Bristle doll
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1850
Materials
Wood, bristles and wire
Measurements
50 mm (minimum height); 62 mm (maximum height)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 660351
Caption
Watch these dolls dance and jig when you place them on top of a piano whilst it is being played.
Summary
Part of a collection of small wooden bristle dolls. Bristle dolls are designed to be placed on top of a musical instrument such as a piano, so that the virbation when played causes them to 'dance' or 'jig' along in time to the music. These sixteen small wooden dolls have their clothes and facial features painted on, each with hinged legs which are allowed to swing by means of a number of single bristles attached to the lower edge of the body being longer than the legs. The figures of people have four bristles and the horses have six. There are two horses, one brown and one white, both wearing red blankets with yellow edging. The brown one is ridden by a soldier in a white and blue uniform, wearing a black helmet and carrying a rifle. The white horse is ridden by a soldier in a red and grey uniform, wearing a red helmet and carrying a sabre. The other figures are human, as follows : A soldier in a blue coat, red trousers and black hat, with his right arm missing; A woman in a white and red dress and a yellow hat; A woman in a black skirt with a white apron over, a red bodice and white sleeves, and a green hat; A man with a white and red tunic with a green belt, a yellow hat and no legs; A woman in a white skirt with stripes of green, red and black around the hem, a red bodice and white sleeves; A man in a brown coat with a red shirt underneath, black trousers and blue socks, and a tall black hat, carrying a guitar; A woman in a blue and red dress with a white and red striped apron over, whose left forearm is missing; A man in brown/black coat with a white shirt and blue tie underneath, and a red fez with a brown tassel; A woman in a white and red dress; A man in a brown coat over a red, blue and black costume and a green hat, carrying a guitar; A woman in a red skirt with a white apron over, a brown bodice with a white collar, a tall brown hat, and no arms; A soldier in a white coat, blue trousers and a tall black hat; A woman in a grey dress with a white and blue striped apron over, a red headscarf, and her hands on her hips; A soldier in a blue coat, white trousers and a black cap. Total number of items is 16.