A Grand Day Out - Queen Victoria's Dolls

Mademoiselle Sophie Taglioni

If you find yourself in London and have an hour to spare go along to The Museum of London and have a peep at a few examples of Princess Victoria's doll collection.  The museum is free entry and if you are interested in a history of London from prehistoric sites through to the modern city its very good.  But I have to say we stopped off on route to the British Museum just to glimpse Princess Victoria's dolls.  They are in the section, 'Expanding City' and are just lovely.

The dolls I saw where wooden 'Dutch Dolls' from the Alpine Gröden Valley and the young Victoria dressed them herself with the help of Baroness Louise Lehzen, her governess.  The lonely child accompanied by her governess regularly attended the opera, theatre and especially the ballet. The dress and names of her dolls where based on the performers and their costumes.  Mademoiselle Sophie Taglioni was based on the character of Sophie in 'La Tyrolienne' and the performer Marie Taglioni who starred in the role.  So taken with this ballet star the young Victoria named other dolls in her honor and even had drawings of her in her sketch books.

The dolls I have shown here, (photos belong to Museum of London) were from around 1832 and formed part of the Princess's doll collection which numbered around 132 pieces.  The doll collection was so well known that a book was published in 1894 by Frances Low detailing the collection.  The dolls are quite small but still in a lovely condition with clear faces and crisp clothing, well worth a visit.

Just a note to day trippers to London, if you go on a Friday - the British Museum is open until 8.30pm, the National Gallery is open until 9pm and Tate Modern & the Victoria and Albert are open until 10pm so as long as you don't mind a late return home you can enjoy museums & galleries all day and into the evening.  Its such a long way down that we always want to get the most out of our day. The Museum of London is quite central not too far from the British Museum and very close to the Barbican and St Paul's - it makes for a very special detour.

Fatima

Madam Gladstre Taglioni