A Young Victorian Widow dressed in a unique ruffled crinoline dress in fine black fabric trimmed with satin and jet beads. A Special Showpiece Art Doll by Natasha Morgan

My Young Widow, Mrs Coombe, is not so sad as her weeds would lead you to believe. If you look close you can see her signs of rebellion in the way she’s dressed herself. Yes, she’s discarded the luxury of a Crinoline and is carefully covered from ankle to chin is plain black. But if you catch her at her dressing mirror you’ll see her finely lace trimmed peach drawers, a good quality corset and specially made heavy calico ruffled petticoat to help give her the same shape to her dress as if she’d kept her steel hoops. More fine lace trims her petticoats. And the under layer of her skirts is a bold dark red rather than black as it should be so she shows a flash of color as she walks along. Instead of the plain drab dress of such a new widow her gown is highly decorated with satin, bows and jet beads at the edge of every ruffle that catch the light, as well as a huge draped bow at the back to make a bustle shape. She doesn’t mean to be so rebellious, but she’s still so young and has the opportunity for a new life now that her domineering, controlling, nasty husband is gone. He left her just barely provided for, only allowing her to live in his home so long as she obeyed and looked after his mother. She must find herself a new husband somehow if she’s ever to leave Coombe Manor. At least the elder Mrs Coombe has some kindness and a love for society.

Amanda was so young when her father engaged her to the older Walter Coombe. He was 50 when they married, and she only just 17. For 6 long years she lived restricted to his home in the country, unable to see her friends and knowing that all her letters were read by him before they left. She was kept with no friends and no possibility of escaping his cruelty. So when arranging his headstone she made sure it fitted his personality. It reads “Here lies Walter Coombe, who entered eternal dark 23rd June 1859, aged 56 years, Gone, Soon Forgotten”
As many Victorians were Mr Coombe was afraid of being buried alive and made certain conditions in his will to protect him from such danger. He stipulated that his headstone be fitted with a grave bell, with a long rope leading down into his casket that should be attached to his wrist so that if he was mistakenly buried he could ring the bell for attention. It’s been 7 months since he died, and now the rope has been disconnected. Like a dutiful wife Amanda visits his grave as she should, but more from appearance sake than dutiful loyalty.

She weighs approx. 600g, and she is 56cm tall.
She will be delivered to you securely wrapped and decorated, protected and with contact details; ready to give as a gift, or just because it’s always nice to receive nice parcels.

All my work is unique and authentic; supplied with signed and dated documents. I keep full records of each doll I produce, what inspired me, and when and how they were created. Every doll is individually handmade, and will not be re-created. So every doll has their own, unique, one-of-a-kind personality.

I’m happy to answer any questions you may have if you get in touch using the Contact button on my main shop page or the Ask a Question button on this page

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Thanks for taking an interest.
Natasha

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