About Us

Marta Brabencová

Born in 1945 in Prague, Czech Republic
11 years stage designer and creative artist of puppet theatre plays
15 years book editor
5 years creative editor in the publishing house

Petr Brabenec

Born in 1945 in Prague, Czech Republic
12 years cabinet maker and woodcarver
23 years craft restorer and preserver in Národní technické muzeum (National Technical Muzeum in Prague)

Štěpán Brabenec

Born in 1974 in Prague, Czech Republic
5 years modeller for industry and design
14 years craft restorer and preserver in Národní technické muzeum (National Technical Muzeum in Prague)

About us

Hi, you can find yourselves on the website of family company making authorship marionettes and dolls. We are engaged in production of marionettes for both purposes - for decoration and for the puppet theatre, too. It is similar with dolls, our "kids" either settle the interiors or may be modified on request for instance for stopmotion videos - the number of their adjustable joints starts with 12.

My name is Štěpán Brabenec and my parents are Marta and Petr. I will take the liberty of introducing us a little.

At the very beginning my parents met each other - by coincidence - in the puppet theatre. My mother was working there as stage designer and creative artist, my father followed his hobby - wood carving - and step by step he also worked there as stagehand and lighting technician (awful workaholic). After some time when I was born and grew out I got to the boards of this theatre, better to say to the amphitheatre and spent all my time with my parents in theatre atmosphere. And despite of the fact that my life and actually also my parents led me away from the theatre later on I would never forget for merely 2 meters long dragon made of linden wood who has been shooting the fire over more than half of scene (thanks to inflamed colophonium). We little kids were fairly chained to the seats during this sequence and forgot to breathe. Or, when there was wooden Icarus flying above the stage and we observed the artistry of marionettists in absolutely perfect motoric performance. And incomparable Little Prince of Saint Exupéry with his saddest eyes all over the world. And we admired also the classics - Comedia dell' Arte with Harlequin and Columbine or Shakespeare's dramas like Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet. All this and plenty of more beautiful stories which with the help of 17 people working in the theatre came to life in front of us - children. Now very shortly - the theatre in the basement was cancelled due to technical circumstances and after some time we in 1990 started with puppet business specialized in production of decorative and theatre marionettes, then in 2003 we started with author's dolls. We believe that you will like some of our "children", below pls learn more about the styles in which our "little kids" are produced.

Styles which we have been using

(According to the time sequence of creation)

Pinned dolls

Pinned dolls (Dutch dolls) appear at the end of 17th and at the beginning of 18th century and in fact come from Austria. These are also known as penny woodens and Nuremburg filles coming from Bavarian and Austrian Tirol. We use this technology entirely to create miniatures where we cannot use any other articulated joint (due to proportions and material - wood). Separate joints are adjusted in wedge link which with its tightness allows fixation in selected position. Our dolls correspond to the original dolls with the technology of construction only, this we enriched in some articulated joints by cotyle links - silicon bed kept by rubber to express the gestures better. Below pls find the examples.

All-wood articular (jointed) dolls - classic

These dolls appeared more frequently in 18th century as the alternative to very expensive porcelain dolls. As well as these they have got joints in neck, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Mechanics of joints is led down into the back of the dolls. Here it is possible either to tighten or to let out the tougness. In contrast to original dolls present dolls do not have painted faces and hairs, in our case everything was replaced by precised wood-carving and therefore each piece is a unique original. In such way we make all supplements, properties and sceneries.

All-wood articular (jointed) authorship dolls

The same as in previous cathegory, however we put it into the story of known little figures which come to life in our concept and creative manufacturing. It has mostly to do with the scenes with different supplements which help to tell the stories. The function of our dolls is to evoke the smile in your faces and the wish either to chuck or to nurse these little figures. Their movable joints enable to express various gestures, moods and emotions thanks to which they try to bring to your life peace, quiet and so necessary smile.
The wood has one basic skill - it warms when you look at it. There is no else material with such ability at all. .

Pubescence

Silky insolents as I call this cathegory arised as the image of one amazing girl Tereza which at the moment fights with this period of time. She knows everything best, she is very critical, convinced of her true. This cathegory and style can be described by no interest in anything generally acknowledged: dismissive quiff over one eye, black and white seeing of the world illustrated in their eyes (in the eyes of those who from time to time look at us when we adults do not exceptionally gibber). Then deep colours which do not correspond with their bicolour views at all. The whole cathegory is composed like teenagers going to carnival. Thanks to this it is possible to incorporate all these little figures into whichever story or fairy tale.

EMO

By gentle form I try to make fun of this style which more likely worries the people. I am showing it as exaggeration and parody of its absurdity.

Manga and comics

Manga is Japanese style of digital graphics, in our concept adapted into 3D wooden world. Together with comics they both create blend of styles, something between classical and modern interpretation of marionettes and dolls.

Marionettes

We divide these into 2 cathegories:

decorative - focussed on visage and intended for your interior. They have less joints.
theatrical - intended for playing, they have more joints necessary for gestures, their construction is more resistant.

Table marionettes

Table marionettes – this is a style and category that encapsulates the three aforementioned types. Miniatures, theatrical elements, including sets and decorations. Their mission is to brighten up your desk, a location where your family members enjoy themselves or to simply make a tasteful decoration in a place that is important to you. We have created them for your enjoyment and for the general need to laugh. :D