The Courtiers

Half of the dolls in the Collection are named after people in Kensington palace that perhaps were friends of the princess or historic figures. 

These beautiful chromolithographs are from the book that brought attention to the dolls late in the 19th century by Frances H. Low titled “Queen Victoria’s Dolls.” The illustrations are by Alan Wright.

To the far left is Catherine, Countess of Claremont, sumptuously dressed by the the young Princess in a most elaborate cloak of pink satin edged with ermine and an elaborate wired headdress of gold paper flowers trimmed with grey feathers and lace.

In the center photo, we have the very dashing young Count of Almaviva who is paying homage to a real Court lady, Harriet Arnold, Duchess of Parma, dressed in one of her numerous wedding gowns as she was frequently married.

To the far right is Miss Cawse, as Fatima Lady Brighton, holding a a little pocket-handkerchief in with the daintiest of hemstitched borders. Fatima was a character from a favorite opera in the years 1831 and it was a version of the story “Beauty and the Beast” called “Azor and Zemira.” Fatima was the materialistic older sister whose love of rich apparels is evident in her brilliant yellow silk dress edged with white fur. The seated lady is the same character later in the play holding a handkerchief with the red silk initials “C.R.” which stand for her married title, Cestra Countess Regai.