JUDGE Hand Puppet ~ by Gerhard Stiehl 1950s Rare! GDR_Kunstlerpuppe The removal of the button

The removal of the button left a small hole in the bottom front

And this Queen hand puppet comes right from Thuringia

With button and faded ear tag

This Kasper puppet head (Kasper is the German version of Mr Punch) is an example of this carving style and was finely handcrafted in Germany circa 1960s

JUDGE Hand Puppet ~ by Gerhard Stiehl 1950s Rare! GDR_Kunstlerpuppe The removal of the buttonPuppetry 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 Judge hand puppet was created by German designer Gerhard Stiehl and produced in the town of Borna, Germany, circa early 1950s. Different from newer versions with composite heads, the