DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0022
OF THE -WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 13
tion of wax dolls that was deserving of notice was one by Augusta Montanari, of Upper
Charlotte street, to which a prize medal was awarded. The display of this exhibitor
was the most remarkable and beautiful collection of toys in the Great Exhibition. It
consisted of a series of dolls representing all ages, from infancy to womanhood, arranged
in several family groups, with suitable and elegant model-furniture. These dolls had the
hair, eye-lashes, and eyelids separately inserted in the wax, and were, in other respects,
modelled with life-like truthfulness. Much skill was also evinced in the variety of
expression which was given to these figures in regard of the ages and stations which they
were intended to represent. From the prices of these dolls, however, they were adapted
rather for the children of the wealthy than for general sale; since the prices of the
undressed dolls were from 10s. to 105s. each; the dressed dolls, which were attired with
much taste, were much more expensive, and varied in price according to the richness of
the material of which the robes were made. In a small case adjoining that which
contained the toys just enumerated, were displayed several rag-dolls, which were very
remarkable productions, considering the materials of which they were made. They con-
sisted entirely of textile fabrics, and the dolls, which were intended, and were well
adapted for the nursery, were reasonable in price, varying from 6s. 6d. to 30s. per doll,
including the dresses. Rocking-horses were exhibited by J. C. Dear; and H. Lucas
sent an improvement on the garden-horse, which was made to rock by means of the
motion of one of the wheel-axes as the horse was dragged along. A few compressible
toys were exhibited, and a variety of automaton and other toys, chiefly foreign, were
displayed by A. Bouchet. None of the ordinary strong toys of English manufacture
were exhibited, probably on account of the makers of these sorts being generally very
poor; for most of the English wooden toys are constructed by chamber-masters,
who seldom manufacture goods to order, but, on the contrary, when they have produced
a small number, hawk them about from shop to shop, or vend them in the streets.
Without capital, and compelled to work almost literally from hand to mouth, they
continue to exist only, without any material advance, but making much the same kinds,
having the same general degree of merit, one year after another. That this is no
exaggeration, must be conceded by every one who will recal to mind the toys of twenty
years since, and mentally contrast them with those of the present day. That the progress
has been slow, and requires long intervals for comparison to make it apparent, arises
from the fact that all the improvements must be made in the few leisure moments of
the workmen, who are compelled to labour many hours each day to gain a livelihood,
and who, probably, cannot even afford the time to carry out any suggestions which may
be made to them. That the poor workman does, nevertheless, endeavour to improve
in his productions, is shown by Mr. Dickens, with touching humour, in The Cricket on
the Hearth, when Caleb is made to say, "You couldn't have the goodness to let me pinch
Boxer's tail, mum, for half a moment, could you?" When surprise is expressed at the
question, he thus explains his meaning: " Oh, never mind, mum; he mightn't like it,
perhaps. There's a small order just come in for barking-dogs, and I should wish to go
as close to nature as I could, for sixpence. That's all. Never mind, mum/' Dolls'-
houses, shops, brewers' drays, waggons, common horses, the body formed of a sort of
skittle with a slice cut off on the under side, and four round pins for the legs, are made
in large quantities in England. Spades, wheelbarrows, garden-rollers, garden-rakes,
skipping-ropes, caouchouc- balls, tops, kites, and similar toys, are also made in great
numbers. Wax or composition dolls are made entirely in England, but wooden dolls are
imported, as are also papier-mache dolls' heads, the bodies only being made in this
country.
Wurtemburg.—Immense quantities of toys are manufactured in Wurtemburg, more
tion of wax dolls that was deserving of notice was one by Augusta Montanari, of Upper
Charlotte street, to which a prize medal was awarded. The display of this exhibitor
was the most remarkable and beautiful collection of toys in the Great Exhibition. It
consisted of a series of dolls representing all ages, from infancy to womanhood, arranged
in several family groups, with suitable and elegant model-furniture. These dolls had the
hair, eye-lashes, and eyelids separately inserted in the wax, and were, in other respects,
modelled with life-like truthfulness. Much skill was also evinced in the variety of
expression which was given to these figures in regard of the ages and stations which they
were intended to represent. From the prices of these dolls, however, they were adapted
rather for the children of the wealthy than for general sale; since the prices of the
undressed dolls were from 10s. to 105s. each; the dressed dolls, which were attired with
much taste, were much more expensive, and varied in price according to the richness of
the material of which the robes were made. In a small case adjoining that which
contained the toys just enumerated, were displayed several rag-dolls, which were very
remarkable productions, considering the materials of which they were made. They con-
sisted entirely of textile fabrics, and the dolls, which were intended, and were well
adapted for the nursery, were reasonable in price, varying from 6s. 6d. to 30s. per doll,
including the dresses. Rocking-horses were exhibited by J. C. Dear; and H. Lucas
sent an improvement on the garden-horse, which was made to rock by means of the
motion of one of the wheel-axes as the horse was dragged along. A few compressible
toys were exhibited, and a variety of automaton and other toys, chiefly foreign, were
displayed by A. Bouchet. None of the ordinary strong toys of English manufacture
were exhibited, probably on account of the makers of these sorts being generally very
poor; for most of the English wooden toys are constructed by chamber-masters,
who seldom manufacture goods to order, but, on the contrary, when they have produced
a small number, hawk them about from shop to shop, or vend them in the streets.
Without capital, and compelled to work almost literally from hand to mouth, they
continue to exist only, without any material advance, but making much the same kinds,
having the same general degree of merit, one year after another. That this is no
exaggeration, must be conceded by every one who will recal to mind the toys of twenty
years since, and mentally contrast them with those of the present day. That the progress
has been slow, and requires long intervals for comparison to make it apparent, arises
from the fact that all the improvements must be made in the few leisure moments of
the workmen, who are compelled to labour many hours each day to gain a livelihood,
and who, probably, cannot even afford the time to carry out any suggestions which may
be made to them. That the poor workman does, nevertheless, endeavour to improve
in his productions, is shown by Mr. Dickens, with touching humour, in The Cricket on
the Hearth, when Caleb is made to say, "You couldn't have the goodness to let me pinch
Boxer's tail, mum, for half a moment, could you?" When surprise is expressed at the
question, he thus explains his meaning: " Oh, never mind, mum; he mightn't like it,
perhaps. There's a small order just come in for barking-dogs, and I should wish to go
as close to nature as I could, for sixpence. That's all. Never mind, mum/' Dolls'-
houses, shops, brewers' drays, waggons, common horses, the body formed of a sort of
skittle with a slice cut off on the under side, and four round pins for the legs, are made
in large quantities in England. Spades, wheelbarrows, garden-rollers, garden-rakes,
skipping-ropes, caouchouc- balls, tops, kites, and similar toys, are also made in great
numbers. Wax or composition dolls are made entirely in England, but wooden dolls are
imported, as are also papier-mache dolls' heads, the bodies only being made in this
country.
Wurtemburg.—Immense quantities of toys are manufactured in Wurtemburg, more