Ancient, Medieval, and Unusual Dolls Revisited

I am researching dolls again, for my upcoming book, but also for a project we do in class. I will post links of some of the articles i have found for them. Here is one on Medeival dolls. This entire site is a treasure trove of life for the Middle Ages and related topics, and is used by those in the SCA or Society of Creative anachronism. I do not post it in its entirety, so go back and look for yourselves. I had a teacher of this period who noted that we often call the early Middle Ages The Dark Ages because we are the one's in the dark. Given some recent finds from this era, which spanned more than 1000 years, from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance, 1400 in some cultures, later in Britain, I think she was right. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ dolls-msg - 3/6/11 Medieval fashion and toy dolls. NOTE: See also these files: Dollhouses-art, dollhouses-msg, toys-msg, child-gam-msg, teething-toys-msg, child-books-msg, baby-gifts-msg, child-wagons-msg. ************************************************************************ NOTICE - This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday. This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter. The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors. Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s). Thank you, Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous Stefan at florilegium.org ************************************************************************ From: Andrea Luxenburg Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: Tue, 19 Nov 1996 20:22:46 -0800 Organization: AlbanyNet - E-mail info at albany.net Deb H. wrote: > Are dolls period? How were they used? As just toys? Or, as someone > suggested to me recently, as a low-cost fashion model? I am specifically > interested in finding more information about the low-cost fashion model > dolls. > > What are some good sources for me to start reading/looking at? > > Kateryn de Develyn > debh at microware.com Unless little girls have changed out of all recognition, yes, there were dolls in period. I have seen pictures of jointed clay dolls from Roman times, and recall references to wooden and rag dolls, as well as dolls stuffed with straw. Unfortunately, I can't recall where. I'm sure there were also dolls of the sort little girls still make for themselves out of nuts and sticks and flower petals, as well as the scraps of cloth tied together. In fact, I saw a picture of an old-fashioned bed wrench (that's with an "r"), used to tighten the ropes on a bed, which looked like a clothespin with a dowel through it at right angle to the length of the "clothespin". The whole thing looked so like a little person - head, body, two legs and outstretched arms- if some didn't end up wrapped in a piece of cloth and played with endlessly, I don't know little girls like I think I do. I suspect, though, that you are talking of dolls made on purpose by adults. I'd be interested to know what you find. Gwen Goosefoot From: "L. Herr-Gelatt" Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: 21 Nov 1996 01:38:39 GMT Organization: ProLog - PenTeleData, Inc. A few Pennsics ago I attended a class taught by Mistress Alizoun (Hope I haven't mangled that too much), who hailed from somewhere in New England. She taught quite a class. I'd venture that she would be the expert here (or one of many?). As I recall, the fashion-plate dolls were discovered because a seamstress used broken ones as bobbins to wind thread on (broken arms and all). The family preserved the thread samples, never dreaming of the dolls underneath. They were unwound in this century and found to be real historic "barbies". Unfortunately, they were not children's toys, at least until they were useless to adults. And why would adults play with dolls, you impatiently ask? They were used to ship samples of the latest fahsions to remoter parts of the world. Thus, even during times of war, the latest french fashions in gowns made it across the english channel, no doubt smuggled by emisaries and the like. Or so I learned at the class during Pennsic. I also learned: Other dolls---stick dolls with wire or cloth hands, and wooden bead heads were popular throughout europe. So were cloth dolls, stuffed, which date back to the ancient egyptians. Add to that list rock dolls (yes I'm serious) no doubt invented by some penniless mother who had a hankie and a rock, and tied the corners together to make arms and legs. A wonderful lady made one of these for my two-year old just recently (stuffing instead of rock). It really is a cute and viable and quick/cheap idea. Good project for