French Court Mannequins and Couture

During the 17th and18th century Paris directed the direction of fashion, Germany and Holland produced and supplied the wooden dolls, Paris devoted itself to dressing them.
These dolls travelled all through war ravaged Europe in jeweled trunks, promoting newest French fashions to eagerly waiting nobility ladies, who would then have their dressmakers recreate the sumptuous gowns.

The Milliner

Rare and exquisite 18th century Wax Doll

The emphasis of the fashion doll of the 18th century, was always on the couture. Marie Antoinette had an entire set of dolls presented to her as a means for selecting her wedding trousseau, she was placated with dolls in the extravagant frenzies that were to cost her her head.

"Mary Jenkins" English Wooden

It is interesting to note that the china, and composition dolls that we think of today as “antique” dolls did not come into production until the early 19th century, so Marie Antoinette would have probably never known anything but wooden dolls. Although some wax figures were making their transition from religious figures into play dolls, still they were not as common as the wooden ones and decidedly more expensive.

Mannequin Dolls second half of 18th century

Restored 18th century doll

Europe, through the revolutionary 18th century gave to the world along with culture and history, a clearly defined image of the doll. After the French Revolution dolls that were only enjoyed by the aristocracy began to be enjoyed by children of the poor. Slowly with the growth of the middle class, dolls moved into mass production and gradually became industrialized in tune with the demands of the “Modern Age”.