"Hoop" Podling Puppet - Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction on Julien's Auctions, sold for $8,960 - Lot 163
"The puppet for the Podling, Hoop, that is seen primarily in the third episode of the prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix, 2019), entitled, "What Was Sundered and Undone." When Brea (performed by Alice Dinnean and voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy) is banished to be a part of the Order of Lesser Service, her first task is bathing unruly Podlings who hate to be cleaned. Hoop is the most uncooperative Podling that Brea tries to bathe, eventually running off into the forest and forcing Brea to run after her. After Brea finally catches Hoop, they make a pact to let each other go, allowing Brea to escape the Order of Lesser Service and allowing Hoop to gleefully make dirt angels in the ground. Hoop is seen again in the next episode, "The First Thing I Remember Is Fire," in the background of the band playing at the Podling Hut.
The puppet's head is made of sculpted and hand-painted foam latex, with wig hair. Its hands are also foam latex, with interior three-fingered armatured foam pod with arm rod pockets, and press-on nails on the exterior top of each finger. Its costume is comprised of cotton and linen multi-piece garments including a loose woven linen vest, cotton shirt, linen pants, and a knit cap. Please note: this puppet does not include legs.
Built inside of the puppet's head is a metal plate with two screws backed with magnets and affixed to the glass taxidermy eyes to allow the puppeteer to control the puppet's eyes. This metal plate also served as a resting place for the puppeteer's hand. A protective covering of either leather or another material was also built into the inner mouthpiece so the puppeteer's hand wouldn't sweat through. The body of the puppet is an articulated pod with foam arms with inner wooden dowels to create bone structures. The arms of the puppets were created to be foam latex up to the elbow and then have the ability to be Velcro'd on and off for easy replacement, as damage was a regular occurrence because of prop usage or rod replacement.
This puppet comes posed and mounted on a stand custom-built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, featuring an identifying emblem.
Please Note: All Jim Henson auction lots require custom crating to ensure safe transport. Shipping and crating will be coordinated through experienced third-party specialty shippers, with all related costs the responsibility of the buyer. Pickup is available from our Gardena, California location by appointment only beginning December 1, 2025. Please refer to your invoice for scheduling details.
Dimensions: Overall: 23 x 11.75 x 11.75 inches"
