glazed china, Royal Doulton, 1982; part, right arm, "Swansdown"; China, ivory glazed, Royal Doulton/Nisbet, 1982

glazed china, Royal Doulton, 1982; part, right arm, "Swansdown"; China, ivory glazed, Royal Doulton/Nisbet, 1982

glazed china and calico, Royal Doulton, 1982; part, right arm, "Swansdown"; China & calico, ivory, Royal Doulton/Nisbet, 1982

glazed china, Royal Doulton, 1982; part, right arm, "Swansdown"; China, pink glazed, Royal Doulton/Nisbet, 1982

bisque right arms of different lengths and one attached to the stuffed calico upper arm
flange ring at the top for jointing

After the arms were smoothed and fired, they were given either an ivory or pink matt glaze.

Given by Royal Doulton

In 1980, the ceramic artist of Royal Doulton and the costume designers of House of Nisbet joined to create a range of dolls, many of which were based upon watercolour drawings by Kate Greenaway. Eric Griffiths, once of Pedigree and the re-styler of Sindy, created the heads and Alison Nisbet (daughter of Peggy) designed the costumes.

Most of the series of dolls were issued as Limited Editions of 5000. Each doll was individually boxed with a signed and numbered certificate. If a doll had a special name, the name was printed on the head and also on the label attached to the clothing.

The first dolls produced did not have bisque hands, merely simple calico ones as part of the arms. This was discussed at length between the designer Eric Griffiths and Caroline Goodfellow and the decision was to produce china lower arms and hands. One hand (right) would curved inward so it could hold an object such as a flower, and the left would be open so it could be used to hold strapped items or materials such as a shawl. The hands designed are like those of Caroline Goodfellow, small and rather straight, and regardless of the length of the arm the fingers are short and stubby.

B.144:1-2000