Woodsman Ventriloquist Dummy

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Woodsman Ventriloquist Dummy

Lamb, Frederick

1865

This is one of three ventriloquist dummies that belonged to Frederick Lamb. Dressed as a lumberjack, this dummy , carved from wood with exaggerated facial features , is painted white with black hair.. His body is stuffed with soft materials and there is a hole in the back to operate the pole that manipulates the puppet. . He is dressed in a red knit cap with a plaid over shirt, blue cotton paints and is wearing gloves and black baby shoes. It is unclear if Lamb actually made the figure or adapted it for his own use.

Lamb, born in 1883 in Nashville, Tennessee Lamb began his career at 12, when he ran away from home and joined a carnival. He traveled with carnivals, side shows and circuses for almost 75 years.. He even performed for Queen Victoria.

Lamb's talents included ventriloquism, magic, a Punch and Judy show, a repertoire of black face comedy skits. .Lamb was exceptionally talented in that he was a double ventriloquist; he operated his dummies simultaneously and it appeared they were talking to each other and him at the same time. Later in life he traveled through Appalachia and coal mining communities in Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina to provide entertainment for children and adults living in remote areas.

Currently not on view

Puppets

Lamb, Frederick

Smithsonian Institution

image

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