The dolls originated in the US during the Victorian era, around 1860 and were called Frozen Charlottes, (or Charlie for males), dolls. The dolls were made in response to the enormous popularity of a song, “Fair Charlotte“, which was based on an 1843 poem penned by Maine journalist, Seba Smith, entitled, “A Corpse Going to a Ball.”
There is some debate as to wether Smith’s poem was simply a cautionary tale or based on an actual incident. Whatever the origins, the poem and ballad served as a cautionary tale to young ladies about the dangers of vanity and not heeding your parents.
The Frozen Charlotte dolls were very small and typically made of porcelain. As they only cost a penny, most children could afford them, only adding to their popularity in Victorian households.
At some point it became very fashionable to begin baking these tiny corpse dolls into birthday cakes or in the UK, in Christmas puddings, as a prize or party favor.
Young Charlotte
Young Charlotte lived by the mountainside in a cold and dreary spot
No other dwelling for miles around, except her father’s cot
And yet, on many a winter’s eve, young swains would gather there
For her father kept a social board and she was very fair
Her father loved to see her dressed prim as a city belle
She was the only child he had and he loved his daughter well
In a village some fifteen miles off there’s a merry ball tonight
Though the driving wind is cold as death their hearts were free and light
And yet how beams those sparkling eyes as the well-known sound she hears
And dashing up to her father’s door, young Charles and his sleigh appears
“Oh, daughter dear”, her mother says, “Those blankets round you fold
For it is a dreadful night to ride and you`ll catch your death of cold”
“Oh nay, oh nay”, young Charlotte said, and she laughed like a gypsy queen
“To ride with blankets muffled up one never would be seen”
Her gloves and bonnet being on, she stepped into the sleigh
And away they rode by the mountain side and it’s o’er the hills and away
There’s music in those merry bells as o’er the hills we go
What a creaking noise those runners make as they strike the frozen snow
And muffled faces silent are as the first five miles are passed
When Charles with few and shivering words the silence broke at last
“What a dreadful night it is to ride. My lines I scarce can hold”
When she replied in a feeble voice, “I am extremely cold”
Charles cracked his whip and urged his team far faster than before
Until at length five other miles in silence were passed o’er
“Charlotte, how fast the freezing ice is gathering on my brow”
When she replied in a feeble voice, “I’m getting warmer now”
And away they ride by the mountain side beneath the cold starlight
Until at length the village inn and the ballroom are in sight
When they drove up, Charles he got out and offered her his hand
“Why sit you there like a monument that hath no power to stand?”
He asked her once, he asked her twice but she answered not a word
He offered her his hand again, but still she never stirred
He took her hand into his own, twas cold as any stone
He tore the veil from off her face and the cold stars on her shone
And quick into the lighted hall her lifeless form he bore
Fair Charlotte was a frozen corpse and a word she ne’er spoke more
He took her back into the sleigh and quickly hurried home
And when he came to her father’s door oh how her parents moaned
They mourned the loss of their daughter dear while Charles wept o’er their gloom
Until at length, Charles died of grief and they both lay in one tomb
Via Nourishing Death.
I have one of those dolls, sans the coffin. Picked it up in an antique shop when I was 12 for $5.00. Glad to know its history. Thanks.
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I thought frozen charlotte’s were the porcelain head dolls with soft bodies. What are those dolls called.
Partially Thawed Charlotte’s, sorry couldn’t resist.
They’re just called porcelain dolls.
The ones you describe are known as “China head” or “porcelain head” dolls. Completely different thing, though they were made by the same companies out of the Thuringia region of Germany. They later had bodies of leather, paper mache, or composition, a mixture of sawdust and glue molded into body parts and then assembled inside with string or elastic cord – a forerunner of todays’ ball jointed dolls or “BJDs”.
Love this
I’m fascinated by these dolls too! I wrote a paper about them which can be found on academia.edu if anyone wants more detail about their use: https://www.academia.edu/12251298/_Still_She_Never_Stirred_Frozen_Charlotte_Dolls_of_the_Victorian_Era
Do you know why the first example says “DONT TALK SO MUCH”? That seems like a warning, but maybe it’s a description? Curious if you would know!
Thank you – excellent paper, btw!
Ohh how very very cool! I’d love one with the coffin.
Here in New Zealand there was a ‘baby farmer’ in the 1800’s named Minnie Deans…charged with killing babies she was meant to be minding. she was arrested and at her trial little babies in hatboxes were sold outside the courthouse. She was subsequently executed. I want one of these! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Dean
Hmm, Wikipedia says Daniel Cooper was the baby farmer ?
But why does the coffin say “Don’t talk so much”?
I believe Frozen Charlotte’s became representations of any sin – such as fairytales were written originally to warn children of dangers e.g. Little Red Riding Hood was to warn children not to go into the woods alone, don’t talk to strangers etc.
Frozen Charlotte began with the poem warning of vanity and followed to become warnings for all/any sins (thought in a jovial way). So, Don’t talk so much, is of course a recall of the “children should be seen and not heard”.
Hope that helps!
Do you know where I could find a doll like this?
They’re all over Etsy and eBay, and usually pretty inexpensive.
This is gorgoeusly creepy.
I have a post about these as well.
http://charlottehenleybabb.com/frozen-charlottes/
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