children. Aparantly, these have been found in the abandoned campsites of armies who fought many of the great wars of europe. I suppose many camp followers were children, esp. when the wars lasted many many years. Add to the list wooden, lead, and tin soldiers, block dolls (painted figure or glued paper figure on a block of wood). Here my memory deserts me. Hope that helped. The good Mistress mentioned above is an excellent teacher and a font of knowledge. I wish I could give you her her information, but I don't have a clue. Sorry! Lady Aoife Finn, Mommy of three little terrors (who are very nice girls ......... when they're asleep). From: Tireachan Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 19:04:43 -0700 > In article <32923C68.41C67EA6 at microware.com> debh at microware.com > writes: > > >Are dolls period? Missed your first post, but yes they are period. > >How were they used? I won't pretend to know about toy dolls, but Janet Arnold's Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd shows "fashion dolls" that were sent between countries to show the fashions of the era. Really a brilliant way of carrying fashion from one court to another. Wish I could tell you more, but my husband won't let me have my Christmas present early and so I can't open the book to tell you more. Anyone else have a copy that they could look this information up in? I would bet, though, that these ended up as toys after the tailors were through with them. Tireachan From: woofie at Capital.NET (Susan Evans) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Period dolls Date: 21 Nov 1996 02:07:26 -0500 I have seen an engraving of a period doll seller. Unfortunately the book's in storage. It was in the early 1600's as I recall. You might also try the Strong Museum in Rochester, NY and Doll Reader magazine as a starting point. Doll Reader has had articles on fashion dolls. Perhaps your local library can get the index and articles on microfilm? Shoshonnah Newsgroups: rec.org.sca From: Michael Corman Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Organization: Pfizer, Inc Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 19:43:36 GMT I'm afraid I don't actually have the literature handy, but at the Tower in London I saw "dolls" wearing armor about 18 inches tall as I remember, that were, according to the labels, used as demonstrations of the latest armor styles for those nobles who would like to commission pieces from the armorer. This might actually be a place to start, especially for the "low-cost fashion model" line of research. Mike Corman cormam at pfizer.com From: savaskan at electriciti.com Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: Thu, 21 Nov 96 12:15:37 PDT Organization: Cubic Corporation > Are dolls period? How were they used? As just toys? Or, as someone > suggested to me recently, as a low-cost fashion model? I am specifically > interested in finding more information about the low-cost fashion model > dolls. They are believed to be used as fashion models as well as toys during the 16th century. There are several portraits of children with dolls which are thought to be actually "fashion model" hand me downs.. "Mama's dress is done, here's a new dolly dear"... > What are some good sources for me to start reading/looking at? Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd - Janet Arnold Various German Woodcuts Mistress Julianna From: woofie at Capital.NET (Susan Evans) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls - book Date: 22 Nov 1996 22:37:16 -0500 Try to find a copy of "The Collector's History of Dolls" by Constance E. King, 1977, Bonanza Books, ISBN 0-517-34801-2. There are chapters on dolls from the Far East (ancient) as well as a chapter on Medieval and Renaissance dolls. There are some pictures. If there's a specific time period you're interested in, please write me directly and I'll glean out some facts for you. I usually just skim over the headings on the digest and probably miss postings. Shoshonnah Jehanne ferch Emrys, OL From: cromabu at aol.com Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: 23 Nov 1996 09:27:04 GMT Dolls were used as toys in period. There are many examples in art of both girls & boys shown holding dolls of all kinds, some very elaborately dressed. In the latter periods it seems that little girls were quite often pictured with their dolls dressed in the same out fits as their own. The practice of traveling salesmen carring fashion dolls to sell their goods was started by a designer by the name of worth (I belive), in the mid to late 1800, & not in the middle ages.A good book to start your search with is History of Children's Costume by Elizabeth Ewing plub. by Scribnre's, ISBN 