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Not currently on display at the V&A

Doll

1903-04 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Fashionably dressed doll, probably used as a shop display model, legs, arms and shoulder-head of pink wax, inset blue glass eyes, rooted human hair wig. White cotton body. Wearing summer ensemble, probably a dinner dress, of 1903-04 in soft blue silk crepe de chine, blue velvet waistband, sleeve edging and hem edging, hand-embroidery on tucked bodice and around hem of skirt. Short-sleeved bodice with square neckline, front filled in with blue silk tulle and white silk chiffon. Underclothing in white cotton and lace, top-petticoat of blue silk taffeta (now extremely shattered and in advanced state of deteroriation). Blue straw hat, now faded to a greenish-gold on top, trimmed with Raggiana bird of paradise feathers, tarnished silver gauze, and remains of very brittle blue tulle, long steel hat-pin. French shoes in white silk with bee stamped on sole


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.

  • Doll
  • Hat
  • Bodice
  • Skirt
  • Petticoat
  • Petticoat
  • Drawers
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
  • Stocking
  • Stocking
Materials and techniques
wax, glass eyes and hair wig, embroidered silk, chiffon and lace dress, cotton body with silk & leather shoes
Brief description
Wax doll wearing silk summer afternoon ensemble and straw hat with feathers
Physical description
Fashionably dressed doll, probably used as a shop display model, legs, arms and shoulder-head of pink wax, inset blue glass eyes, rooted human hair wig. White cotton body. Wearing summer ensemble, probably a dinner dress, of 1903-04 in soft blue silk crepe de chine, blue velvet waistband, sleeve edging and hem edging, hand-embroidery on tucked bodice and around hem of skirt. Short-sleeved bodice with square neckline, front filled in with blue silk tulle and white silk chiffon. Underclothing in white cotton and lace, top-petticoat of blue silk taffeta (now extremely shattered and in advanced state of deteroriation). Blue straw hat, now faded to a greenish-gold on top, trimmed with Raggiana bird of paradise feathers, tarnished silver gauze, and remains of very brittle blue tulle, long steel hat-pin. French shoes in white silk with bee stamped on sole
Dimensions
  • Height: 60cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Frederick Bosworth, 9 Kew Burlington St, London. Ladies' Tailor and Court Dressmaker (Gold and cream label inside crown of hat)
  • PARIS (image of bee) DEPOSÉ (Stamped in leather sole of doll shoes. The bee is a signature motif of Jumeau)
Credit line
Given by Mrs D.M. Colpoys and Miss K. Young
Object history
This doll was probably dressed to be used as a display model in Frederick Bosworth's dressmaking establishment, or, which is likelier, to be displayed at an exhibition as a representative for the court-dressmaker. It was accompanied by another doll, similarly dressed by Kate Reilly, T.23-1943, now transferred to the Bethnal Green Museum collection.
Collection
Accession number
T.24-1943

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Record createdDecember 14, 2007
Record URL
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