Christmas tree doll
Category
Dolls
Date
circa 1987
Materials
Wood, plastic, plaster, metal and fabric.
Measurements
Min - 140 mm (height), Max - 195 mm (height)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 661919
Summary
Six dolls, labelled on the box as 'Christmas tree dolls' (circa 1987). Two are almost identical, and two more are very similar to each other. Each of the two identical dolls consists of a completely round head, with gold-coloured sequins stuck on as hair and painted facial features. The dolls have very long arms made from clear plastic, attached to a red, cone-shaped robe with a circular yoke, with green wings at the back. The dress and wings are made from thin, metallic-coated plastic. One is holding a bouquet of three coloured, metallic-painted baubles attached to green pipe cleaners. The other is quite badly damaged, and the baubles are now detached. Also, her dress is stained, her wings are split, and her arms are cracked. Each of the two dolls which are very similar to each other consists of a top half with a pair of gold-painted wings made from feathers, on a wire attached to a square wooden base (wire and base painted green). The head appears to be moulded, covered in stockinette and plasticised, as are the arms. The facial features are painted and the hair is white-blond mohair. One doll's dress is pink silk with a very sheer top layer with a green and orange ribbon bow at the back and decorated with gold-coloured lace, gold and green beads, and silver flower-shaped and gold star-shaped sequins. The other's dress is copper-coloured satin with a pink ribbon bow and decorated with gold-coloured braid, orange and green beads, and gold star-shaped sequins and silver and pink flower-shaped sequins. Each doll has a circular collar of gold-coloured metallic braid. The doll in the pink dress is holding a piece of gold-painted wood (perhaps something is missing from the top), the other has an open cardboard book of music. The fifth doll holds a candle-holder in her left hand with a red spiral-shaped candle in it. She has a moulded plaster head with painted facial features and hair, painted purple, and a body and limbs made from paper-covered wire. Her dress, which has a purple ribbon frill and a deep pink sequin at the neck, is made from clear plastic patterned with yellow and green flowers over a petticoat made from clear plastic-covered pink mesh. She also wears a gold braid-edged pink belt which has a blue fabric flower at the front. Her wings are made from pieces of wire and clear plastic patterned with pink, yellow, blue and purple. The candle holder in her left hand is metal, circular, painted white with a pink and green edging. The sixth doll has a circular wooden head on a wooden stick body with pipe-cleaner arms and a base of three Sellotape-covered pipe cleaners instead of legs. The facial features are painted and the hair is made from curled brown metal wire. Her dress is made from white plastic mesh with silver-coloured metallic mesh on the bodice and sleeves, decorated with silver and green pipe cleaners. Underneath is a layer of silver and blue metallic mesh. Around her waist is a long silver-coloured covered wire tie, with a piece of gold-coloured tinsel tied loosely over it. A silver-coloured tinsel-covered piece of wire is wound around both arms and over her head to represent a halo, and her wings are made from a peach-coloured pipe cleaner, held in place by this and the waist tie. She is holding a Christmas tree made from a metallic green pipe cleaner, decorated with coloured sequins. Total number of items is 10.
Marks and inscriptions
On the base of blonde-haired dolls: 'Made in Germany'