*Alexander Sanderson Design's Halloween Special*

A Pelham Puppet redressed as Princess Mombi from 'Return to OZ'

With three interchangeable heads 

Princess Mombi wearing her original head

Each year I aim to create a one-off, never to be remade Halloween special and this is the Alexander Sanderson Design's 2024 creation.

A Pelham Puppet redressed as the frightful and vain Princess Mombi from the film 'Return to OZ'. Famous for her cabinets of heads, which she swaps between on a whim just as this puppet can in seconds.

Head 2

This puppet is dressed in a gown cut from purple and black taffeta, red velvet and trimmed with gold braid, diamante trim, lilac stones and red ruby style jewels. 

Her three heads are interchangeable - one in her original red tone, one blonde and the other brunette - which hook and unhook at the puppet's neck; and clasp onto the two black head strings via two clasps attaching to the heads' side hooks. The faces of all three are fully repainted in an appropriate style.

Head 3

Her feet are of the moulded Pelham high heel design - re-painted and finished with glittered varnish.

The detachable neck hooks and head string clasps

Alexander Sanderson Designs

Two Pelham Puppets recreated as Cinderella's 

Wicked Step-Sisters!

A lovely review from their purchaser!

"Such charming and whimsical characters with beautiful and colourful costuming. The guests at my shows will be enchanted!"

These are two of my favourite fairy-tale characters and I couldn't wait to get started! 

I decided to use two Pelham Puppet fairies as a base and I joyfully sketched out my designs - deciding, very early on, to totally recraft the originals.

Their faces were completely remoulded using a two-part epoxy resin - to create the exaggerated features - then fully repainted. The hair was styled from fresh wefts and styled into their two tier wigs. Both are topped off with taffeta 'poufs' and trimmed with satin roses and faux pearl strands.

Their gowns are based upon a late 18th Century style, drawing the skirts up at the rear. The over gowns are cut from taffeta and trimmed with gathered lace and satin bows and their underskirts are crafted from a striped, heritage cotton range.

The bodices are stiffened with buckram and corset laced at the back. 

Under their skirts they each wear lace trimmed pantalets and their shoes are embellished with a pearl studded bow.

They shall go to the ball!!!

An Alexander Sanderson Design

A Pelham Puppet Redressed 

as

Queen Catherine Parr

A lovely review from this puppets' purchaser:

"An absolutely superb item. Obviously created with great care & attention to detail. This is my sixth purchase from this seller. All have been delightful & I'm sure more will follow."

This design is a commission piece and uses a Pelham Puppet Ballet Girl as a base; the face being fully repainted to replicate the features from her portrait (an image of the painting sits below.)

Her hair is a newly fixed wig and is left freely to hang down the puppets back, as requested. On her head she sports a red velvet French hood, trimmed with gold trim/braid and costume pearls.

Her gown is a metallic gold brocade - which was actually a bit of a pain to cut, but was quite satisfying to sew. It is trimmed with braid, pearls and a ruby style rhinestone. A pearl necklace and pendant hangs about her throat.

Her sleeves are lined with red velvet, with red brocade undersleeves below. Her underskirt is cut from red brocade, a pearl and bead chain hangs from her waist.

Under her skirts she wears a pair of taffeta pantalets and her feet have been repainted, using a rich red colour to compliment her gown.

As with all my puppets she was strung onto a vintage Pelham controller using traditionally coloured strings.

Portrait of Catherine Parr 

used as inspiration for the puppet

An Alexander Sanderson Design

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as Cinderella
In her ragged 18th Century servants gown

This is a Pelham Fairy puppet redressed as the fairy-tale character, Cinderella, wearing her 'ragged' 18th century servants gown. 

She holds a vintage Pelham broom that has been strung so that it has a sweeping motion when manipulated.

She wears a gown cut from cotton and gold linen, embellished with patches and trimmed with pleated lace. Her apron is decorated with imitation black-work

Her hair is a newly purchased wig, sitting under a linen kerchief. 

An Alexander Sanderson Design

 A Pelham Puppet redressed as 

Queen Anne Boleyn
Based upon the National Portrait Gallery Picture

This portrait puppet represents the tragic Queen Anne Boleyn, second wife to Henry VIII, who was executed for high treason and adultery in the Tower of London by a swordsman from Calais. She was mother to the future Queen Elizabeth I. She is inspired by the National Portrait Gallery's picture of this tragic Queen.

I used a vintage Pelham Ballet Girl puppet as a base. I then selected the fabrics.

Her gown is cut from cotton velvet, with an underskirt and sleeves built from a shot taffeta overlaid with gold net embroidery. Her sleeves are lined with fun fur and then turned back to  create the famous Tudor look. 

Her skirt and neckline are trimmed with costume pearls and gold braid, and a silver initial B hangs from her fully boned bodice - which is corset laced at its' back. A pearl and crystal chain hangs from her waist.

On her head she wears a velvet and pearl French hood - a style which Anne helped make fashionable in England. It has a black taffeta veil down its' back. Under her skirts she sports pantalets edged with pleated net. She is strung on a vintage controller in the traditional Pelham colours.

