DepartmentEurope

Greek shadow puppet (karagiozis)

NamePuppet

CultureGreek

Dateca. 1950s-1970s

Place madeGreece, Europe

MediumVellum, paint, metal, paper

Dimensions15 3/16 × 6 5/16 in. (38.5 × 16 cm)

Credit LineGift of Karen F. Beall and Dale K. Haworth

Object numberA.2015.65.18

Collections

Europe

DescriptionPuppet is still in original, plastic packaging. Figure of a male character with olive skin and black hair and mustache. Figure wearing blue dress and tall white boots.

Karagiozis was popularized in Greece during the Ottoman Empire. The origin is unclear, and Turkey has a comparable tradition (Karagoz), which in 2009 was named to UNESCO's list of intangible heritage, causing objections from Greek officials who claim karagiozis as their own.

Karagiozis performances are generally either historical or comic and they include certain stock characters, including this one, Barba Giorgos. The main character, Karagiozis, provides satirical commentary about current social and political issues. It was repopularized 1910s-1950s when there was great social unrest in Greece.