Lot 116
TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE
ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF A SAILOR FIDDLER, LATE 19TH CENTURY
Auction: 28 February 2018 from 11:00 GMT
£875
Description
painted wood and fabric
Dimensions
70cm x 18cm x 9cm
Footnote
Note: This marionette of a one-eyed, peg-legged sailor fiddler was known as Tommy One-Leg. It was specially made for the popular comic music hall song 'How Cruel Were My Parients' (sic)'. It was sung by Tommy's wife, relating the fate of her husband who lost his eye and leg when he was press-ganged into the navy, and how he was reduced to busking in the streets with her. [V&A]