An Alexander Sanderson Design

A Pelham Puppet redressed as the tragic
 Lady Jane Grey

Jane Grey is famous as 'the nine days Queen' - a pawn who was used to further her families royal ambitions after she was forced to usurp the throne of the rightful monarch, Mary Tudor. 

She was beheaded, in the Tower of London at the tender age of 16.

This puppet has had her face fully repainted - to increase the likeness to her contemporary portrait. She wears an elaborate French hood, embellished with costume pearls and gems.

Her gown is cut from burgundy velvet and trimmed with costume pearls. Her large 'turned-back' sleeves are lined with embroidered taffeta. Her neckline is filled with a high collared, taffeta partlet, trimmed with gathered lace.

Her underskirt is crafted from a gold and orange brocade; a jewelled, pearl chain hangs from her waist.

This puppet is strung on a vintage controller using traditional Pelham colours.

An Alexander Sanderson Design

Two Pelham Puppets redressed as
 Anne Boleyn & Anne of Cleves

A lovely review from the purchaser of Anne Boleyn:

"A Gorgeously Re-Dressed Pelham Puppet! A High quality puppet transformation with lots of detail. She makes a lovely addition to my collection"

Queen Anne Boleyn in her coronation gown 

(inspired by the film Anne of the Thousand Days) 

Queen Anne of Cleves

(in a gown and headdress inspired by the famous Holbein portrait)

Anne Boleyn is dressed in a gown cut from an ivory brocade, woven with metallic gold. Gold taffeta was also used as lining and fronting her trimmed underskirt. On her head she wears a French hood.

Her face has been fully re-painted and her hair is a specifically sourced wig. 

Anne of Cleves is dressed in a red velvet gown trimmed with gold braid. The dress is fully lined in gold taffeta. Her headdress is constructed from a stiff buckram, taffeta and metallic gold lace.

Her face has been partially repainted to create more of a likeness to her portrait.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

       A Pelham Puppet Redressed as 

   Madame de Pompadour

This redressed Pelham Puppet is Styled as Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour - the most famous mistress of Louis XV. She was highly cultured and a patron of the arts; as well as being an early supporter of the enlightenment.

She is dressed in an extravagant taffeta gown, trimmed with hand gathered tulle and satin roses. She has high styled hair, framed with gathered lace cap and clusters of roses. On her feet her shoes are topped with pearl trimmed bows. 

Under her gown she wears lace edged pantalets.

This puppet is strung on a vintage controller, using traditional Pelham string colours.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

Two Pelham Puppets Redressed as Dorothy and 

The Wicket witch of the West

from the Wizard of OZ

The Wicked Witch of the West is built upon a vintage Pelham Puppet. Her face has been remoulded to emphasis her nose and chin, then repainted in her traditional green colouring.

Her skirts and cloak are cut from black velvet, then lined in dark green satin. Her corset top is cut from black satin and trimmed with gilded braid - her puff sleeves sport black lace and satin ribbon embellishments. Her hat is cut from stiffened black velvet, brimmed with black beaded tulle. Under her skirts she wears lace trimmed pantalets.

Below is a Pelham Puppet restyled as Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of OZ - famously played by a young Judy Garland in the classic film version.

Her full skirted gingham dress sits over a cotton blouse and is trimmed with satin bows. Her hair is styled in pigtails fastened with ribbon and her shoes have been repainted in red and are glitter coated to recreate her famous ruby slippers.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A New Alexander Sanderson Design!

MADAME DU BARRY

Madame du Barry was the second recognised mistress of King Louis XV of France.

A past Parisian prostitute, she lived an extravagant lifestyle while the King was alive but was exiled from the court at Versailles - by the new King Louis XVI and his Queen Marie Antoinette - once he had died of smallpox.

She met her end under the blade of the guillotine during the French Revolution, crying out for merci.

She is dressed in a pink embroidered pannier gown; trimmed with French lace, floral Rococo braid, satin roses, pearl clusters and pink gauze puffs. A large rhinestone brooch adorns the front of her stiffened and boned, corset laced bodice.

Her hair is styled up high and is adorned with gathered lace, puffs, satin roses, Rococo braid and pearls.

Under her skirts she has a rigid pannier frame and lace trimmed pantalets. 

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs

 A New Can-Can Dancer Puppet Design

A Moulin Rouge style can-can dancer puppet, 

dressed in a red velvet gown.

Below are pictures of the completed creation.

Her gown is cut from a rich red velvet and trimmed with a rose design, vintage French lace. Her bodice is stiffened and then boned with imitation whalebone.

Her multi layered petticoat is stiffened with gold taffeta and layered with red, black and white gathered lace. It is attached to her hands in order for her to shake and lift her skirts whilst she is controlled in performance.

Her headdress is topped with red feathers and her feet have been painted in the style of Victorian buttoned boots. Her taffeta pantalets are gathered at the knee and trimmed with fine lace.

Created by Alexander Sanderson Designs