Name/Title
5.4.25i Stop-Motion Puppet, Thoughtful Wood-Grain Character (Possible Fairy Tale Figure)Entry/Object ID
5.4.25iDescription
Artist: Alan Platt (c.1941–2022)
Height: 28 cm
Medium: Mixed media – sculpted and painted core with articulated limbs, wire and foam armature, and a painted surface simulating wood grain
Condition: Vintage – fragile; signs of age and wear consistent with use in stop-frame animation production.
A tall, wide-eyed character with expressive features and a pensive pose, this puppet suggests a gentle, possibly anxious personality. His hand-to-chest gesture and upward gaze evoke a sense of hesitation or concern, as though caught mid-thought or mid-conversation.
Production Context:
Crafted by New Zealand artist and animator Alan Platt, this puppet showcases his inventive character design and meticulous handcraft. Likely made during the 1980s–1990s for a stop-motion film or television project, this figure belongs to a unique subset of Platt’s creations painted to mimic natural wood grain — possibly intended to inhabit a fantastical world or folklore-inspired narrative.
Provenance:
From the estate of Alan Platt, released by the family. Puppets of this kind — particularly those with distinctive finishes or grouped as character sets — are increasingly rare and sought after by collectors of animation, cinematic history, and New Zealand visual culture.
Condition Note:
Displays notable wear from studio use: cracking to surfaces, loss to areas of paint, visible construction seams, and fragility in joints. Its condition adds to the authentic presence of a well-used, hand-built studio prop (priced accordingly).
ref: 5.4.25i
