Enamel peg doll and hobby horse

A 15 carat gold and enamel articulated peg doll with her hobby horse, circa 1900. The doll is one inch long and the hobby horse is 1/2 an inch long. Utterly charming and immaculate.
Dolls were known as ‘toy babies’ until the 18th century when the word ‘doll’ – short for Dorothy – first came into use. They were made of clay, wood,  ivory or wax in an attempt to make them as lifelike as possible.  The tradition of making peg dolls out of wooden clothes pegs comes from a time when people had little money to spend on toys.

sold  £750