0-684-15357-2. You can also find many books in the library on dolls, doll making, as well as doll history. It is my experance that the history of dolls is best a sideline in the first 2 more than a subject all by it's self. Some costumeing books also deal with this subject. Hope this helps! Lady Cate From: v081lu33 at ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (TRISTAN CLAIR DE LUNE/KEN MONDSCHEIN) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls In Period Date: 23 Nov 1996 23:44:45 GMT Organization: University at Buffalo I have a copy of a woodcut of Maximillian I playing with little dolls of jousting knights on wheeled horses... the first "action figures"! --Tristan From: ruthless at mis.ca (ruthless) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls In Period Date: Mon, 25 Nov 96 21:38:00 GMT Organization: MIS Saint John v081lu33 at ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (TRISTAN CLAIR DE LUNE/KEN MONDSCHEIN) wrote: > I have a copy of a woodcut of Maximillian I playing with little > dolls of jousting knights on wheeled horses... the first "action figures"! > --Tristan There is a restored working set of these jousting knight dolls in the Bethnel Green museum in London if you are interested. Achsa From: ruthless at mis.ca (ruthless) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Dolls in period? Date: Mon, 25 Nov 96 21:31:35 GMT Organization: MIS Saint John In article <32923C68.41C67EA6 at microware.com>, "Deb H." wrote: Are dolls period? How were they used? As just toys? Or, as someone suggested to me recently, as a low-cost fashion model? I am specifically interested in finding more information about the low-cost fashion model dolls. Nope, dolls are NOT period. The word for the child's plaything was "baby" The word Doll comes from the diminutive for the name Dorothy (As in Shakespeare's Doll Tearsheet) Calling a doll a doll was a slightly post period advertising gimmic that caught on, like the word kleenex. There was a German industry in carving wooden babies that is quite period. I've seen a woodcut showing a man carving them. They were especially sold in England on St Bartholemew's day, thus the term "Bartholemew baby" used if you had to make a distinction between the live baby and its doll. Proportions of these babies were more adult than babish but they were sold with the intention of being mothered by children. In Breugal's children's Gavmes some of the doll furniture is also shown. Doll's were common cheap trade items. Sir Raleigh carried trade goods to the Americas including beads and metal knives and babies and some of these babies were apparently presented to some little Native-North-American girls in Virginia. I understand that the Spanish Queen Isabelle send a complete set of babies in copies of her wedding party's clothes to one of her relatives but I don't remember which Queen Isabelle. I hope this info is of use. Achsa (Ruthless at mis.ca) From: eddval at aol.com (EDDVAL) Newsgroups: rec.org.sca Subject: Re: Animals ..and Barbies Date: 4 May 1997 14:59:30 GMT For dolls in period dress check out: http://members.aol.com/JoNans/index.html http://members.aol.com/JoNans/doll.index.html My wife just did the OSU ren fest. I now understand why so many people were taking pictures of the dolls. It would be interesting to know if any of her designs show up for the contest. Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 08:31:45 -0400 (EDT) From: Jenne Heise To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu Subject: Re: Toys There's also a section of toys in _Wooden Artefacts from Medieval Novogrod_, including hobby horses, tops (made with a depression on top, not a spindle), toy swords, dolls, etc. > Does anyone know how far back dolls were made (i.e. ceramic/porceline type)? > Is it medival at all? From the Medieval Novogrod book the things identified as dolls were people shapes cut out of flat planks and dressed. (This is all archealogical stuff. They had a number of carved figures in the book too, but those were identified as 'household spirits'.) I'll post a fuller report on the book as soon as I get it back from my friend Kat'ryina, who schwicked it almost as soon as I'd ILL'ed it! Jadwiga Zajaczkowa (Shire of Eisental), mka Jennifer Heise jenne at tulgey.browser.net Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 08:54:04 PDT From: "pat fee" To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu Subject: Re: Toys According to the research I have been doing there were "baked" clay dolls ar early as the 11th century. These were baptismal presents. There were Italian religous figures in the 14-15 century made from clay, wood, a "bakers clay" and a cookie