Milliner's Model Doll

ClassificationsFurnishings-Recreation-dolls

Datec. 1830

Made AtGermany, Europe

MediumPapier-mâché, cotton, wood, leather, and paint

Dimensions24 1/4 × 10 1/2 × 5 in. (61.6 × 26.7 × 12.7 cm)

Credit LineGift of Julia Rounds Colborn and Chase Charles Colborn

Object number86.17.1

DescriptionDoll with papier mache head, c. 1830, known as a Milliner's Model, made in Germany. The doll exhibits an extremely elaborate "Apollo's knot" hair style with six individual braids encircling the top-knot diagonally from left to right, as well as elaborate puffs and curls at the side of the head. The doll's body is made of cloth and she has hand carved wooden arms, legs, feet, and hands.

Other distinctive physical features include:
Deep sloping shoulder, gently molded bust. Hair detail extremely well molded. Delicate brush marks at face and slight marks at back of neck. Black hair, single-stroke eyebrows. Remnants of single black line outlining upper eyelids. Red dot at corner of eyes. Blue eyes with black pupil at upper half-moon of eye. Red dots at nostrils. Sweet, smiling expression with red lips. Face color somewhat worn away by age from tip of nose, upper chin, and cheeks. At the sides color is still remarkably bright. Hands were carved with extended thumb and fingers well delineated.

A detailed original costume with hand-made drawstrings at neck of dress and chemise. Dress is a sheer fabric in faded lavender and white pattern, all hand sewn. Three petticoats tied at waist with narrow drawstring tapes. Additionally, originally dressed dolls such as this offer the historian rare glimpses into the actual underclothing worn during the period represented. In this particular instance the doll illustrates the fact that women of this period did not wear pantalettes, panties, bloomers or drawers.

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