DUPRS_0008 Frozen Charlotte Doll

DUPRS_0008 Frozen Charlotte Doll

Frozen Charlotte Doll

The artifact is approximately 1 ½” tall. The artifact is composed of glazed, white porcelain in what appears to be the shape of a human. The glaze is cracked and the artifact is missing both arms, a leg, and the head. The color of the material in areas has been discolored and is similar to the hue of the soil in which the artifact was found.

Unknown

Selective Surface collection, west Stanley Park, Historic Chatham Township (modern Summit, New Jersey)

Drew University, Department of Anthropology

Late 19th century-early 20th century

Juliet LaVigne

The materials in this collection are made available for use in research, teaching and private study. Texts and images from this collection may not be used for any commercial purpose without prior permission from Drew University.

Fernandez, Elizabeth. "Stll She Never Stirred": Frozen Charlotte Dolls of the Victorian Era. N.p., 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

Ceramics

The color and shape of the artifact indicate that it could be identified as a Victorian doll known as a “Frozen Charlotte”. The small size of 1 ½” was typical for the stature of a Frozen Charlotte and was often characterized by its’ pure white color of porcelain. Also, the indentation between the legs of the artifact matches that of a Frozen Charlotte doll. The indentation is created in order to create a likeness to a small child or cherub. What is present of the broken arm on the artifact is close to the body and protruding outwards, common characteristics found in Frozen Charlotte dolls. The doll was not meant to have mobile limbs in order to create a “frozen” effect. The dolls were originally manufactured in Germany in 1850 up until the 1920s.
Frozen Charlotte was a very popular doll made in the Victorian era that acted as a symbol of obedience. It was manufactured primarily in Germany and quickly spread to France and America where other companies began manufacturing this unique doll. The doll was used initially as a “badekinder”, German for bathing kids, or a bath toy. Some suggest that the doll was put in cakes and desserts much like the custom during Mardi Gras. Others claim that the doll was created in order to remind Victorian women to “hide their vainness”. This comes from the poem that supposedly tells the story behind Frozen Charlotte. A young girl, Charlotte, refused to put on her cloak on a winter’s sleigh ride despite her mother’s insistence, and that night she died due to vainness and the cold (Fernandez).