Puppet, Kermit the Frog, c. 1974
Historical note
Kermit, originally a light bluish-green abstract creature, was among the puppets Henson made for Sam and Friends, his first television show, in 1955. By the mid-1960s, the
Kermit puppet had its trademark characteristics: a bright green color, fringed collar, and webbed feet.
The puppet’s simple construction allowed Henson to create the wide range of subtle facial expressions that make Kermit such a believable character. “Kermit is the closest to me,” Henson said. “The character is literally my hand.”
Accession number
2014.002.0282
Artist(s) / maker(s)
Designed by Jim Henson, built by Caroly Wilcox from patterns developed by Don Sahlin.
The first Kermit puppet was built by Jim Henson in 1955.
Material
Fleece fabric, felt, plastic, rubber, and self-adhesive vinyl
Donor credit
A gift from the family of Jim Henson
Location
Not currently on view
The cataloging and digitization of the Museum's collection is made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Council on the Arts.
