Idea 2- Chinese Oxhide Puppets

One of our well-traveled framing clients always brings back interesting artifacts to frame for their home. This shadowbox frame contains three oxhide puppets. These puppets are made from oxhide that has been treated to be stiff and somewhat translucent as well as colored. The segments are jointed and can be manipulated like puppets.

We cut out platforms with rounded corners on our Wizard Mat Cutter, with the central one larger than the outside ones, using a reverse bevel on the edge. Then, we carefully sewed each one down using a 6 lb. test monfilament, as it is also translucent and nearly invisible. We used Bainbridge 4840 White Silk for the mat, as the yellow/white color perks up the translucently colored puppets. A dark mat did not work well with these.

We also put 8 ply mat board risers under each platform to elevate the puppets and give them some dimensionality. The central platform is taller than the other two, so the mandarin is in the foreground, while the dancers are in the background.

Glass is Tru-Vue AR Glass, which is virtually invisible. The frame is by Max, being a gold foil with dark scratches (#1094525) . We also used the larger version of this moulding to frame a very long, large, Chinese scroll for the same client. In that way, the two pieces have a coordinated look.

Use of the frame project's image courtesy of the Speiser Family. Designed and executed by Brian Flax.