Bisque-headed doll
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s)
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1894 - circa 1932
Materials
Bisque-headed doll
Measurements
430 mm (height)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 658897
Summary
A bisque-headed doll made by Armand Marseille. She has moulded and painted facial features with open-and-shut blue glass eyes, brown, false hair, eyelashes, an open mouth with four teeth visible, and a short, straight, blonde mohair wig. Her head and hands swivel and her body, arms and legs (all made of composition) are jointed at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees. The tip of her left index finger is missing. She is wearing a short-sleeved pale green silk dress patterned with pink, blue, yellow and green flowers, which has a knee-length skirt gathered at the waist and fastened at the back neck and waist with press-studs. Underneath she has matching drawers with elastic at the waist and hems. She also wears cream knitted cotton socks and cream leather shoes with pink soles. These are fastened with plaited cream wool bows, and have the number 4 impressed in the sole. The doll is quite chipped and dirty, and her dress is darned at the front of the skirt.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs G.R. Birch in October 1975.
Marks and inscriptions
In the back of the neck: 'Armand Marseille/ Germany/ 390/ A 1(and a half) M'
Makers and roles
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s), maker