CLOWN Hand Puppet ~ by Gerhard Stiehl 1950s Rare! Germany The neck seam shows wear

The neck seam shows wear at the back

The iconic Steiff Jocko Chimpanzee is adored by fans all over the world

Its hand-painted head is small but has an amazing expression

Excelsior stuffed head with cardboard finger tube

CLOWN Hand Puppet ~ by Gerhard Stiehl 1950s Rare! Germany The neck seam shows wearPuppetry has been part of the German culture for hundreds of years. There's not only a strong tradition of German brands producing puppets as toys but also countless German designers and puppet makers creating puppets for the professional stage. This very expressive Circus Clown hand puppet was created by German designer Gerhard Stiehl and produced in the town of Borna, Germany, circa early 1950s. Different than newer versions with composite heads,