Physical description

Doll with a cream silk band around neck represents an infant, possibly the Christ Child. In overall look the doll appears to be seated in a red chair.

poured wax shoulder head and large hands, with stuffed cloth torso and front the waist a card cone with shoe clad 'feet' protruding beneath; probably no legs but these can not be seen; blue glass eyes and rolls of white wool hair

dressed in patterned cream silk decorated with silver braid around the neck, waist, sleeves and hem plus a strip down the centre bodice and skirt; centre of bodice has a circle of silver braid with sequins and a glass circular centre 'jewel'
holding in right hand a bunch of artificial flower and in the left hand an orb of pale blue silk with a gold braid cross and trim
figure stands before a sheet of blue silk, attached to shoulders, a panel of red silk and gold braid; attached to the back of the doll on a strip of card is a gold braid halo

rectangular. wooden box, smaller at the back than the front, giving perspective
back wall covered with a mid blue paper decorated with swaths of leaves and flowers
at lower edge a scene with a building and lake; sides covered with a slightly darker blue and white striped paper decorated with red and dark blue leaves and flowers; base covered with a plain blue paper
at the front of the base is a strip of blue paper decorated with garlands of red and white
each corner has a pillar, thinner ones at front, covered with dark blue paper decorated with lighter blue bands and bound with gold braid

on each side of doll is a circular card tube and flat round top structure fronted by a square of blue card trimmed with gold braid representing 'flower pots' with flowers of cream and orange tissue paper and green tissue paper leaves
outside of box covered with dark paper decorated with a line and floral pattern
box should have glass front panel to protect the inside from dirt and dust

Place of Origin

Italy (probably, made)
Austria (possibly)
Germany (possibly)

Date

1830-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

poured wax, card, paper, silk, metallic braid

Dimensions

height: 7.375 in doll, height: 23.5 in box front, width: 14.75 in box front, height: 19.5 in box back, width: 14.75 in box back

Object history note

Part of the Lovat Fraser Bequest (Misc.352/465-1978), bequeathed to the museum by Grace Lovat Fraser, widow of Claud Lovat Fraser the artist. The initial basis of the collection was a group of Indian toys belonging to Lovat which he gave to Grace as an engagement present.

Descriptive line

possibly the Christ Child, Italian/Austrian/German, 1830-50

Production Note

Although probably made in Italy, the doll could have been made in the Grodner Tal area which covers southern Germany, Austria and Northen Italy. The casing of the doll could have been done anywhere but is likely to have been done in a Roman Catholic country rather than England.

Materials

Wax; Card; Paper; Silk; Braid

Techniques

Poured

Collection

Museum of Childhood