Wax Doll
ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
poured wax shoulder head and lower limbs with stuffed cloth body, dark blond inserted hair, blue glass eyes
dressed as a young child but not in baby clothes
dressed as a young child but not in baby clothes
Object details
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 15 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Materials and techniques | poured and moulded wax, stuffed cloth, glass |
| Brief description | Made by Charles Marsh, English; about 1870 |
| Physical description | poured wax shoulder head and lower limbs with stuffed cloth body, dark blond inserted hair, blue glass eyes dressed as a young child but not in baby clothes |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | From E MOODY // SOHO BAZAAR // CHAS MARSH // MANUFACTURER // LONDON // DOLLS CLEANED & REPAIRED (maker's mark; blue stamp front and back of chest; stamped) |
| Credit line | Given by Miss Penelope Hawkes |
| Object history | The doll is said to have been dressed in 1873 by the donor's grandmother (born Victoria Indalecia Duarte in Manchester but of Spanish parents in about 1845) who lived in Holland Park. The grandmother died in 1875 following the birth of her second child in 1875. This child was the donor's mother, Eleanor Victoria Cobb of Kent (later Mrs Hawkes). (She was fed goat's milk after her mother died; her father helped to build St. Mary Abbots church, and Victoria Indalecia Cobb is commemorated by a panel in the East window of the church). The donor said the doll was called 'The Best Doll' and only brought out at Christmas. |
| Historical context | Charles Marsh was not listed by himself as a doll maker until 1878, however, was listed with William Marsh, either his father or brother. As the dates are so exact, it must be that Charles was already using his own markings earlier that the presently known dates. Charles Marsh produced 'little girls' not babies. |
| Production | Reason For Production: retail |
| Bibliographic reference | The Collectors' Encyclopedia of Dolls, Vol. 1 & 2, DS, EA & EJ Coleman
The History of Wax Dolls, Mary Hillier
Ultimate Doll Book, CG Goodfellow |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.254:1-2000 |
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| Record created | January 2, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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