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

snake-like handle is a drafting  brush

which was done in sepia colored ink

And like the jellyfish

and the little ones are each  approx

In addition to being simply gorgeous

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