Antique Victorian Cast Iron 'Mr. Punch and Toby' Door Porter

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A whimsical 19th-century sand cast iron door porter depicting the characters of Mr. Punch sitting on a stack of books, … Read more A whimsical 19th-century sand cast iron door porter depicting the characters of Mr. Punch sitting on a stack of books, finger on nose, and his dog Toby at his side. Punch & Judy are traditional British puppet show characters, with roots in the 16th-century Italian Commedia dell'arte. The character of Punch is derived from the Neapolitan stock character of Pulcinella, which was anglicized to Punchinello and ultimately shortened to Punch. The first mention in British literature of a Punch puppet show is in the late 17th century. During the 18th century, Punch and Judy shows became an established popular entertainment, performed with hand puppets in mobile puppet stages set up on street corners. Originally intended for adults, by the late Victorian era, they were primarily performed for children. Attributed to the Archibald Kenrick & Sons foundry of West Bromwich, England. See less