Puppet depicting a turtle, or tortoise, with a lit candle sitting on its back. The turtle has a thick shell in orange, brown and green with its neck and head protruding from the front. Its face has a large dark eye and rounded snout. Four legs hang from the bottom of the shell, each with three claws. The legs are attached to the puppet by plastic ties, allowing them to move freely. The skin of the object is punctured to form linear decorations.

• Narrative

  Collected by the donor in Istanbul in the early 1970s.

• History Of Use

  Shadow puppet character, from the Turkish shadow play known as "Karagöz & Hacivat". The play dates back to the Ottoman Empire (c. 1299-1923). It follows the escapades and fights of the two central characters from whom it takes its name. These friends are opposites in many ways: Karagöz (Black Eye) is illiterate and coarse, but well-intentioned, and very funny. Whereas Hacivat is pretentious and conceited, well-spoken and amusing. The plays are full of wit and satire and social and ethnic stereotypes as well as supernatural characters, such as monsters and magicians. Karagöz shadow puppetry was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

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• Type of Item puppet
• Culture Turkish
• Material skin, paint, plastic
• Measurements height 11.1 cm, width 10.0 cm, depth 0.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Rudi Kovanic
• Received from Rudi Kovanic

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• Made in Turkey
• Collected in Istanbul

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• Creation Date before 1970
• Ownership Date before October 31, 2014
• Acquisition Date on October 31, 2014

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 3084/0003