Punch and Judy Man's treasure trove up for auction

Thousands of Punch and Judy items from a lifetime collection are heading to auction in Lincoln.

The treasures feature traditional puppets, booths and props amassed by actor and children's entertainer Frank Turvey, from Cardiff.

The items will go under the hammer at Heritage Auctioneers and Valuers in Lincoln on 29 September.

Darryl Kirk, of the auctioneers, said the collection was "visually stunning". He said: "If there's a thing that has Punch and Judy on it, we probably have it in the auction."

The collection has been stored with Turvey's family in Lincolnshire since his death at the start of the year.

"They wanted it to be sold in Lincolnshire because of Frank's relationship with Lincolnshire," Kirk said.

"When we first visited Frank's collection, it was immediately apparent that this was something special.

"The sheer variety is wonderful. There are puppets and performance pieces alongside ceramics, glass, advertising, postcards, figures and objects that you simply don't encounter very often.

"We hope the auction will appeal not only to established collectors but also to people with an interest in theatre, magic, social history and traditional British entertainment."

Performing as Professor Mystral, Turvey developed his own Punch and Judy shows and toured schools and seaside resorts in Lincolnshire.

Built up over many years, his collection, which is being spread across more than 450 lots, features the history of the traditional English puppet show and the working life of a professional entertainer.

Among the more unusual pieces are uranium glass Punch and Judy figures, crested China, Hantel Victorian Miniatures and original props and costume.

Punch and Judy puppet shows have been a feature of English culture since the 17th Century and were once a fixture on beaches up and down the coast.

Characters include Mr Punch, his wife Judy, their baby, a crocodile and a police officer.

However, in more recent years its use of slapstick violence has attracted criticism from those who feel it is trivialising domestic abuse.

In 2024, one veteran performer said Punch and Judy shows were "dying out".

But, in other areas of the UK, the show still proves popular, with one teenager from Dorset bringing less violent adaptations of the show to life.

Yet despite the change in attitudes, Kirk said early interest in the collection had been high.

"The collection has been up online for a few days and has had quite a lot of enquires from people, Punch and Judysocieties and collectors that remember the past," he said.

The estimate for the whole collection is £12,000 to £20,000.

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