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Not currently on display at the V&A

Doll

late 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Late 19th century wax head with glass eyes and wax arms attached to a ca. 1800 (possibly) cloth body. Shoes, stockings and blue silk petticoat could be ca. 1800 as well. Doll has a human hair wig arranged in the style of the 1780s, and is dressed in an elaborate pink silk satin (faded to oyster) bodice with self-fabric stomacher panel, ivory satin petticoat with embroidered floral sprigs and gathered flounces of sheer silk chiffon, edged with gilt metal fringe and caught up with satin ribbon bows, ribbon knots and artificial flowers, also trimmed with polychrome silk braids. Silk chiffon sleeves en chemise a la Reine tied in with ribbons, overskirt in back of silk chiffon. Gauze cap to match dress flounces, trimmed with artificial flowers, ribbon knots and lace.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 9 parts.

  • Doll
  • Cap (Headgear)
  • Dress
  • Stomacher
  • Petticoat
  • Petticoat
  • Petticoat
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
wax, glass eyes and hair wig, embroidered silk satin, chiffon and lace dress, cloth body with leather shoes
Brief description
Doll, wax and cloth, dressed in late 18th century French fashion
Physical description
Late 19th century wax head with glass eyes and wax arms attached to a ca. 1800 (possibly) cloth body. Shoes, stockings and blue silk petticoat could be ca. 1800 as well. Doll has a human hair wig arranged in the style of the 1780s, and is dressed in an elaborate pink silk satin (faded to oyster) bodice with self-fabric stomacher panel, ivory satin petticoat with embroidered floral sprigs and gathered flounces of sheer silk chiffon, edged with gilt metal fringe and caught up with satin ribbon bows, ribbon knots and artificial flowers, also trimmed with polychrome silk braids. Silk chiffon sleeves en chemise a la Reine tied in with ribbons, overskirt in back of silk chiffon. Gauze cap to match dress flounces, trimmed with artificial flowers, ribbon knots and lace.
Dimensions
  • Height: 63cm
Object history
This doll is very elaborately and extravagantly dressed in the style of the 1780s. While the body of the doll does appear as if it could be c.1800, being quite crudely made by later 19th century standards, the wax head and arms are of a later date, probably around 1900, and the extravagantly fashionable, elaborate outfit seems to be closer to an Edwardian aesthetic than late 18th century. The shoes, stockings and possibly the blue silk petticoat may be old, with added braid trimmings, the skirt of the dress is probably made from antique embroidered satin. The outfit is a pastiche of fashionable woman's dress of circa 1785. It is relatively unlikely that a cloth-bodied (or even a wooden) doll of the actual period would have been quite so elaborately and sumptuously dressed. The doll may represent Marie Antoinette.
Collection
Accession number
T.54-1917

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Record createdDecember 13, 2007
Record URL
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