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Doll's Head

1953 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This object is one of a collection given to the museum. This collection is quite important as it belonged to Dennis Arkinstall. Dennis worked in the toy industry for a company called Lines Brothers Ltd, they were mostly famous for their Tri-ang range of toys. Dennis was a sculptor and worked in the research and development of new toys for the company in particular the dolls which were produced under the Pedigree trade name. The catalogues highlight that their range of dolls are realistic and produced by a sculptor. We do not know when Dennis started working at the factory but we know that he was an influential figure in the designing of their most popular doll Sindy, which was produced in 1963.

This collected includes dolls from other manufactures as he would have collected them to inspire new ideas. They are often just heads, which was not uncommon as these were usually exported in large numbers and the bodies made at their destination as it was a cheap way to manufacture. The collection also includes moulds and experimental pieces from the factory as well as complete ones in their presentation boxes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Hard plastic with mechanism inside
Brief description
Hard plastic baby doll's head, made by pedigree in England about 1953
Physical description
Hard plastic baby dolls head, with moulded hair and features. The head has been coloured brown, it has red lips and blushed cheeks. It has blue sleeping eyes.

The dolls head look very similar to one on page 7 of the 1953 Pedigree catalogue held in our archive. It is described as 16 inch 'Delite ' dolls, sleeping and flirting eyes with lashes. All with Ma Ma voice. The same head does appear though out the catalogue. It would be common to use one doll head design and attach it to different types of bodies and in different sizes.
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 29.2cm
  • Height: 12cm
Credit line
Given by Donald Arkinstall
Object history
This item belonged to Dennis Arkinstall, who worked for Lines Brothers Ltd as a sculptor. It was given to the museum by his son after his death.
Production
The doll head is very similar to one used in the 1953 catalogue. The same head design was used for many different styles of dolls.
Summary
This object is one of a collection given to the museum. This collection is quite important as it belonged to Dennis Arkinstall. Dennis worked in the toy industry for a company called Lines Brothers Ltd, they were mostly famous for their Tri-ang range of toys. Dennis was a sculptor and worked in the research and development of new toys for the company in particular the dolls which were produced under the Pedigree trade name. The catalogues highlight that their range of dolls are realistic and produced by a sculptor. We do not know when Dennis started working at the factory but we know that he was an influential figure in the designing of their most popular doll Sindy, which was produced in 1963.

This collected includes dolls from other manufactures as he would have collected them to inspire new ideas. They are often just heads, which was not uncommon as these were usually exported in large numbers and the bodies made at their destination as it was a cheap way to manufacture. The collection also includes moulds and experimental pieces from the factory as well as complete ones in their presentation boxes.
Collection
Accession number
B.48-2010

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Record createdJune 15, 2010
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