like dough that was meant to be eaten. These were dressed(wraped in cloth) or undressed, depending on who the doll was supposed to be or the material from which it was made. Morganuse de Berre Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 21:15:03 -0700 From: Edwin Hewitt To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu Subject: bakers clay, was: Toys > There were Italian regilous figuars in the 14-15 century made from > clay, wood, a "bakers clay" and a cookie like dough that was ment to > be eaten. These were dressed(wraped in cloth) or undressed, depending > on who the doll was suposs to be. or the material grom which it was > made. > > Morganuse de Berre I don't know what was used in period, but the "bakers' clay" I am familiar with is simply flour, salt and water. When baked, it is as hard as a rock but not particulary good for eating. -- Edwin Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 14:57:22 EDT From: To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu Subject: Re: bakers clay I found a good recipe for it on cookierecipe.com... Baker's Clay Submitted by: Johanna This is a NON-EDIBLE cookie recipe that makes lovely ornaments to hang on your Christmas Tree. Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup salt 1 1/2 cups water Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mix the flour, salt and water. Knead dough until smooth. Roll out dough and cut into=20 desired shapes. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Once cool=20 paint with colors, if desired. Makes 5 cups of dough Marged Montague Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 15:33:55 -0700 From: Edwin Hewitt To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu Subject: Re: bakers clay and beer HBSJAM at aol.com wrote: snipped > Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour > 1 cup salt > 1 1/2 cups water > Marged Montague This 4:1 sounds right. For figurines, we sometimes had to bake the clay twice. Baking once, even for a long time, doesn't seem to always dry it all the way through. I understand that ancient barley hard-tack cakes were double baked for the same reason. The barley cakes were also used as a starter for beer, if I understand rightly. -- Edwin Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 14:39:08 -0600 (CST) From: "Pixel, Goddess and Queen" To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] handwashing at feasts On Tue, 29 Jan 2002, Mercy Neumark wrote: > There is a pitcher-like vessel called an aquamanile (I've also seen it > spelled as Aquamantle) which is normally either bronze or ceramic, that is > sculpted into an animal or I've seen as my pottery Laurel Master Hroar > Stormgengr has made, Knights on horseback. These are primarily used in > handwashing and I have a few period pictures of bronze ones, if you all are > interested in looking at them. I plan on making one this year sometime, on > top of all the other projects. Heh. Well, at least I'm busy. Ah, yes. There's a (I *think*) 14th century brass one which is supposed to be Xanthippe sitting on the back of Socrates, in the book _The Medieval Art of Love. Amongst my books I have pictures of a griffon, a lion, several knights on horseback, the aforementioned Socrates/Xanthippe, and a rooster, one or two of which I think are actually pottery. A couple of years ago I commissioned the aforementioned pottery Laurel to make one for the gentleman who is my love and inspiration. It's a hedgehog, in a 13th century style. There are pictures, somewhere. If he ever finds them again I'm supposed to send some to Hroar. It's a very cute hedgehog. Margaret Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 10:14:12 -0800 (PST) From: Karen Subject: [SCA-AS] Re: Another question about stuffed dolls/animals To: artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org Jadwiga asked: <<< Anyone have any info about stuffed dolls or stuffed animal toys in period? >>> There's a Roman doll at the British Museum -- linen, stuffed with rags and papyrus -- use the Compass webpage at http://www.british-museum.ac.uk/compass/index.html to search for it. (GR 1905.10-21.13) I have some information about animal-shaped playthings, if that's helpful -- ceramic, wooden, etc. -- they're linked from http://geocities.com/karen_larsdatter/toys.htm Karen To: Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com Subject: Coptic cloth doll? Posted by: "Lilinah" lilinah at earthlink.net urtatim_alqurtubiyya Date: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:50 pm (PDT) Some years ago i found a photo on the web of a cloth doll from Late Antique period Egypt, more commonly (if erroneously) called the "Coptic" period. The doll