Doll (adult female) of carved and painted wood made in England, 1700-20.

Doll representing a woman, of carved wood painted with cream-coloured pigment over gesso, and varnished. The doll has an all-in-one head and torso. The head has carved and painted features (including ears), inset pupil-less eyes of black and white glass, and a blonde mohair wig on a linen base. The upper arms are of linen wound round a paper core and nailed to the body at the shoulders; the lower arms are of gessoed, painted and varnished wood, the hands carved with the fingers and thumbs separate and the fingernails indicated. The breasts are defined and have pink-painted nipples; the waist is narrow, the hips wide and the buttocks defined; the legs are tongue-jointed at the thighs and knees; the feet are carved with the toes indicated but not separate.

With the doll are its original clothes, all of ivory linen or cotton except the blue ribbon: waist petticoat, chemise, tucker with turn-down collar, knitted cotton stockings, pocket, length of blue ribbon, two pieces of fabric. There are also some later additions: gown and bodice of ivory-coloured silk with sprig pattern of coral flowers, cream lace head covering, embroidered silk apron, one red velvet slipper.

Given by Mrs James Leahy

From the family of the donor, née Charlotte Avys Petronelle Atkinson (born 1921) who played with the doll herself as a child

English doll makers of the 18th century made female dolls with bodies resembling those of adult women, even when they represented children. There was no tradition of making realistic baby or toddler dolls. This doll has the extreme shape of fashionable women's dress of the period, as though she were already wearing a corset and hooped petticoat .

MISC.264-1978