Portrait of Arabella Stuart ca,1577

Arabella clutches a fashion doll; the style of the doll's clothing date from about ten years before than the portrait, lending credence to the theory that fashion dolls would be given to children as playthings after they were used or out-of-date.

"Thei may be called legges of clowtes, as childre make popettis for to play with whil thei be yong."

The Pilgrimage of the Soul,British Library MS Egerton 615, 1413