Sunday, June 24, 2012

For The Love of Charlotte


These amazing little dolls date from 1860-1920. During the manufacturing process at the doll factories in Thuringia, Germany damaged dolls were usually buried on the property, and had been long forgotten all these years until being unearthed and rescued. Little marks, chips or discoloration give them personality and character. I love them just the way they were found and I'm sure you will too.
How did Charlotte get her name? During the mid 1800's there was a story printed that later turned into an American folk song about Fair Charlotte. This tale spoke of a vain Charlotte who refused to bundle up on her way to the ball. She froze in her carriage and her escort is said to have died of a broken heart. This story was told to warn children to bundle up when going outside.
Charlotte's arms and legs do not move or are "frozen." Children used to play with these bisque dolls, and made clothes for them. They were sometimes called bathing dolls and were sometimes even used to decorate or were baked into cakes.
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