Name/Title
Handcrafted Stop-Motion Puppet – Smiling Girl (c.1970s–1990s)Entry/Object ID
S9XKST2673Description
Artist: Alan Platt (c.1941–2022)
Height: 16 cm
Medium: Mixed media – hand-moulded head, painted surface, stylised costume elements
Condition: Vintage – fragile; signs of age and use consistent with its role in stop-frame animation
Overview
This sweet and highly stylised puppet features a simple smiling face, painted dress with ruffled detail, and gently curved arms. Her cheerful expression and naive design style suggest she may have been part of a children’s or fairytale-themed production. A modest but delightful character with strong charm and visual appeal.
Production Context
Exact production unknown. Her minimalist features and costuming suggest she may have served a background or storytelling role in a child-focused stop-motion work.
Provenance
Alan Platt was a Paraparaumu-based animator who spent nearly 40 years creating stop-motion films for the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK. His work earned him three BAFTA awards and a Peabody Award.
This piece was part of a large group of puppets donated by Alan Platt to a local charity. Many were in deteriorated condition and undervalued due to a lack of context. Through my role as a designer at Mahara Gallery and working with Alan Platt on the promotional material for his work, I was able to identify the donated puppets immediately as treasures and select a number of the most significant and visually compelling pieces—museum-level works of craftsmanship and cultural value—for preservation, professional photography, and collector offering.
Condition Note
In fragile vintage condition—best suited for display or conservation. Minor surface wear consistent with age. Handle with care.
More to Come
Additional puppets from this archive will be listed soon.
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ref: S9XKST2673
