Exhibition | Carved Couture: 18th-Century British Wooden Fashion Dolls

Posted in exhibitions by Editor on January 22, 2025

Opening in January at the Barry Art Museum:

Carved Couture: 18th-Century British Wooden Fashion Dolls
Barry Art Museum, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 28 January — 31 July 2025

In 2025, the Barry Art Museum will continue its series of historical doll exhibitions by taking a closer look at English wooden dolls.

Popular among affluent consumers between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, these dolls acted as three-dimensional fashion plates for viewers, their simple bodies a backdrop for showcasing elegant clothing in miniature. Centuries before Barbie dazzled the world with her extensive wardrobes and accessories, English wooden dolls modeled the latest fashions for their privileged viewers. In keeping with the Barry’s commitment to showcasing the richness of Hampton Roads’ art and material culture, this show will highlight not only works from our permanent collection but also objects from Colonial Williamsburg and local private collectors.

The full press release is available here»

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Note (added 5 February 2025) — The posting was updated to include a link to the press release.