Gwendolin thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Gwendolin

Baby Doll
1888 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This wax over composition baby doll carries the winged helmet trade mark of Cuno and Otto Dressel of Sonneberg in Germany, and dates from between 1874 and 1876. She has blue glass eyes, a blonde mohair wig, and an open mouth showing teeth. She wears real baby clothes. In the 19th century British and American adults gave up the custom of swaddling babies (wrapping them in bands of fabric) over a shirt and nappy, and dressed them entirely in separate garments. Because the swaddling had kept the babies warmer than clothes, they had to wear layers of garments: a binder, nappy, nappy cover, shirt, two caps, bodice, 2 petticoats, gown, bib or pinafore, socks and shoes, with a cape or shawl and hat for going out of doors.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGwendolin (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Wax over composition, with moulded plaster and cloth
Brief description
Wax over composition baby doll made by Dressel in Germany between 1874 and 1876
Physical description
Wax over composition doll with shoulder head and lower arms on a stuffed calico body. The head has a moulded open mouth showing teeth; fixed blue glass eyes; blonde mohair wig.
Clothing:
lace bonnet
linen chemise marked Audrey Start
long woollen barracoat with quilted front
long linen petticoat with lace, marked as before
long gown of lawn and lace
wool carrying cape and matching bonnet
Dimensions
  • Height: 49cm
  • Head height: 7in
Production typemass produced
Marks and inscriptions
winged helmet (trade mark; on right leg; stamped)
Credit line
Given by Miss M. Audrey Start
Subject depicted
Summary
This wax over composition baby doll carries the winged helmet trade mark of Cuno and Otto Dressel of Sonneberg in Germany, and dates from between 1874 and 1876. She has blue glass eyes, a blonde mohair wig, and an open mouth showing teeth. She wears real baby clothes. In the 19th century British and American adults gave up the custom of swaddling babies (wrapping them in bands of fabric) over a shirt and nappy, and dressed them entirely in separate garments. Because the swaddling had kept the babies warmer than clothes, they had to wear layers of garments: a binder, nappy, nappy cover, shirt, two caps, bodice, 2 petticoats, gown, bib or pinafore, socks and shoes, with a cape or shawl and hat for going out of doors.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.33-1966

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Record createdJanuary 25, 2001
Record URL
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