Name/Title
5.4.25d Vintage Puppet by Alan Platt – "Seamstress" – Handcrafted Stop-Frame CharacterEntry/Object ID
5.4.25dDescription
Artist: Alan Platt (c.1941–2022)
Height: 22 cm
Length: 14 cm
Width: 9 cm
Medium: Mixed media – painted sculpted head and hands, wired foam body, hand-sewn textile clothing
Condition: Vintage – fragile; signs of age and use consistent with screen role in stop-frame animation
A richly expressive female puppet character, dressed in a tailored work apron and blouse, with a pointed nose and sharply arched brows that evoke both focus and personality. The level of detail in her costuming and facial expression suggests a central supporting role, perhaps in a domestic or workshop setting where she provided comic or narrative tension.
Production Context:
This puppet was created by renowned New Zealand animator Alan Platt, whose distinctively stylised characters were crafted for expressive stop-frame motion. With exaggerated features and highly textural finishes, Platt’s figures were designed to translate vividly on screen. The seamstress puppet likely dates to the late 1980s or 1990s, a prolific period in Platt’s career, and may have featured in a UK-involved production. From the estate of Alan Platt.
Condition Note:
This puppet shows typical wear from studio use: slight scuffs to painted surfaces, minor textile fray, and faint age-related discolouration. The stitching and internal armature remain intact. A remarkable example of practical puppet design, the seamstress figure captures both the charm of the handmade and the narrative depth of Platt’s production style.
5.4.25d
