File puptcrit/puptcrit.0511, message 169


Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 19:17:59 -0500
From: biersblackwood-AT-aol.com
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] A "puppets were chewed by dog" question


 Hello, all.  I posted a question a while ago about how wooden puppet heads should be treated to keep them from drying out and cracking. I have a lovely Russian puppet with a hairline crack above her lip.  She is carved from a dark wood and wears only a very little paint, like discreet makeup, around her eyes, cheeks, lips, and hair.
 
But while I'm still hoping for some help with that question, I now have a more urgent problem.  While I was away last weekend, my curious cocker spaniel decided to make a quick lunch of two antique Germnan puppets I recently acquired -- a sinister, feral Kasper and a mournful, pained frau.  It is too dreadful to detail all that he did to them, but the Kasper got the worst of it.  He is missing a chunk of his hat, a significant portion of his nose, and most of his neck.  It was formerly carved out of one piece of wood.
 
There is nothing left to glue back in place.  But I was wondering if there were a wood putty or filler which could be used to sculpt the missing bits and smooth out once delicate features which now bear "character marks" in the shape of dogs' teeth.  As there was a discussion of toxicity, perhaps this is a related subject, although my primary concern would be something that would actually work -- that could be sculpted and would adhere to the real wood without eventually cracking off, that could be easily painted, that would dry hard, etc.  Also, I was wondering if I should add a cardboard tube or something sturdier to the neck and putty or fill it into place so friction from my finger doesn't break the joint where the wood and filler would meet.
 
The puppets hands and legs are completely gone and simply need to be replaced altogether, provided I can find loose limbs in the German style and of the correct size.
 
Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
 
Sean K.
www.punchandjudy.com
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