was made of plain linen, no colors, no embroidery, no wool, no silk, a little lopsided, somewhat worn and dirty. Unfortunately i lost a lot of data in a fatal hard drive crash. And this picture was among the lost. I wonder if anyone has seen something like it. I am not interested in dolls made of fragments of brightly colored, tapestry woven wool. This was unadorned linen with no facial features, no garments - head, body, 2 arms, 2 legs - quite simple. -- Urtatim (that's err-tah-TEEM) the persona formerly known as Anahita To: Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Coptic cloth doll? Posted by: "Ann Catelli" elvestoorder at yahoo.com elvestoorder Date: Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:12 pm (PDT) She was found at the cemetary at Oxrhynchus, and is now on display in the British Museum. The side you see in the pictures has no face because it is the back of the doll; half the face was destroyed at some point between 1800 years ago and now. I'm betting this is the doll you are thinking of. :) Ann in CT doll enthusiast To: Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Coptic cloth doll? Posted by: "Heather Rose Jones" heather.jones at earthlink.net heather_rose_jones Date: Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:52 pm (PDT) On Sep 12, 2008, at 5:50 PM, Lilinah wrote: > Some years ago i found a photo on the web of a cloth doll from Late > Antique period Egypt, more commonly (if erroneously) called the > "Coptic" period. > > The doll was made of plain linen, no colors, no embroidery, no wool, > no silk, a little lopsided, somewhat worn and dirty. Unfortunately i > lost a lot of data in a fatal hard drive crash. And this picture was > among the lost. > > I wonder if anyone has seen something like it. I am not interested in > dolls made of fragments of brightly colored, tapestry woven wool. > This was unadorned linen with no facial features, no garments - head, > body, 2 arms, 2 legs - quite simple. There's a doll shown on p. 150 of: Connolly, Peter & Hazel Dodge. 1998. The Ancient City: Life in Classical Athens & Rome. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-917242-0 that is similar to your description. Despite the book's title, this specific item was found at Oxyrhynchus -- a specific date isn't given, although the context implies it may be earlier than the one you're trying to find. Tangwystyl From: Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Coptic cloth doll? Posted by: "Karen" karen_larsdatter at yahoo.com Karen_Larsdatter Date: Sun Sep 14, 2008 6:45 pm (PDT) There are several Coptic cloth dolls, actually -- see http://larsdatter.com/toys.htm#dolls for the ones I've found online. Karen From: Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: Coptic cloth doll? Posted by: "quokkaqueen" quokkaqueen at hotmail.com quokkaqueen Date: Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:13 pm (PDT) The links to the Benaki Museum dolls are broken, try: http://www.benaki.gr/index.asp?id=10104&lang=en and then clicking on the 'Online Search through the Museum Documentation and Management System' link ~Asfridhr --- In Authentic_SCA at yahoogroups.com, Karen wrote: > There are several Coptic cloth dolls, actually -- see http://larsdatter.com/toys.htm#dolls for the ones I've found online. > > Karen From: Alexandria Doyle Date: April 14, 2009 5:08:37 PM CDT To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] Puppets in Period On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 4:42 PM, Regan Caimbeul wrote: <<< I was wondering if anyone has information regarding puppets in period: what kinds of puppets were used, how to make them, sample shows, or other introduction-like stuff (yes, that's a technical term). Rachel >>> I think that the place to start is with DOLLS AND PUPPETS by MAX VON BOEHM. This is the work that most modern doll historians go to as their source for dolls, and the second half of this book is about various puppets. There's also somewhere an inventory of the things that Mary Stuart brought back with her to Scotland that included a set of marionette dolls that she and her ladies are reported to have dressed and redressed as they pleased. This is not a source I now have to hand as I think it was someone else's book webbed perhaps for a limited time, but I'm sure that a little searching would turn it up. Some books do lump dolls and puppets together, (but in our period they seemed to be two very different things) so looking at some of the doll histories might get you started. If you'd like, I can look at the library at home and see if there's more puppet related stuff mixed in with the doll stuff alex Edited by Mark S. Harris dolls-msg Page 11 of 12