1850-1860 Montanari Poured Wax Doll
Augusta Montanari was born in England in 1818. She married her Corsican husband with records of their having lived in
England and in USA. The dolls were noted for the fine costuming by Augusta Montanari as well as the ethnic characterization
of the Mexican and Indian (Native American) dolls. Two years after the Pierotti dolls won at the London exhibition of 1840,
Montanari dolls won at the Great Exhibition in 1851. There is some question as to whether they were also exhibited in New
York in 1853. They were also displayed at the 1855 Paris Exhibition and again at the 1878 exhibition in Paris.
This is an all original poured wax doll by Montanari. It could have been made anytime from the 1850s to the 1890s. She has
hair inserted along the front of her cap only. Her garments are cotton and lace. The doll is 22 inches long but the doll and
gown are 36 inches long.
Monanari is best known for the wax dolls but Tallis in History of the Crystal Palace (1851) notes that Madame Montanari also
made rag dolls for the smallest children. None of these are known to exist today.
England and in USA. The dolls were noted for the fine costuming by Augusta Montanari as well as the ethnic characterization
of the Mexican and Indian (Native American) dolls. Two years after the Pierotti dolls won at the London exhibition of 1840,
Montanari dolls won at the Great Exhibition in 1851. There is some question as to whether they were also exhibited in New
York in 1853. They were also displayed at the 1855 Paris Exhibition and again at the 1878 exhibition in Paris.
This is an all original poured wax doll by Montanari. It could have been made anytime from the 1850s to the 1890s. She has
hair inserted along the front of her cap only. Her garments are cotton and lace. The doll is 22 inches long but the doll and
gown are 36 inches long.
Monanari is best known for the wax dolls but Tallis in History of the Crystal Palace (1851) notes that Madame Montanari also
made rag dolls for the smallest children. None of these are known to exist today.
