Puppet Cabinet of the National Museum (http://www.inspirace.krumlov.cz) Author: Mgr. Jan Kostroun Artistic Production: Roman Hosnedl The puppets have been borrowed from the Theatre Department of the National Museum and from the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures in Prague.

The exhibition presents over 200 historical puppets arranged into scenes for you to see e.g. historical legends, a South Bohemian wedding, water sprites (certainly living on the bottoms of the Moldau river in ?eský Krumlov), including a drowned man, robbers from the deep forests of Blanský les and the Šumava mountains, doctor Faust, Punch and devils, as well as the famous figures of Spejbl and Hurvínek.

There is also a mechanical model of a village fair, including a Ferris wheel, which takes up one whole room or an original of a mechanical theater from 1815.

You can also visit the attic showing a puppeteer's home. He left for a while and his place is guarded by Gargantua the giant.

From the ?eský Krumlov castle history
Old?ich of Rožmberk (Rosenberg), his wife Kate?ina of Wartenberk and their ill-fated daughter Perchta who appears as a "white lady of Rosenberg" at the Vítkovcis castles. It was at the time of their reign when bears first appeared in the Rosenberg coat of arms and later also in the castle moat. Puppets (Old?ich and Kate?ina) by folk puppet-maker F. Dubský come from the second half of the XIXth century. Puppets made by carvers A. Schroif from Prague (Perchta) and by A. Petrus from T?ebí? (bear) for society theaters, the fist third of the XXth century.

The exhibition examples

Mechanical theater of count J. R. Chotek from the Ka?ina castle

The so-called Theatrum Mundi - Theater of the World, was made in 1819 by Anton Wattzel. The theater was not used to stage puppet plays - it was supposed to present scenes from various parts of the world (and therefore it was called theater of the world). It used replaceable prospects, moving elements (e.g. mechanical shuttles) and diverse light effects. It is interesting to compare it with the Baroque theater at the local castle.

Spejbl and Hurvínek

The worldwide famous puppets by professor Josef Skupa and that of Žeryk the dog come from 1938, the puppet of Máni?ka, designed by Zden?k Ju?ena, comes from 1970s.

Mechanical model of a village fair

Mechanical model of a fair, 1830s . Big street organ by puppet-maker B. Habich, from 1880. Puppets by folk puppet-maker Jane?ek, used to stage plays at village fairs, the first third of the XXth century.

Faust, punch and devils

The puppets in both the showcases were made by folk artists or come from society theaters from the second half of the XIXth century and the first third of the XXth century