Museum Tour: Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal | Philadelphia

In February 2019, I had the great privilege to travel to The Philadelphia Museum of Art for a private tour of the Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal exhibit. Kristina Haugland is the curator for this extraordinary exhibit, and in this video, we go through each vignette one at a time while listening to her compelling commentary. The museum opened JUST for us to film this day. I will never forget it.
Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal, an exhibition starring four extraordinary dolls and their extravagant wardrobes. Known as Miss Fanchon, Miss G. Townsend, Miss French Mary, and Marie Antoinette, they were made in France in the 1860s and 1870s. The ultimate toys for privileged girls of this period, these dolls reflected the world of adult fashion, being fully equipped with miniature versions of the myriad garments, accessories, and other personal possessions of a well-to-do Victorian lady.
This was one of my favorite adventures to date for the Virtual Doll Convention. I want to thank Kristina Haugland and The Philadelphia Museum of Art for making this possible. Learn more about the museum and their current and upcoming exhibits at philamuseum.org

[@isabellep.461]

That was amazing! THAT WAS AMAZING! Thanks so much to the lady in charge of the exhibition for sharing her knowledge! That reminded me of the fashion "newspapers" of my grandmother, that are more than 100 years old, that showed dresses like these and clothes for children. I loved it! A true gem, thanks so much.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

It would be interesting to do an exhibit of the toys of privileged children and those of the less privileged, which were often handmade.

[@nancyblum12]

I used to work at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's one of the best museums in the world. This was a wonderful video. Thank you so much.

[@dakotatwilight]

Thank you Rachel for sharing this exhibit. I have only seen this in books or sometimes in doll magazines. It was so fascinating to see up close, almost as good as the doll uncles. I love the knitted stockings says the girl who just finished knitting her 14" Tonner Patience thigh high stockings last week.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@luisgerardonolascolopez7615]

A quote I was taught in fashion design school is "the doll makes the woman" this really speaks volumes on how the doll is the reflection of the girl and the ideal she grows into and continues to be so even today, how the baby boomer generation grew with Barbies and became a workforce driven generation thank you so much for sharing this! I thoroughly enjoyed it

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@lorrainedubzak6654]

I live in Philadelphia and, wished I knew about this. I remember as a kid seeing a doll exhibit and, would loved to have seen more of it. I would love to see how the conservators work on preserving the garments and, accessories for the fashions in miniature. Rachael thank you for making this viedo

[@donnamaria3059]

Thank you so much for this upload! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute

[@elderlypoodle9181]

That feathered collar !!! 😮👀 And second favorite is the black mourning dress.

[@gangoffour1]

OMG this is the absolute best video! I could camp out in there and never come out! What a fabulous collection.

[@raggedyann4372]

Thank you! I’m always happy when you post a new Video🤗🥰❤️You make my day. All my doll friends have past, so you are a real treasure to me😍

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

You are a sweetheart! Thank you for always commenting and watching each video. I am glad you enjoyed this!

[@trishwinstead28]

I think so many of us feel this way. Rachel is a treasure!

[@deafbear18]

Thanks for wonderful video of Little. Ladies dolls; They are to today’s Barbie doll.

[@grey29825]

I think it’s interesting how much the new look silhouette in the 50s is similar to those dresses, especially the evening dresses. Especially bc they were both so focused on separate gender roles. It’s cool to see the patterns! Loved this video! Also I love that you have a doll from Smith! As a Mount Holyoke student I love love love hearing about my historic historically women’s college sisters!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Loved your comment, thank you, and thank you for watching!

[@cjandjed]

Fabulous presentation.I learned so much! The accessories are just gorgeous and the fabrics are stunning! Thank you!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

You are so welcome, thank you for being here!

[@cindyyoung3605]

Hi Rachel! For those of us who don't live nearby and who don't even have a local doll shop (nor shows, thank you covid!), would you ever want to take a camera around your shop as if we were shopping and let us see your inventory? It would be a lot of fun, and we could have a chance to shop from our favorite doll shop.

[@justa7421]

Thank you so much for the oportunity to watch this exhibition , I`m going to have a look later , and looking forward to it.Thank you , so special !!!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Thank you so much! I hope you really enjoy watching later!

[@raggedyann4372]

I think when we get to Heaven, our doll room will look just like this display😍

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Cynthia Belk That’s a beautiful thought!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I was introduced to dolls like this as a child at the McNay Museum in San Antonio. Miss McNay left a wonderful collection of Impressionist paintings, Medieval art and furniture and other items. She also left her doll. This doll had so many accessories from opera glasses to a full tiny set of cards and all kinds of other accessories. She also had an incredible trousseau. I fell in love with the doll and every trip to see my grandparents had to include a trip to the museum.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Wonderful memory to share, thank you so much for commenting and watching.

[@trishwinstead28]

What a wonderful memory. Thank you for sharing it.

[@calypsosmama2935]

What a fabulous video tour! I'm amazed at the variety and condition of the dolls, their wardrobes and accessories.Thank you, Rachel, for making this video and sharing it with us!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

You are very welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in!

[@twiddle66]

I'm so glad I stumbled on your videos! I began collecting very young. And was hanging out with much older doll collectors in my teens, twenties, and thirties. Consequently, now in my 50's I have lost most of those friends and my younger friends find my antique dolls frightening! lol. It's so nice to see a vibrant community is still out there for the antiques. Thank you for giving me a sense of community again!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

I am so glad you found my channel, thank you so much!

[@brandonj.brockway8281]

Fantastic! Very informative! Thanks for sharing!

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Our pleasure!

[@marcomama1]

Loved this!

[@eaglebendhorsecenterllc339]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I really loved this.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

You are so welcome! I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@Pamela-gm5sx]

What fun!!

[@1dianep]

Loved this, I have a few of these fashion plates which I have framed.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Sounds awesome, Diane! Thanks for the comment on this video.

[@thepearlatelier4256]

Hi Rachel, looking as chic as always and this video is one of the best i have ever seen documenting doll history at its finest. In years to come, people will probably go back and watch your videos for a historical account of doll history and how they have evolved. Have you ever watched Doris in "The Way we Wore". She started in the History channel and she has her own youtube channel as well. You are like her.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Aileen's Lookbook Thank you so much for the wonderful compliments. I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the video AND the outfit. ❤️🙏🏻

[@crowznest438]

Just for interest, I have a full-sized pair of those old dress shields, which are made in a double layer and about a tablespoon of crushed lavender in each one.

[@user-qg5yb7my6c]

❤❤❤

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

Thanks for watching!

[@barbaracrain2975]

👏👍

[@ellenbrunot3802]

Does this museum actually know what companies made these dolls? . I'd like it if she told us the FG's from the Bru's.

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

She does but this exhibit was specifically about the fashion so that’s why she didn’t go in-depth on the dolls.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Both visiting cards and playing cards.

[@joanclayton5212]

There were no Blacks dolls?

[@RachelHoffmanDolls]

There were very few dolls at all in this display. It was about fashion history.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I’ve seen dolls in coffins...