Doll, china doll

Miniature solid china Frozen Charlotte doll with black painted features concealed within a hollowed cork. A section of the cork has been cut to enable it to slide open to reveal the doll. Purchased for one penny as a 'penny novelty' from a London street trader on 20th April 1894.

A 'frozen Charlotte doll' is a type of china doll produced in the late 19th and early 20th century. The dolls were moulded from a single piece of china and did not have movable limbs. The name was taken from an American folk song which tells the story of a young girl named Charlotte who froze to death when she refused to wrap up well on a sleigh ride. The smallest versions of these dolls were used as charms in Christmas puddings or in children's dolls houses.