputation as a master vent figure crafter is widely acknowledged. This puppet is an early example of his work.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2015-04-04
