A wax shoulder-head baby doll reputed to be a portrait of Queen Victoria's child (daughter), circa 1850
Montanari
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1850
Materials
Wax shoulder-head doll, textiles
Measurements
750 mm (height of doll and dress); 540 mm (height of doll)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 659623
Summary
A wax shoulder-head baby doll ('A Montanari poured shoulder-wax doll' 'reputed to be a portrait of Queen Victoria's child (daughter), circa 1850'). She has moulded and painted facial details and fixed blue glass eyes. She has no hair, but the wax is coloured brown and textured to suggest hair. The shoulder-head is sewn to the body with string which is fastened through two holes under her arms at the front and back. Her body is stuffed cloth and her lower arms are made from wax and sewn using three holes in the same way manner as the head. The shoulders, upper breast and back are moulded to give a realistic appearance as are the arms and hands.The wax has become darker in tone and has a ruff fur type layer on the surface in some areas. She wears a fine cotton open shirt and over this she wears a cream flannel petticoat which ties at the front with one white tape tie. There are holes in the petticoat, which may suggest moth. Over these she wears a long dress made of cream silk and which has an outer layer of cream lace. The dress has short sleeves which have three layers of lace frills. The neckline is very wide showing the shoulders and tops of the arms. The skirt is long and full and is made from cream silk and has an outer layer of cream lace with a central panel cut in a V shape, which widens towards the hem. She wears a silk with lace bonnet, which has layers of frills at the front and ties under the neck. She wears white wool socks and black leather shoe. The left shoe has a star shaped metal buckle at the toe, but the right one is missing. The left shoe fastens with two black tape ties, but on the left shoe one of the ties has become detached.
Makers and roles
Montanari , maker