Paper Doll
A Tiny Tuesday toy!
This dainty little Miss stands just 2 inches tall! Her body was drawn and deftly cut from ruled paper, while her gown is made of delicate tissue paper. Her face, hair, and accessories are drawn on as well, including the elaborate edges of her petticoat! Though we do not know who designed this little handmade doll, she likely dates to the mid-19th century.
As highlighted in previous posts, artifacts can be found tucked away into every nook and cranny of the museum. For our dear doll, she was mixed in with a collection of greetings cards! Now, she can be safely placed with other tiny toys.
So, the question remains, if we don’t know who created or owned this doll, how can we determine her age?
Her appearance is reminiscent of porcelain dolls from that period, and her dress and hair are in styles that were popular during the 1850s. As a further example of her creator’s skill, her delicate gown is removable; it is likely that she had an entire wardrobe of paper frocks! Undoubtedly, our fashionable gal was a treasured toy for whoever owned her.