Doll
Mattel Inc
Category
Dolls
Date
c. 1990 - c. 1999
Materials
PVC doll dressed in textile material in a cardboard box witha cellophane window
Measurements
330 x 140 x 60 mm
Place of origin
Jingdezhen
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 672339
Summary
A ‘Barbie’ doll ‘Dr.Barbie’ by Mattel in its original cardboard box packaging. The box is pink, with a cellophane window through which the doll can be seen. It has 'Dr Barbie' in white text at the bottom right on the front, plus an image of Barbie in her doctor’s uniform holding a baby at the bottom left. There is also a yellow heart with the words 'Hear heartbeat' in a variety of languages in blue text. The rear of the box has further images of ‘Dr Barbie’ and also text on some of the dolls features. There are Mattel logos on all sides of the box plus the dolls catalogue number (11160). The doll is battery operated and is wearing a blue dress and a white doctor’s coat. The coat has a ‘Dr Barbie’ badge on one of its lapels. Barbie is wearing a stethoscope and is holding a baby wrapped in a pink towel. The box also contains a white medical box with a pink logo on it and other accessories including a heart shaped mirror. Barbie is a fashion doll launched by the American toy company Mattel Inc. in March 1959. Her partner 'Ken' was launched two years later in 1961. The Dr. Barbie doll was a forerunner of the later ‘I Can Be A ….’ series which focussed on careers and roles for Barbie.
Provenance
Purchased by the National Trust Museum of Childhood via ebay on 8th September 2017 as part of the Collecting Cultures 'Exploring Childhoods' project
Marks and inscriptions
All sides of box: Mattel logo printed on all sides of box All sides of box: Catalogue number '11160' printed on all sides of box
Makers and roles
Mattel Inc , manufacturer