Month: September 2023

This doll is called Sabrina. She is made of porcelain and she stands 38cms tall. The name Sabrina is an ancient Gothic name said to mean the boundary of a river. The goddess Sabrina was believed to have guarded the boundary between the mortal world and that of the spirit. The name can also be interpreted to mean princess. Sabrina is the mythical figure who gave her name to the River Severn, which flows from Wales through Worcestershire to Gloucestershire in Britain. She appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain, in which the King Locrinus abandons his wife, Gwendolen, and has an illegitimate child by another woman; that child, whose name is Sabrina is drowned by Gwendolen in the river, along with her mother. Hitherto, Sabrina is now known as the nymph of the river. Milton writes of Sabrina in Comus, in which the water-nymph is manifest to rescue a Lady who is pure of heart. Sabrina is seen as powerful and mystical. She is a champion for all oppressed and undervalued women.

This doll is named Arachne, she is a composite doll and stands at 40cms. The name comes from ancient Greek mythology. Arachne was a weaver who was transformed into a spider after challenging the Goddess Athena. Arachne claimed that her works were better than those of the goddess and for this she received her life long punishment. No one could be better than the gods or goddesses, this was an offense, which was very serious and even deadly for the ancient Greeks. This is why the goddess Athena transformed Arachne into a spider to weave webs for the rest of her life. Arachne reminds us to be careful not to offend. She is a protective doll. Unlike many Gothic dolls Arachne is actually happy with her existence and she is waiting to spread that happiness with a new owner.

This doll is named Olwyn and she is a composite doll standing at 35cms tall. Olwyn, is the child of Ysbaddaden, the giant, and is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen. The meaning of this name, is white foot, which comes from the legend of Olwyn being so gentle and fragile that white flowers would sprout up in her footprints. The story of Culhwch and Olwyn stems from the Arthurian legends. Culhwch, after refusing to marry the daughter of his stepmother is told that he shall never wed until he wins Olwen, the daughter of the malevolent giant Yspaddaden Penkawr. Arthur agrees to help and he sends six warriors to search for Olwyn. After a battle Olwyn is freed from the clutches of the giant and is free to marry her love. The doll named Olwyn is a reminder of the power of love. Gothic dolls are often viewed as representing the dark side of human existence, but if we dig further, they are the revelation of deeper levels of the human psyche. Love in Gothic literature is always passionate. Olwyn is a doll that exudes passion, she is made for the special passionate person.

This doll is named Willow, she is made of composite materials and she stands 35cms high. The name Willow is derived from the willow tree and was originally Welig meaning willow tree. The name dates back to Britain before the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. In Essex, the willow twigs were hung on on front doors to protect the home from marshland witches. The willow tree was significant in witchcraft and used to cast spells of protection and healing. Some of the stories about the willow can be viewed as sinister, it was believed that the willow could uproot itself and was able to stalk unwanted travellers. In some places the leaves were used instead of palm leaves for Palm Sunday ceremonies. In Celtic beliefs, the will is the connection between heaven and earth. The Celts referred to the willow as the Tree of Life. Some people believed the willow trees were ancestors and others believed the tree was a spiritual pathway to a higher level of consciousness. My grandmother used to use willow leaves for healing. The leaves contain salicin, a key compound in aspirin, and tannins, which can be used to reduce a fever. They can also be used to treat skin problems, toothache and burns. Willow is a very special tree and this doll Willow is also very special. She has a powerful aura and she is specifically a healing doll with hidden powers. A much favoured doll indeed.

Each of these statues is made of fibreglass and painted in varnished acrylics. They are life size and designed for indoor use.

