Wax shoulder-head doll
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1850
Materials
Wax shoulder-head doll, glass, leather, metal, textiles
Measurements
590 mm (height)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 659746
Summary
A wax shoulder-head doll in a wooden box, with several items of clothing, two hats and a box of trimmings. The doll has moulded and painted facial features, with blue glass eyes, brown (real hair) eyebrows and a light brown mohair wig, styled with a centre parting and long ringlets.Her lower arms and lower legs are wax. Her lower arms and lower legs are wax. The rest of her limbs and body are of white cotton stuffed with an unknown substance, sewn to the wax pieces with large stiches and strong cotton thread. Half of her right index finger is missing.She is wearing a dark blue, linen, 'sailor' dress, with a full skirt, three-quarter length sleeves and a deep 'V' at the bodice front. This is edged with narrow lace, has a wide pintuck at each side like a lapel, and very narrow blue velvet ribbon along each 'lapel', decorating the sleeve cuffs, and in horizontal rows across the 'V'. The dress fastens at the back with three tiny hooks and eyes.Underneath she has a white cotton bodice (fastened at the back with two fabric-covered buttons), a full-skirted white linen petticoat with pintucks near the hem (fastened at the back with drawstrings at the neck and waist), a plain white linen chemise, and white linen drawers, each leg having one pintuck and broderie anglaise at the hem (fastened at the front with a drawstring waist).She also wears frayed cream-white cotton socks and dark brown leather shoes. These have light brown soles, are fastened with brown cotton bows, and are trimmed round the top edge with lilac ribbon, which is also made into bows at the fronts. In her hair is a very narrow black velvet ribbon, to which some of her ringlets are attached. Total number of items is forty one
Marks and inscriptions
On opening edge of doll's drawers and at back waist of long short-sleeved petticoat: C.M.V.Weber At neck edge of one long robe: C M/ Von Weber