String puppet (marioneta) of the character Bacchus. Face has a protruding upturned nose, thick lips, open mouth, blue-black glass balls for eyes, and blue painted brows. Ears are prominent. Cheeks, nose, ears and lips are bright orange in colour. Hair and beard are made of twisted wire. The head is attached to the body by a single string, and is controlled by a thin wooden stick located on the lower portion. The puppet’s torso is hollow with an open back, made of paper mache. The outer chest is painted purple while the inside is decoupage of black and white magazine photos of nude men and women. The arms are thick pieces of rope hidden in voluminous sleeves of red satiny fabric. Wooden hands are attached to the ends of the ropes and can be controlled by thin wooden sticks. A metal belt spans the puppet’s waist, from which hangs a full, purple vinyl skirt, closed at the bottom.

String puppet (marioneta) representing the character O Infante Don Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator, 1394-1460), King of Portugal, dressed in a black felt hat with wide brim and long trailing portion, a long black tunic and a long heavy felt coat with silver buttons, tied at the waist with a black rope. Cuffs are decorated with long lines of small black buttons, while front is closed with large dark silver buttons. Boots are short and pointed. Hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. The face is lined with wrinkles on cheeks and forehead, a large thick nose protrudes, mouth is pink and slightly open, eyes are painted brown under grey brows. Black hair peeks out from under the hat. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

String puppet (marioneta) of the character Vasco da Gama. He is richly dressed, with pants and tunic of brocade covered by a knee length cloak of blue velvet edged in fur and a matching hat. His boots are tall, folding over at the knee. A wide, braided belt of leather holds a sheathed wooden sword (part b) painted silver and gold. His face is bearded, and eyes are shiny silver plastic. Hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

Large male figure with a red paper shirt with a white bow tie, and black pants with a multi-coloured hearts design, and a black paper belt. The figure wears a black wig and a white plastic mask with black eyebrows and a mustache. The figure stands on a round wooden base with cross pieces. The base is covered with aluminum foil and yellow and green tape. A four pack of firecrackers is tied to the base.

Large female figure with a white paper shirt and a purple paper skirt, with a green apron and bright pink hair. The figure has a white plastic mask on her face. The round wooden base on which the figure stands has cross pieces and is covered with foil. A four pack of firecrackers is tied to the base.

Large mask made of cardboard with a protruding nose and horns on the forehead. Large headdress consisting of a tall black cone-shaped cardboard hat and semicircular cutout pieces on each side, surrounded by multi-coloured streamers. The mask is part of a costume that also includes a white shirt (2956/200 b), a red skirt (2956/200 c), a white apron (2956/200 d), a red sash (2956/200 e), a mask (2956/200 a), and two bells (2956/200 f-g).

Large mask made of cardboard with protruding nose and tongue, yellow rubber teeth, a black beard and horns on the forehead. Large headdress consisting of a tall red cone-shaped hat and semicircular cutout pieces on each side, surrounded by multi-coloured streamers. (See costume: 2956/199 b-e, and bells: 2956/199 f-g.)

Assemblage piece: wooden carved figure wearing a hat (part b) and decorated eye glasses (part c). The figure has a long wide face with a long protruding nose and white teeth, and stands with long thin legs on a wooden base. The glasses, incised and painted in multicoloured designs, are held on by the figure's protruding ears. The hat is black felt with a curving brim and has a brown paper label taped to the front and sides which reads: "Chapeu que foi? de Salazar não há brincadeira".

Ornament made of a black cassowary feather quill that is bent into a rounded triangular shape with one end inserted into the other. A white ring of plastic? surrounds the join.

Cassowary quill ornament. The ornament is roughly circular with the pointed end of the quill inserted into the thick end. A white ring of plastic? surrounds the join.