Height

The dolls themselves originally started at 30cm/11.8" but grew in size as the theatre accumulated an audience. To adjust for spectators sitting farther back, puppets were crafted to the size of 36cm/14.2", then 45cm/17.7", and later, 80cm/31.5" (Department of Education 1996, 95). Chinese puppetry is steeped in the traditions of the Chinese opera, from its costuming to the stories that are told on the puppet stage. Maria de Lourdes Orozco Cuautle's Chinese Puppet Doll is 35cm/13.8" (Maria de Lourdes Orozco Cuautle Dolls Collection).

The Neatline exhibit below contains hyperlinks to different pages. Please explore the exhibit and click on the titles to learn more about each aspect of the doll.