Type of puppet you slap on a small table to make it dance?

starrystorm

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 9, 2018
Messages
2,987
Reaction score
605
Age
24
I'm writing my story and I've come to a standstill because I don't know the name of what I'm writing about. I know something like this exists, but I just can't find what it's called, so if any of you know puppetry this would be extremely helpful. Basically it's a tiny wooden puppet on a table and you smack the back of the table to make it dance. I think it starts with a "j" but I'm not sure.
 

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Messages
9,239
Reaction score
2,316
Location
Oregon, USA
My grandmother had a jig doll she called a "limberjill" who danced as you describe. There was a lost male dancing puppet in the set called a "limberjack."

I guess he couldn't commit, and she axed him to leave. :greenie
 

mrsmig

Write. Write. Writey Write Write.
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
10,057
Reaction score
7,513
Location
Virginia
Jig doll. I have one named Murphy.
 

starrystorm

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 9, 2018
Messages
2,987
Reaction score
605
Age
24
Oh, thank you, Chase and Mrsmig. This is exactly what I was looking for. Jig doll. I had searched for jiggling doll, but that didn't seem to end up anywhere.

Chase- Haha, love that story about limberjill and limberjack. (Funny for some reason when I was trying to think of the name for the puppet I kept coming up with lumberjack puppet.) :)

Mrsmig--Murphy sounds like a perfect name for a jig doll for some reason. :)
 
Last edited: