Key Features: 100% Hand Crafted and Painted by Shanxi Master. Involves 20 Different Procedures; Detailed Puppet Take Up to a Few Days to Finish. Browse 50+ different Shadow Puppet and other Wood Crafts Art. Handmade Batik in Tablecloth, Door Curtain and Bedsheet available. Precursor of Modern Cinema; Originated 2000 Years Ago: As some may call it the precursor of modern cinema, Chinese shadow play originated 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty in Shanxi Province. It is a drama play where the performer manipulates the puppets behind the screen while singing the libretto along with music to tell the story. The overall artistic impact of the play is produced by the lighting, the screen, the music, the singing and of course the operation of the puppets. Involves 20 Different Crafting Procedures: Puppet is the focal point of the play, and its vivid facial expression, detailed costumes and sophisticated mix of colors, making the puppet a piece of exquisite artwork. Shanxi Puppet is made of ox or donkey leather, and is dyed layer by layer with various bright and shiny colors. The very detailed Shanxi puppet may take up to a few days to finish as the crafting of it involves as much as 20 different separate procedures. "Magic, Lightning-like Art": This art form began to spread to Europe in the mid-18th century, when French missionaries in China brought this shadow play back to France and perform it in Paris and Marseilles (record shown 1767). Although it is hard to see the traditional performance, people around the world are keen to keep the spirit of this "magic, lightning-like art" alive by collecting these valuable shadow puppets. “Chinese shadow puppets are rather different from their Indonesian and Turkish relatives. They are very delicate items, normally made from donkey skin and decorated with cut-out designs and translucent dyes. They are usually so thin that the colors as well as the outline are displayed on the screen. Unlike both Javanese and Turkish shadow theatre there was a very wide range of Chinese characters to perform in many different plays, whether military, religious or simple folk tales.” Item #: SXXAPY125, Measurements: Vertical Length 11 inches, Weight: 20g, Material: Ox Leather, Conditions: Brand New. This is hand crafted by Shanxi master, not a reproduction. Buy Any 2+ Items, Save Further 10% - 20%. Buy Any 2 - 4 items in our store, cash rebate 10%. Buy Any 5 - 9 items in our store, cash rebate 15%. Buy Any 10+ items in our store, cash rebate 20%. PLUS Free Registered Air Shipping, Worldwide! Simply acquire 2+ items per purchase, we will cash rebate you 10% - 20% via paypal!