Not currently on display at the V&A

Wax Doll

1830s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

poured white wax, very thinly cast shoulder head with wax lower arms and legs (left arm has melted and the wax is stuck to the dress), black bead eyes, red painted mouth and the remains of yellow painted hair which is slightly modelled; coarse linen stuffed body with stitch joints at the hips and knees; around the hip area the linen is marked with red stripes
cream silk gauze dress with deep collar and flounced cuffs, trimmed with satin, and deep flounce at hem; at the neck is a line of lace and satin bows, around the waist is tied cream ribbon; undergarments consist of a waist petticoat of linen with a hem of broderie anglaise, an under waist petticoat of plain linen and a pair of silk gauze 'stockings' with tucks and lace trim stitched to the knee area of each leg - these represent the bottoms of pantaloons rather stockings; necklace of tiny white and metallic beads

bonnet of open woven straw decorated with cream ribbon and the crown painted white; inside is attached a lace cap
bonnet of woven straw covered with cream satin decorated with embroidered net, gauze, quilted panels on the crown and inside brim, braid and a small bunch of artificial flowers
cap of silk net decorated with cream satin ribbon and artificial flowers
bouquet, wax flowers and buds on paper bound wire


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Doll
  • Bonnet
  • Bonnet
  • Bonnet
  • Bouquet
  • Accessory
Materials and techniques
poured wax, satin, silk gauze, ribbon, woven straw, silk net
Brief description
Bouquet of flowers for poured wax doll dressed as a bride probably made in England in the 1830s

Bonnet for poured wax doll dressed as a bride probably made in England in the 1830s

Bonnet for poured wax doll dressed as a bride probably made in England in the 1830s

Bonnet for poured wax doll dressed as a bride probably made in England in the 1830s

Poured wax doll dressed as a bride probably made in England in the 1830s
Physical description
poured white wax, very thinly cast shoulder head with wax lower arms and legs (left arm has melted and the wax is stuck to the dress), black bead eyes, red painted mouth and the remains of yellow painted hair which is slightly modelled; coarse linen stuffed body with stitch joints at the hips and knees; around the hip area the linen is marked with red stripes
cream silk gauze dress with deep collar and flounced cuffs, trimmed with satin, and deep flounce at hem; at the neck is a line of lace and satin bows, around the waist is tied cream ribbon; undergarments consist of a waist petticoat of linen with a hem of broderie anglaise, an under waist petticoat of plain linen and a pair of silk gauze 'stockings' with tucks and lace trim stitched to the knee area of each leg - these represent the bottoms of pantaloons rather stockings; necklace of tiny white and metallic beads

bonnet of open woven straw decorated with cream ribbon and the crown painted white; inside is attached a lace cap
bonnet of woven straw covered with cream satin decorated with embroidered net, gauze, quilted panels on the crown and inside brim, braid and a small bunch of artificial flowers
cap of silk net decorated with cream satin ribbon and artificial flowers
bouquet, wax flowers and buds on paper bound wire
Dimensions
  • Height: 12in
  • Head height: 2in
Credit line
Given by Mrs. Millicent Redmayne
Object history
The doll belonged to Laura Elizabeth Hall who died in 1844 aged 17 years. She was the daughter of William and Hannah Hall, nee Townsend, of Penkhull & Kingsley Staffordshire. Laura Elizabeth Hall was the great, great, great aunt of the donor Mrs. A Redmayne.

Historical significance: The wax head and limbs are poured and hollow with the wax extremely thin and see through. However, the facial characteristic and those of the limbs are based on solid wax heads. As the doll was made about 1830 it shows a limked between the earlier solid heads and the refinement of the later sophisticated poured heads.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
The Ultimate Doll Book
Collection
Accession number
B.297:1 to 5-1999

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Record createdFebruary 10, 2000
Record URL
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