Need some help with making Rowlf-type eyes

[Writersright]

I'm planning on building my very own Muppet and while I have a pretty good idea about how to build it, the eyes are a bit of a problem. I want my Muppet to have Rowlf/Ernie -type eyes.
I recently visited the Museum of the Moving Images in New York where I got to see Real Rowlf/Ernie Muppets used and looking at the eyes they seemed like they were made out of wood or something, nor out of fabric as I originally thought.

Does anyone know what the eyes of those Muppets are made out of and how I can make similair eyes?

 

[Animal31]

Plastic spoons?

 

[Writersright]

That is a nice idea yeah. Have you had any experience with puppet building using table spoons?

 

[Animal31]

I have made a few in the past, another option is from a place called Out of the Box, they sell "Comical Eyes" which are about the same shape...

 

[ToodlesTeam]

I've used spoons for the eyes on my replicas of Rowlf and Ernie over the years. They work pretty well, but they are more overtly egg-shaped than the more oval shape of Rowlf's eyes. If you don't mind that though, they work quite well as nice looking puppet eyes!

 

[Writersright]

But does anyone know what the actual eyes are made out of? Also, do you have any pictures of your replicas ToodlesTeam? I'd love to see them.

 

[ToodlesTeam]

Here's a picture of Ernie:
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx96/ToodlesTeam/ernie2.jpg
The eyes aren't perfect (Though I made the slant too severe which doesn't help) but as you can see, they work reasonably well as a match for that style of eyes.

 

[Writersright]

Here's a picture of Ernie:
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx96/ToodlesTeam/ernie2.jpg
The eyes aren't perfect (Though I made the slant too severe which doesn't help) but as you can see, they work reasonably well as a match for that style of eyes.

wow, that is amazing. I'm very impressed. Too bad about the slant though but man, that is some great work.

 

[Melonpool]

I believe the actual eyes were made from a toy called "Wacky Stacks." The company went out of business in the 60s or 70s and all their stock was purchased by.... the Jim Henson company.

 

[Poptarts]

Here is a way to make eyes similar to wacky stax (click here)