Jenny Lind ; China Shoulder Head Doll
China shoulder head doll has black hair with hairline strokes at temple, black eyebrows, blue eyes with red line above and dot in corner, rosy cheeks, and red lips. Three holes at both front and back lower plate edges have not been used to attach the body, which appears to have been glued. White cotton woman’s body has slender waist, rounded buttocks, and long limbs. The lower arms are made of white kid leather and have separate fingers. Legs have a seam at the knee and stitching at mid-thigh. The upper torso has been padded front and back with white batting; batting and upper torso have been wrapped several times with silk net. Three inch-wide strips of tape appear below the netting both front and back, but purpose of tape is not clear. Feet are made of two fabric pieces sewn to heel of leg. White cotton half-slip has waistband that fastens in back with a baby button. Gathered skirt is stitched to waistband. Bottom of slip has two rows of pintucking separated by a band of eyelet embroidery. Hem is finished with a gathered ruffle of eyelet embroidery. Burgundy cotton velvet gown has a train and full sleeves gathered vertically at sleeve edge with a 2 ½ inch piece of gathered lace as finish. A different gathered lace trim finishes the neckline. A lavender braided trim encircles the neckline and runs down both sides of gown front. A pink rayon fabric with green velvet flocking is hand-sewn to both sides of front opening. Burgundy silk faille pleating finishes the hem. Dress fastens at top, mid-bosom, and waist with a hook that just fastens into the braid.
This doll came to History Colorado in 1988 as part of the Bernice Lang doll collection. The doll was collected by either Bernice Lang, Wilmette (Minnie) Belle Jackson (Bernice's mother), or Lindy Lou Lang, Bernice's sister or mother-in-law as an addition to their doll collection. The doll is not thought to have been used by any of the three ladies as children. No further provenance is recorded in any records obtained by History Colorado.
Secondary inscription on the collector's tag: RARE CHINA HEAD DOLLS / -1840-1860 -early china heads / have long necks / -adult hair-do / -RARE CHINA HEADS ARE: -Gibson hair / - boy dolls-head bangs -Ringlets / -flowers / -combs -pierced ears / -bald head made from wig / -blond hair made 1880's were / less common then [sic] black hair / 30"