Fashion doll with kid body and bisque face, pierced ears black silk coat and straw bonnet, swivel head, possibly Jumeau, French ca. 1880

Dressed doll with a bisque head, blonde human hair wig and glass eyes. The doll has a stuffed kid covered body. The head of the doll has a swivel function and can turn 360 degrees as well as move to gesture a nod. The body is semi-articulated - the joints of the doll have been cut and stitched to create wrist, elbow and knees and thigh joints to allow a certain amount of movement within its well compacted stuffed body.

The doll wears a black silk dress with a single breast of silk covered buttons. The dress is a princess line with no waist seam. The dress is trimmed with a coffee-coloured fabric at the sleeves. It has a scoop neck, front pockets and a tabulated hem.

The dress has a further layer of coffee coloured crepe underneath the hem in a fine pleat repeated around the whole dress. The back of the dress has a train with a black and coffee-colured ribbon detail on the bottom.

The doll also wears a straw bonnet with a black velvet trim and white flowers and foliage decoration.

Beneath the dress is a white cotton slip with front button detailing. It has a scooped neck and short capped sleeves. There is also a white cotton underskirt with a double hem pleat detail and drawstring waist. The white cotton drawers have legs cut to just below the doll's knee, trimmed with lace. The waist is fastened with drawstrings.

The doll has two cream fishnet stockings and a pair of boots. These are of blue leather with a small black heel. They are mid-calf in length, and are fastened with brass-look buttons and elastic lacing. There is a small blue ribbon rosette with a gold trim on the toe.

Given by Belinda Cadbury

Given to the Museum by Belinda Cadbury as a part of a bequest from the estate of costume designer, David Walker (1934-2008).

David designed costumes and then later set design for ballet and opera and theatre productions including Glyndebourne, English National Opera and the Royal Ballet. He also consulted on costume for films.

This doll is an example of a small-sized 'poupee' fashion doll. It does not have a company mark on the head (which was fairly usual of poupees) but is thought to have been made made by French company Jumeau.

Jumeau began manufacturing bisque dolls in the 1840s, firstly in Paris and then in Montreuil-sous-Bois just outside Paris and reached the height of their popularity around the 1880s. Their dolls are commonly thought to be some of the finest bisque dolls of the 19th century because of a high level of craftsmanship and a level of detail given to dressing the dolls in beautiful clothing and accessories. Jumeau exhibited their dolls at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and won a first place medal.

Towards the end of the 19th century Jumeau faced increased competition from a wealth of more affordable manufactured dolls, particularly in Germany, but Jumeau dolls, particularly early examples, are highly sought after by collectors.

This doll has been dressed in a black silk button up 'princess line' dress with a small train at the back. She has a bonnet trimmed in black velvet and a pair of blue leather boots, stockings and a full set of undergarments. The style of dress is typical of fashionable dress of the 1880s.

The company later followed on from their popular adult fashion dolls by producing the hugely popular Jumeau Bebes from 1877. These dolls were made in the image of children but still continued to have fashionable costumes and accessories.

B.161:1 to 10-2010