Unique This is one of 35 marionettes from the Tiller-Clowes troupe, one of the last Victorian marionette troupes in England. Marionette shows were a popular form of entertainment for adults in the 19th century, many of them family concerns which travelled around the country long before the advent of film and television, presenting shortened versions of London's latest popular entertainment from melodramas and pantomimes to minstrel shows and music hall. In the 18th and early 19th centuries their theatres were relatively makeshift, but after about 1860 many became quite elaborate, with walls constructed from wooden shutters, seating made from tiered planks of wood, and canvas roofs. The figures were carved, painted, dressed and performed by members of the company. This is one of a pair based on the music hall performer J. H. Stead (d.1886) in his red and white striped costume. Stead shot to fame in the 1870s with the song 'The Perfect Cure', which created a furore, mainly due to Stead's curious frenzied jumping dance that accompanied it, performed with his hands held rigid at his sides. Carved wooden marionette from the Tiller troupe. Speciality act figure representing an extending Scaramouche, dressed as a 'Cure'. One of a pair. Made by the Tiller family circa 1870 to 1890. Carved wooden marionette (one of two in this troupe - see also S.280-1999), in the form of a contracting and extending Scaramouche, dressed in the outfit worn by the music hall performer J.H. Stead. Ivory, black and red painted face and eyes with black dots for pupils. Strongly carved moustache and beard, painted black. Wearing a pointed dark blue hat with yellow dots, and a dark pink and white striped suit, with separate white cotton ruff at the neck, and integral ruffs at the wrists, waist and bottoms of the trousers. Thighs and upper arms each containing two basket rings with run-through strings for contraction. One ring between pelvis and shoulders for contraction. Two control bars; bar one with five notches, the centre one not in use; two strings to each of the inner notches running through bar two, and to shoulders, arms to elbows. Bar two with seven notches - two in use on either side of the centre to support the head, and the centre string to the backside for bowing.