For thousands of years, parents have used cautionary tales to frighten their children into obeying them.
The Story
In 1840, the New York Observer printed the tragic story of a young woman who’d frozen to death while traveling by horse-drawn sleigh to a New Year’s Eve party.
Regardless of whether it happened or not—and many, at the time, did question its veracity—American poet, fiction author, and editor, Elizabeth Oakes Smith, read the story and in 1841 penned “A Corpse Going to a Ball.” The poem—about a young woman, Charlotte, who did not heed her mother’s warning to cover up against the bitter cold—was later set to music and became “Young Charlotte,” an American folk ballad. (To read and listen to the ballad, click here.)
Did You Know…
- The New York Observer’s 1840 article did not name the young couple. However, Elizabeth Oakes Smith referred to the young woman in her poem as Charlotte and her fiancé as George.
- In 1843, Elizabeth Oakes Smith’s husband, American humorist Seba Smith, was credited as the poem’s author when it was republished in The Rover, a magazine he edited.
- The ballad, “Young Charlotte,” was also known as “Fair Charlotte” and “Frozen Charlotte.”
The Claim
Recently, while visiting a historic property, the docent told my friend that the small, white porcelain doll she inquired about was called a “Frozen Charlotte” doll. She went on to explain that mothers from the mid-1800s to early 1900s had used it as a warning—a cautionary tale—of what could happen to children who didn’t obey their parents.
However, when I investigated further, I learned that wasn’t the case. Researchers have reviewed newspapers, magazines, and books from that time, looking for any reference to these dolls being called “Frozen Charlotte” dolls. So far, none has been found.
Did You Know…
- There is no mention of a “Frozen Charlotte” doll (or of the legend associated with it) in the 1897 paper, “A Study of Dolls,” by American psychologist G. Stanley Hall and his student A. Caswell Ellis.
- There isn’t even a doll named “Charlotte” found in “A Study of Dolls” doll names section.
The Doll
In 1850, Germany began manufacturing an inexpensive, one-piece, molded porcelain doll. With arms bent at the elbows, these jointless dolls appeared frozen. Adding to the frozen illusion, their “naked” bodies were as white as snow, though some did have painted-on red lips and dark hair.
They ranged from one to eighteen inches long, with the smallest selling for a penny in the U.S. Because these dolls were so inexpensive, everyone, even working-class families and children, could afford them. Their popularity skyrocketed.
Newspapers and advertisements abound with references to these “penny dolls.” But how and when did they become “Frozen Charlotte” dolls? Blame—or credit—the new name on doll collectors and reporters. They coined the “Frozen Charlotte” moniker in the doll-collecting community sometime around World War II.
The new name caught on quickly and spread like wildfire. Soon, it became the common way to refer to these dolls. As the decades passed, the belief that Victorian parents used the dolls and the story of “Frozen Charlotte” to teach their children the importance of obedience also became entrenched. To the point that today, it’s the accepted history of these dolls, even though it’s not true.
Did You Know…
- The dolls were originally called “one-penny” dolls. They (and the “ten-cent” dolls) were the cheapest nineteenth-century dolls and the most widely sold.
- Most penny dolls were white, but some were pink-tinted, and, in rare cases, some were painted black.
- Penny dolls came in both girl and boy dolls, though the boys weren’t nearly as popular. The girl dolls were called “Frozen Charlotte” while the boys were “Frozen George.” Both names were taken from Elizabeth Oakes Smith’s 1843 poem.
- Penny dolls were also described as pillar dolls, solid chinas, or bathing babies.
- Penny dolls, now known as “Frozen Charlotte” dolls, were the Barbies of their time.
Playtime
Originally, these porcelain dolls were manufactured as a novelty floating toy for bath time.
As the toy swept across Europe and made its way to the U.S., it became more than a bathtime toy. The smallest dolls were baked into Christmas puddings, bringing good luck to the person lucky enough to find one.
In the U.S., the dollhouse became the most common setting for playing with penny dolls. These dolls also served a practical purpose. Being sold “undressed” allowed young girls to sew clothes for their dolls. This learning opportunity crossed cultural lines, as the dolls have been found in homes of all backgrounds, including those of Chinese Immigrants and Native Americans.
Did You Know…
- Sometimes the penny dolls were packaged in small toy bathtubs.
- Native American children practiced their beadwork with penny dolls.
Final Play
For almost one hundred years (1850-1920), penny dolls, aka “Frozen Charlotte” dolls, were extremely popular. However, with the arrival of jointed dolls made of composite materials, their popularity quickly declined.
Today, they’re highly sought-after by both experienced and beginning doll collectors. Even broken ones have historic and cultural significance and will add value to any doll collection.