This is Marsha, she is a porcelain doll dressed in clothes made from recycled materials. Marsha stands 38cms high. The name Marsha is a variant of the name Marcia, which translates to “dedicated to Mars.” The name Mars refers to the red planet and Mars is also featured in Roman mythology as the god of war, which makes Marsha a warrior or sorts. Mars was much more than the god of war, he was also the god of agriculture, which reveals his role as productive, rather than destructive. There are many ways to perceive the roll of Mars, he was a warrior against the elements, a warrior for peace and harmony. Importantly, Mars was a guardian, a required characteristic of life in early Rome. In mythology Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno and he was notable among the military gods. The doll Marsha is softer in character, but she also depicts the strength of a female warrior. Marsha displays a very determined character and she is an inspiration doll. Marsh is one of my favourite dolls because she attracts attention for her simplicity. Marsha is looking for a new home where she can be a point of discussion on on war and peace in all aspects of our daily lives.

This is Medicine Doll Junior. She is made of recycled fabric and she stands 22cms tall. She is normally in the company of another mother doll. Histories are past on between generations. The process by which tradition is transferred from one generation to another is called acculturation. My grandmother lived through the Victorian era and she made her own medicines and dolls. The dolls were not an obvious feature of indoctrination, but in fact, the Victorians passed on a lot of their culture by embedding their traditions into dolls and other toys. For example, as children we learned our table manners by having tea parties with our dolls. No one ever saw this routine as indoctrination, but today we identify many of the more sinister meanings involved in children’s play. Indeed, today, we might call some of the practices brainwashing. Take Barbie for instance and the impact this doll has made on shaping the character of our children. In some cases Barbie has altered and commodified the body image of young girls. Medicine dolls do the reverse. The medicine doll absorbs all the problematic issues that confront their owner. This is a time old method of healing, which still works well today. An example of this is revealed in the way children who have to undergo operations in hospitals are often comforted by being given a teddy bear or a doll who will absorb the child’s fears and pain.

This doll is named Morrigan, she is made of recycled fabrics and she stands at 38cms. The name Morrigan is of Irish origin meaning “phantom queen”. There have been many attempts by some modern researchers and authors of fiction to link Morrigan with the character of Morgan, the character often depicted in the Arthurian legend as a fairy and sometimes as the supernatural sister of King Arthur. Morgan first appears in the literature of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th-century Vita Merlini where she appears as a goddess. The mythological Morrigan was the ancient goddess of war who was often symbolized as a crow. Morrigan is the fortune teller who predicts the fate of those going into battles and wars. She is associated with both doom and victory. Morrigan encourages warriors to carry out brave deeds and she curses their enemies. She is an earth mother who can cast spells for good and bad. Morrigan is thought to date back to the 8th Century, but the dates of her origin are not clear. Morrigan is certainly an Earth Mother and a good companion to have in the home.

This doll is named Chester and he stands 78 cms tall. Chester is a boys name meaning fortress, walled tower or encampment. This is a very special doll because Chester is the guardian of my house and he reminds me of my homeland. The name Chester has Latin roots and comes from the word “castrum”, meaning fortress. Chester is an old Roman settlement in England. Chester sits along the River Dee and it has one of the most complete city walls in Britain and many original Roman structures. During the Dark Ages Chester came under attack from the Vikings who sailed up the river in their long ships. After the conquest of Britain by the Normans in 1066, King William 1 created an Earl of Chester who built the Chester Castle. By the Middle Ages, Chester had become one of Britain’s wealthiest trading ports. However, due to the Civil War the people of Chester suffered two years of starvation, the harbour disappeared and the town lost its main source of income.

This doll is made from recycled materials. Her name is Aurora and she is 50 mcs tall. Aurora is a soft cuddly doll who will bring endless comfort to her owner. Aurora is a name of Latin origin and it means dawn. The name is reminiscent of the beautiful aurora borealis that lights up the nighttime sky. In Roman mythology Aurora renews herself every morning as she moves across the heavens announcing the arrival of the morning Sun. A myth originating from Greek mythology tells the story of Aurora and one of her lovers who was the prince of Troy, his name was Tithonus. Prince Tithonus was a mortal destined to age and die. Wanting to be with her lover for all time, Aurora asked Jupiter to grant Tithonus immortality. Jupiter granted Aurora’s wish, but she failed to ask for eternal youth to accompany his immortality, and he continued to age, eventually becoming forever old. Aurora was not happy with her old man so she turned him into a cicada.