Comments on: Wax Dolls…Poured, Reinforced or Wax Over?

By: Helen Bolton

Helen Bolton — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:14:29 +0000

Thanks for your very informative descriptions for wax dolls. It has beenvery helpful. Have recently acquired a wax doll similar to your last doll picture and description. Can you give me some idea of its value? Thanks, Helen

By: Lady Suzanne Levy

Lady Suzanne Levy — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:23:02 +0000

Hello, I do not think that you have a doll there. The Victorians were a mosrbid lot and if a child died in a wealthy family then it was quite common for them to hire an artist to make a wax effigy of the child or baby.
I have had a few of these, usually babies with closed eyes and using the babies actual hair.
The body would be cloth and weighted with sand to give it a realistic feel. They would be placed in a crib and their clothes would be changed and treated almost like a real baby.
I once had the head and shoulders of a boy about 10 years old, so realisitic that one expected him to move and speak.
I believe that your item is an effigy, strengthened by the fact that it is flat so it could be placed in a picture frame.

By: richard graham

richard graham — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:45:21 +0000

i have been learning more on wax dolls, nice article. i have a ? for you, i have a wax shoulder head doll (head only) child approx 4years old wearing a bonnett, molded hair brown & redish under bonnett it appears to have hair, painted eye lashes and eyebrows closed lips (red) chubby cheecks, beautiful doll. odd thing the back of the head is flat and has been attached to a board,or(mounted.)as it is enclosed in a glass and wood trimed case approx 6″x13″x71/4″.it has been in the family for approx 80yrs never been out of case. if anyone has information on such wax doll it would be most helpful to identify.
thank you
dick