Pinokiann Toy Finger Puppet made by Hazelle Rollins: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Pinokio and Pinokiann are finger puppets that you can place on your hand and wiggle. They are made of painted wood and dressed in clothing that resembles traditional Dutch costume. These puppets were probably toys.

They were created by Hazelle Hedges Rollins in the late 1930s, and the puppets are in their original box with Rollins's name on the front. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Hazelle Rollins was a puppeteer who trained with Tony Sarg and is the creator of over 300 string, hand, and finger puppets. She holds four patents in the puppetry field, including the airplane control marionette that is easy to manipulate. By 1975, Hazelle Inc was the world's largest exclusive manufacturer of marionettes, hand, and finger puppets.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1935 - 1939
• maker: Rollins, Hazelle H.
• maker: Rollins, Hazelle H.
• Object Name: puppet
• Physical Description: wood (overall material)
• Physical Description: fabric (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 8 1/2 in x 4 in x 1 1/2 in; 21.59 cm x 10.16 cm x 3.81 cm
• place made: United States: Missouri, Kansas City
• made at: United States: Missouri, Kansas City
• Subject: Puppetry
• ID Number: 1981.1085.03
• accession number: 1981.1085
• catalog number: 1981.1085.03
• Credit Line: Gene and Nancy R. Krupa
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.