Antique Late Victorian Printed Cloth Girl Doll - Straw Filled Cloth Doll c.1890–1910

Giving a Beautiful Future to Pieces with a Past

The Childhood "Working Stiff" 

Few antiques carry such simple reminders of everyday family life as a well loved child's doll. Made not for display but for play, this charming late Victorian cloth doll has survived for well over a century with all the gentle character that only genuine childhood affection can create.

Discovered in France and dating to around 1890–1910, this delightful straw filled girl doll was made from commercially printed cloth panels, carefully sewn together before being stuffed with straw or other natural vegetable fibre. Although found in France, its precise country of manufacture remains unknown, reflecting the popularity of printed cloth dolls produced across Europe, Britain and America during the late nineteenth century.

Unlike many later cloth dolls, the printed decoration represents the doll's original underclothing rather than her outer costume. The finely printed bodice, decorative waistband and striped undergarments were designed to remain beneath removable clothing, allowing the doll to be dressed and undressed by its young owner. Dolls of this type often wore handmade cotton dresses, pinafores, bonnets and knitted garments, many of which rarely survive alongside the doll itself.

Constructed from purpose designed front and back printed panels, the body has been machine stitched with areas of hand finishing before being firmly stuffed. Her softly printed face, faded colours and honest wear speak of generations of handling rather than careful preservation, making her a wonderfully authentic survivor of Victorian childhood.

Today she makes a beautiful decorative object for a French country interior, nursery display or collection of antique toys, where her gentle expression and timeworn fabric bring warmth and character impossible to reproduce.

Condition

Presented in original antique condition with age related wear throughout, including fading to the printed decoration, surface staining, general fabric wear and areas of old hand stitching and repair consistent with more than one hundred years of use. The original straw filling remains present, contributing to her soft, tactile form and authentic character. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

Measurements

• Height: 14 inches (approximately 36 cm)

Delivery

UK Postage: £7.50

Your antique doll will be carefully wrapped and packed using 100% recycled packaging materials wherever appropriate, reflecting our commitment to giving beautiful old pieces a sustainable future.

International Customers: Please contact us before purchasing for an individual shipping quotation.

Click & Collect is also available from our boutique at Dagfields Craft & Antique Centre, Cheshire.