Odds 'n' Ends: Day of the Dead

Here is where I take the opportunity to show off some of the toys and paper models I have collected, that are only tangentially related to tabletop theater.

This Day of the Dead retablo is about the size of a matchbox, the piece measures 2" x 1 1/2" x 1/2". The miniature skeleton, as well as the background details of the tree and moon were created with clay and hand painted. He is enclosed in a cardboard box with the detailing seemingly done in green ink.

A birthday gift from a former boss, bought as I recall in Manhattan at House of Cards & Curiosities, 23 Eighth Avenue (between Jane Street and West 12th Street).

Punch and Judy

I can't seem to find very much information about this particular theater.

Toy Theatre Company lists it as "Kaspartheater (4) No 2l5." However each of the other sides of the sheet are printed in a different language "Punchinello," "Guignol" on a third, and "Punch and Judy" on the fourth making it difficult for me to determine the country of origin and do more research. That said this is a 1984 reprint from the Phoenix Papieren Theatre located in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is printed on heavy card stock and measures 3 1/2" W x 2"H.

Because I started building these models before it ever occurred to me to take pictures of them, the image of the uncut sheet above comes from the Toy Theatre Company. The photos below are of my model.

As always if anyone has additional information about this or any of the other theaters posted here, please let me know, and I will update my posts.