Bisque-headed doll
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s)
Category
Dolls
Date
Unknown
Materials
Bisque-headed doll.
Measurements
450 mm (height)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 660882
Summary
A bisque-headed doll wearing national costume, possibly eastern European or Turkish, probably by the maker 'Armand Marseille'. The doll has composition hands and feet and a fabric body. The doll's hair is made of brown mohair in a single plait. She has painted facial details, open and close glass eyes, and an open mouth showing teeth. Her outer cream garment is heavily embroidered in self coloured thread and minutely pleated and decorated with cream rick rack. It also forms part of her headdress and can be lowered over to cover her face and includes a chadour. There is a triangular piece of heavy embroidery in the centre of the cape. Her cream cotton dress has a front opening and a mandarin collar. The bodice is embroidered in cream with bands of metal threads couched with red threads. The hem is also embroidered. Costume pantaloons in cream cotton with draw strings at waist, embroidered at the lower end and finished with metal embroidery and lace. Cord ends whipped with metal thread. Under drawers in cotton with similar ties and ends. On her feet are embroidered slippers with felt soles and red woollen pom-poms. On her head is a cap which is embroidered with laid gold and red thread. Hung round her neck from a metallic cord hangs a black silk panel the end of which is embroidered with bands of metallic thread and red cotton and a crucifix. From this hangs a black beaded decoration. The dress has a brown stain down the front.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs P. Creagh-Osborne in 1974.
Marks and inscriptions
Back of upper torso: 'A M / CO.D93-G-DEP / made in Germany'
Makers and roles
Armand Marseille Dolls (fl.1885-1950s), maker