Sporty Spice thumbnail 1

This object consists of 9 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Sporty Spice

Doll
1997 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Character doll with an adult body, reverse socket head, bent rigid arms and soft legs with internal knee mechanism. It is jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips. The feet are designed to have heeled shoes and the doll will not stand unaided. The hands are moulded with the four fingers together and a separate thumb. On the right hand is a 'gold' ring. The face is designed to represent Sporty Spice, Melanie Chisholm , with hazel eyes and black hair.

It is dressed in a sleeveless top of black shiny nylon fabric with white braid piping down each side, back-fastening with velcro. Matching trousers of black shiny nylon fabric with white braid piping down the outside of each leg. The other accessories consist of a backpack of black brushed nylon with purple elastic traps and purple stitching. A pair of trainers, moulded white plastic. A handheld cone shaped microphone of moulded black plastic.

The packaging consists of a window box of card printed in colours to show the title, makers' details, details about Melanie Chisholm, the person the doll represents, photographs of the Spice Girls and Melanie's signature. It opens at the top and bottom. Inside is a folded and shaped card insert printed in pink with white and yellow starbursts representing stage lights. In the back are sets of holes through which plastic covered wires are threaded. These are placed around the body and limbs of the doll to support it when boxed. The head is held by two plastic lengths which have to be cut away from the back of the head.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 9 parts.

  • Doll
  • T-Shirt
  • Sweat Pants
  • Bag
  • Trainer
  • Trainer
  • Microphone
  • Packaging
  • Packaging
Titles
  • Sporty Spice (manufacturer's title)
  • Spice Girls (popular title)
  • Mel C (popular title)
Materials and techniques
PVC, plastic, card, saran
Brief description
Vinyl doll, Mel C. / Melanie Chisholm, made in China by Galoob Toys Inc. for Toy Options Limited in 1997
Physical description
Character doll with an adult body, reverse socket head, bent rigid arms and soft legs with internal knee mechanism. It is jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips. The feet are designed to have heeled shoes and the doll will not stand unaided. The hands are moulded with the four fingers together and a separate thumb. On the right hand is a 'gold' ring. The face is designed to represent Sporty Spice, Melanie Chisholm , with hazel eyes and black hair.

It is dressed in a sleeveless top of black shiny nylon fabric with white braid piping down each side, back-fastening with velcro. Matching trousers of black shiny nylon fabric with white braid piping down the outside of each leg. The other accessories consist of a backpack of black brushed nylon with purple elastic traps and purple stitching. A pair of trainers, moulded white plastic. A handheld cone shaped microphone of moulded black plastic.

The packaging consists of a window box of card printed in colours to show the title, makers' details, details about Melanie Chisholm, the person the doll represents, photographs of the Spice Girls and Melanie's signature. It opens at the top and bottom. Inside is a folded and shaped card insert printed in pink with white and yellow starbursts representing stage lights. In the back are sets of holes through which plastic covered wires are threaded. These are placed around the body and limbs of the doll to support it when boxed. The head is held by two plastic lengths which have to be cut away from the back of the head.
Dimensions
  • Doll dimensions height: 310mm
  • Doll dimensions width: 80mm
  • Doll dimensions depth: 75mm
Production typemass produced
Copy number
Spice Girls™
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Spice Girls™ / Girl Power / Melanie C / Spice Girls Official Merchandise / For Ages Over 3' (printed on box)
  • 'MADE IN CHINA / Distributed by Galoob Direct Inc, a subsidiary of Galoob Toys Inc, South San Fransisco, CA 94080 / ©1997 SPICE GIRLS LTD / All Rights reserved' (printed on bottom of box together with bar code)
  • 'TOY OPTIONS LIMITED' (printed label stuck on bottom)
  • '©97GTI' (moulded into back waist line)
Gallery label
  • Girl power! The Spice Girls were one of the biggest pop groups in the world. They believed in girl power and had nicknames to match their characters. Ginger Spice, Baby Spice, Scary Spice, Posh Spice and Sporty Spice dolls Manufactured by Galoob Toys Inc. 1997 China Given by Catherine Howell Museum nos. B.120 to 124-1998 [Young V&A, Imagine gallery, Adventure, short object label] (01/07/2023)
  • ‘Stop right now! Thank you very much. We’re looking for a sixth member. Wanna be in our group?’ [Young V&A, Imagine Gallery, call to action label. (2023)
Credit line
Given by Catherine Howell
Production
Galoob Direct Inc and Toy Options Ltd are distributors.
Subjects depicted
Associated objects
Other numbers
  • Asst. 23500
  • 23503 - product number
Collection
Accession number
B.122:1 to 9-1998

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 23, 1998
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest