12/08/2026
👢If these tiny boots could talk, what stories would they tell?
We don't know much about these beautiful little doll's boots, one of a small collection including shoes, ballet slippers and wellingtons (pound coin included for scale). They are skillfully made of soft red suede that zips up.
Although likely to be twentieth century, as many of the shoes include plastic elements, they are a lovely example of the care and attention lavished on beloved dolls' wardrobes thoughout history from simple scrap ragdolls to rich bisque masterpieces.
👗We hold a number of dolls and their clothes at the Museum, from various eras, and each one is evidence of a child's cherished plaything. Although a century has passed since Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote A Little Princess, the power of the main character's doll's wardrobe of "velvet, muslin, and lace frocks, coats, hats, furs, and beautiful lace-trimmed underclothes" remains a fascinating window onto the past.
