Hand Puppets
China - "Glove Puppets"
(pei-kuan glove puppetry):

Traditional Chinese historical novels were extensively adapted for glove puppet shows. The plots were action packed, and filled with fight scenes that were choreographed to fast paced music.

"In glove puppetry, the stage is covered with intricate carvings that are painted gold, resembling the entrance to a traditional Chinese temple. The elaborate setting is ideal for offsetting the finely embroidered costumes, exquisite headdresses, and delicately carved faces of the puppets, which stand nearly a foot high."

(a quote from "Puppetry in Taiwan" by The Republic of China - Taiwan - Official Home Page)

Wooden hands and feet are loosely attached to the wooden head with cloth. The costume completely hides the puppeteer's hand and totally covers the puppet's hands and legs. The puppet hands are drilled through the clenched fist as if to hold something (like a weapon) or to accommodate loosely attached control rods. Carved shoes are attached to dangling stuffed legs that are sewn to the inside of the clothing.
 

Underside of a Chinese Glove puppet photo thanks to private collector

Carved Feet and legs of Chinese Glove Puppets illustrating degrading quality photo by Jean D. Lotz

Of the glove puppets that I have seen, the oldest examples from mainland China had simple cotton Chinese clothing without a lot of fancy embellishment. They had dramatically carved faces with extremely powerful expressions. Their paint was matte with stark coloration. Some had multi-colored streaks across their faces - almost like American Indian war paint.

Taiwanese glove puppets developed from the mainland puppets. These have more fanciful costumes which are often embellished with mirrors, glass beads, sequins (old fashioned flat translucent disks), embroidery, dyed strips of fur, spectacular hair styles, and fancy headdresses. The earlier examples of Taiwanese puppets are made with quality, natural yet fancy materials. These early examples were masterfully carved and painted with matte finish paint. and they even have carved details on the hidden shoes.

Unfortunately, the quality of these puppets degraded as more were made solely for souvenirs. Souvenir puppets were made with flashy, cheap, modern materials. The costumes were heavily embellished with more modern faceted sequins, glass beads, mirrors, dyed fur, and inexpensive appliqués. The faces are minimally carved and quickly painted. The heads often have a thick coat of clear lacquer over the paint giving them a glossy china look. They typically have a great mass of synthetic hair (too much hair!). The legs are stuffed tubes of man-made material with crudely carved and quickly painted wooden feet.

Taiwanese Glove Puppet Tradition:

quote from a now defunct web page:
"In the course of the development of the pei-kuan glove puppetry borrowed from the mainland, Taiwan artists introduced a number of martial arts tactics and body movements to go with the rhythm of the pei-kuan music. These include special movements to make the puppet jump, turn somersaults, fight, and proudly strut onto the stage.

Taiwanese puppeteers also began using local dialects in their performances, and created their own personal artistic styles. Their efforts contributed to the development of a distinct form of glove puppetry in Taiwan. The dramatic range of glove puppetry in Taiwan came to cover an enormous variety of subjects."

Click on photo to see a full-length image. Chinese Glove Puppets photo thanks to Miller collection

These mean looking warriors have very expressive grimacing faces. Snarling, mean looking characters are an integral part of battle scenes staged in Chinese glove puppet productions.  Note the embellishments on these costumes. They have fanciful head dresses with multicolor, shiny, glass beads, and the tassels dangling from beaded wire. The gowns have multicolor dyed fur trim; mirrors and sequins. Did these puppets ever perform on stage or were these created solely as a souvenir from Taiwan? If these were just souvenir puppets, then they were better quality, early samples. The facial details are dramatically carved instead of simple, quickly painted features.

Ghostly Character with a tiny fur mustache photo by Jean D. Lotz

Ghostly Character full-length view showing his elaborate costume and fancy shoes

click on the image to see the full length front and back views Gentle Prophet with a gold helmet an older puppet from the collection of J.A.D.E. members,  Marvin and Flora Herring

click on the image to see the full length Lovely Lady missing her crown with a lot of synthetic hair! (A Souvenir Type Glove Puppet)  photo by Jean D. Lotz

click on the image to see the full length Glove Puppet missing his hat (A Souvenir Type Glove Puppet)  photo thanks to private collector