Puppet Show
Unusual Objects From Our Permanent Exhibition Tell Stories of Jewish Life
King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Simeon the Doctor, Ahizar the Servant—these figures belong to the Bible story Solomon and the Queen of Sheba and they bring the great times of the Israelite kingdoms back to life.
Puppets King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Käte Baer-Freyer (1885–1988), Berlin, ca. 1924, plywood, metals; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2017/73/1+2, gift of Eri Heller, photos: Roman März
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Puppets King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Käte Baer-Freyer (1885–1988), Berlin, ca. 1924, plywood, metals; Jewish Museum Berlin, accession 2017/73/1+2, gift of Eri Heller, photos: Roman März
Käte Baer-Freyer created the figures out of plywood in 1924 and painted them. An accompanying book by her husband Albert Baer was published with the stories in rhyming verse.
The couple supported the Zionist movement and wanted to use their puppet show to prepare children for a possible emigration to Palestine.
(For conservation reasons, the puppets were only on display in the core exhibition until Sep 2024 and are now back in the collection depot.)
“Dearest children, rejoice as one! For I am King Solomon;” audio track from our JMB app
Read along: Biblical Puppet Show
Dearest children, rejoice as one!
For I am King Solomon
A great king both in power and might
My palace splendid, large and bright
I’m wise in judging rights and wrongs
As well as writing beautiful songs
I never err, I rule so well
In Judah and in Israel
King Solomon, the queen of Sheba, Simeon the physician, Ahisar the servant - puppets bring the times of the great Israelite kingdoms back to life.
Käte Baer-Freyer made and painted these plywood puppets in 1924. There was a stick to hold each figure and three wires to move the arms and head. There was also a book to go along with the puppets, written in rhyme by her husband, Albert Baer. Curtain up!
With children’s riddles and a touch of slapstick, the young audience experienced the meeting between the wise King Solomon and the legendary Queen. The biblical story tells how the Queen of Sheba comes to Jerusalem with gold and precious stones, with a view to testing Solomon's legendary wisdom. When he answers all her questions correctly, she praises his God, hands over to him her riches and is presented with a gift in return.
The verses were intended to bring Bible into the lives of the younger generation and, ultimately, prepare them for a potential emigration to Palestine, which was Käte and Albert Baer’s own plan. They emigrated to Palestine with their children in 1933.
Core Exhibition: 13 Objects – 13 Stories (13)
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13 Objects – 13 Stories
A Torah shield, a sculpture, a cushion: 13 unusual objects of our core exhibition tell 13 stories of Jewish life. What would a museum be without its many objects, some small, some big, each rich in meaning? You can get a sneak peek of the objects here on our website.
