Costume doll
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1950 - circa 1976
Materials
Cotton doll
Measurements
235 mm (height)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 658941
Summary
A mid-20th century costume doll representing a woman carrying a baby, historically catalogued as a representation of a person from the Caribbean island of Martinique. The adult doll made of tightly stuffed fabric, with embroidered facial features and black mohair hair. The shoulders and tops of the legs seamed to form flexible joints. The adult doll wears a yellow and white striped headscarf, gold-coloured metal earrings sewn under the hair, a gold-coloured beaded necklace, a printed red dress, the short-sleeves hemmed with white linen balloon cuffs. Over the dress a white linen apron. The underwear made from stiff white linen and comprised of a petticoat and drawers. The shoes suggested by criss-cross embroidery stiches for laces. The adult doll carries a moulded plastic baby doll, with painted facial features and moulded and painted hair. The baby is jointed at the shoulders and tops of legs. It is dressed in a long white smock printed with blue stars, fastened at the back with a pin. The baby doll is attached to the left arm of the adult doll with a white pipe cleaner. This doll group portrays a stereotyped view of black women, the adult doll representing a woman in domestic service to a white family, working as a nanny or nurse.
Provenance
One doll from a collection of costume dolls donated by Mr R.T. Macfarlane in 1976.