Name/Title
5.4.25f Stop-Motion Puppet – Ring Forger from The Ring (2000)Entry/Object ID
5.4.25fDescription
Stop-Motion Puppet – Ring Forger from The Ring (2000)
Artist: Alan Platt (c.1941–2022)
Height: 26 cm
Medium: Mixed media – hand-moulded head, painted detail, costumed with textile, leather, and synthetic hair
Condition: Vintage – fragile; signs of age and use consistent with screen role in stop-frame animation
Overview:
This is the original puppet of the Ring Forger—an unforgettable character from Alan Platt’s stop-motion adaptation of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. Rugged and richly expressive, the figure has a powerful stance, exaggerated belly, and a muscular form wrapped in stitched and distressed cloth, with rope bindings at the feet. The forged metal ring hammer clutched in one hand hints at his mythic task: crafting the cursed ring that drives the entire opera cycle. A vivid example of Platt’s sculptural storytelling.
Production Context:
This puppet features in Alan Platt’s 2000 stop-motion film The Ring, a 29-minute adaptation of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen [around the 8th minute]. Produced in New Zealand, the film brought together hand-moulded clay animation with orchestral narration by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unLaq0DFLkk]
Provenance:
Part of the Alan Platt estate, released for sale by the family. Platt’s handmade puppets rarely surface and are increasingly valued by collectors of film and animation artefacts.
Condition Note:
As with all studio-used puppets of this era, there is surface wear and fragility consistent with production use. Expect cracking to the painted surface, aged fabrics, and signs of glue and handling. Best suited for preservation or display.
More to Come:
This is one of a limited group of Alan Platt puppets being released. Each offers a rare glimpse into the handcrafted world of analogue animation and New Zealand’s stop-frame film history.
ref: 2.7.25c
