bisque with calico body, Royal Doulton, House of Nisbet, 1982; "Swansdown", undressed; China & calico, Royal Doulton/Nisbet, 1982

bisque shoulder head and lower arms with a stuffed calico upper arms, body and legs; arms sewn to shoulders with a large button
painted facial features, blue eyes and eye shadow, brown upper lashes, eye lines and brows, pinkish red mouth

D N 26

Given by Royal Doulton

In 1980, the ceramic artist of Royal Doulton and the costume designers of House of Nisbet joined to create a range of dolls, many of which were based upon watercolour drawings by Kate Greenaway. Eric Griffiths, once of Pedigree and the re-styler of Sindy, created the heads and Alison Nisbet (daughter of Peggy) designed the costumes.

Most of the series of dolls were issued as Limited Editions of 5000. Each doll was individually boxed with a signed and numbered certificate. If a doll had a special name, the name was printed on the head and also on the label attached to the clothing.

In a statement in the leaflets:-
In a splendid renaissance of the Victoria tradtion of soft bodied dolls with china heads and hands, Royal Doulton and House of Nisbet have created "Heirloom Dolls". This growing collection of dolls is the fruit of a unique partnership formed towards the end of 1980.

A number of leading doll authorities were brought into to advise on these dolls, including Faith Eaton, Miss Lines (of Hamleys), Dorothy and Evelyn Jane Coleman and Caroline Goodfellow.
Several meetings were held in Stoke-on-Trent and the launch in 1982 was at the Savoy Hotel in London.

The dolls although well produced were not successful as they fell between the gift market and the doll market. Production stopped in 1985.

Royal Doulton Tableware Ltd

Reason For Production: retail

B.142-2000