Bisque-headed doll
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s)
Category
Dolls
Date
Unknown
Materials
Bisque-headed doll
Measurements
140 mm (height to lower edge of body); 330 mm (height to lower edge of dress)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 659967
Summary
A bisque-headed doll with no legs, made by Armand Marseille. She has a bisque head with open-and-shut brown glass eyes, moulded and painted facial features with an open mouth (two teeth visible) and a light brown, short, curly mohair wig. The head swivels, and the body, made of composition, is cut off at the hips (and filled in with plaster) and jointed at the shoulders. She is wearing a peach-coloured silk dress whose full skirt is gathered at the waist on to the bodice, and at the hem on to a circle of matching fabric. Although the front part of this seam has now come undone, this must have once formed a ball shape. The bodice is sleeveless and has the remnants of a pale green-lilac silk ribbon sash at the waist. Underneath she has another bag-like garment, less full, made of cream linen, and open at the back. This also has some of the seam attaching the circular piece to the skirt coming undone. Round her shoulders is a shawl made from broad cream lace, which is sewn ro the front of her bodice with three pale green beads. Round her neck is a necklace of tiny red beads, and tied to her right wrist is a crean lace handkerchief. The doll and her clothes are quite dirty, the seams are coming apart, and the silk ribbon has shattered.
Marks and inscriptions
On back of head: Armand Marseille./ Germany./ 995./ A.8(slash)0.M.
Makers and roles
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s), maker