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Object 3 |
QUESTION 1
Molly: "Right, lets look very closely at this man and see what we can find out about him. Later we’ll try and work out if he really is who he appears to be.
Look carefully at all the different parts. How many different materials do you think it is made out of?"
Less than 3 / 5 / 7 / More than 9
More information
The object is made out of several different materials. The base is made out of wood, while the head and hands of the figure are leather. The hair has been stuck on to the head and is made of goat’s hair, called mohair. The figure is wearing cotton trousers, a woollen coat and a hat made out of cardboard. The tray is made out of plaited cotton cord and the objects in it have been made out of wood, cotton, cardboard, paper and glass. There are no plastics, or synthetic materials, as these had not yet been invented!
QUESTION 2
Molly: "Do you think the object was made in a mould or in separate pieces? Who might have made it?"
More information
The object would have been hand made in separate pieces. It might have been made by a worker in a small factory or workshop that specialised in these kinds of objects. In London, where land was very expensive, manufacturers often paid people to make objects like this in their own homes, rather than build factories. This type of work was called piece work and was very badly paid. Piece workers would have to work extremely long hours in order to make enough money to buy basic necessities such as food and candles. Sometimes whole families, including very young children, would help to make an object.
Tool: X-ray
An x-ray machine is used to look inside an object and see the hidden parts, such as the ‘skeleton’ of this object. For example, if the x-ray shows nails holding the parts together the object can’t have been made in a mould.
QUESTION 3
Molly: "Have another look at the object . Do you think there are any parts missing?"
• A banner to wave
• A glass cover
• A pet dog
Tool: Magnifying glass
A magnifying glass is used to look very carefully at tiny details. Using one we might see signs of damage or aging, such as dry cracked wood and faded fabric.
More information
If you said a glass case or cover you are right! This would have been shaped like a dome and protected the object from dust. You can see the groove on the top of the wooden base that the dome would have fitted into.
Is there a tool to tell us more about this object’s history?
QUESTION 4
Molly: "Now look closely at the figure in the centre of the object. Can you describe it?"
More information
The figure has been made to look like a man in Victorian style working men’s clothing. He has a painted face, which makes him look like quite a young man, and long side burns. His mouth is open, as if he is calling out, and his arms are spread out, as though encouraging you to look at his tray. He is wearing a tall black hat, a brown jacket and trousers and a mustard coloured waistcoat. He has black shoes on his feet and a beige coloured neckerchief tied around his neck. His clothes make him look quite smart.
QUESTION 5
Molly: "Look at the objects hanging from, the figure’s tray. Do you recognise what any of them are?"
Nutmeg grater / Playing cards / Purse / Face screen / Perfume bottle
Tool: magnifying glass
A magnifying glass is useful for looking at small objects, like all the things in the tray.
More information
Well spotted. There are lots of things in his tray. You might have seen tiny perfume bottles, purses, lip salve and playing cards. There is also tooth powder for cleaning teeth, strips of leather for sharpening razors and blusher for reddening cheeks.
Hanging from his tray he has a selection of bead earrings and brooches. He also has miniature cotton braces, that men used to keep their trousers up, and racquets for playing with shuttlecocks. The painted objects, in a similar shape to the racquets, are face screens. In Victorian times, ladies who were sitting close to a coal fire would use these to screen their faces and prevent them from burning.
QUESTION 6
Molly: "Well done, you’ve found out what the object is made from, what the different parts are – and what’s missing.
Now have a think, can you work out what it is?"
More information
If you said either a doll or an ornament, both are right! It is a type of doll known as a pedlar doll which was very popular in Victorian times. But it was an ornament, not a toy.
Pedlars were people who went from door to door selling a variety of different objects, such as the ones the doll has in his tray. Pedlars would buy the objects themselves, usually from wholesalers or markets, and hoped to make a small profit by selling them on to other people.
QUESTION 7
Molly: "Excellent, now we know what sort of person the object is based on.
But what sort of person do you think actually owned the pedlar doll in Victorian times? How would the owner have used it?"
• Child
• Pedlar
• Rich woman
More information
Although the doll is of a working man, it would have been an expensive object. It would probably have been owned by an adult, not a child. Perhaps the owner was a rich woman who liked to collect interesting objects.
The owner would have used the doll as an ornament. Perhaps she would have displayed it on a mantelpiece or small table in her best sitting room. Objects like these were sometimes known as "conversation pieces" as they were designed to interest visitors and give them something to talk about. Pedlar dolls could also be bought without any items in their trays or baskets so that the owner could amuse herself by making miniature objects to go inside.
QUESTION 8
Molly: "Finally, lets think more widely about how this object relates to life in Victorian times.
What does the pedlar doll tell you about life in Victorian London?
Why not talk to a friend about what you’ve found out."
More information
The doll tells us lots about life in Victorian London, particularly for poor people. There were hundreds of street sellers selling everything from shellfish to nutmeg graters. Buying from a pedlar or street seller was cheaper than buying from a shop so the customers were usually working class people.
Street sellers generally had a particular spot where they stood. They also had a special saying, called a ‘cry’, which they would call out to attract customers. They would be outside in all weathers from early morning until late at night. Many were children and some were homeless.
The pedlar doll also shows the attitude of rich Victorians towards poor people. Wealthy Victorians were often sympathetic to what they called "the deserving poor" and would give generously to charity. They saw people like pedlars as picturesque London characters. The doll is dressed warmly and looks young and healthy. Real pedlars would have worn patched second hand clothes. Sometimes they were old and sick or disabled. The pedlar doll shows that rich Victorians often had no idea of the harsh reality of life for the poor people that they passed every day in the streets.
SUMMARY