Wax Dolls

The "1985 House of Nisbet Dolls, Bears & Books catalogue" tells us that doll historians regard the English as the originators of poured wax dolls, which at this time was an old industry that had virtually disappeared.

The House of Nisbet sought to revive this dying dollmakers' art, and the three models shown in this section are the result.

The poured wax components were made in the best traditions of antique wax dolls, and the House of Nisbet retained the services of doll historian and antique wax doll expert, Miss Faith Eaton, as a consultant on the project.   In addition, Miss Caroline Goodfellow, Doll Curator of the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, (which is affiliated to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London), was on hand to offer valuable advice and guidance.

Faith Eaton, noted author, historian, collector and restorer of antique English Wax Dolls

Only three wax dolls were produced by the House of Nisbet : They are listed below, in the order they were introduced,  (not in numerical order!)

4001 - Mrs Peggy Nisbet

This eighteen inch portrait doll shows Mrs Peggy Nisbet, dressed in one of her formal gowns worn in the early 1950s, when she founded the company.   It was the first of three poured wax dolls made by the House of Nisbet

This impressive doll was introduced in 1985, and went on sale for £98.00

(Apologies for these poor quality images of this stunning doll - we plan a re-shoot in the near future)

4000 - Clementine Nisbet Wilson

This doll, the second in the wax doll series, shows Alison and Jack Wilson's daughter Clementine as an infant, dressed in Christening Robes made of pure silks and cottons, and finished in genuine old hand-made laces and trimmings.   Because of the difficulty in sourcing the old lace, no two costumes were identical

Issued in February 1985, Clementine went on sale for £98.00 

4002 - Queen Victoria

This ten inch high wax portrait doll of Queen Victoria was issued in January 1986.   She was the third, (and sadly, the last), poured wax doll made by the House of Nisbet, and sold for £69.00.   She was larger than the the eight inch porcelain version made for the Tower Treasures collection ten years earlier, but was otherwise very similar in design.   This doll was based on a portrait in the National Gallery

News

21st September 2023

 

Important Announcement

 

My dear wife, Christine, passed away on the 8th December, 2021, after 8 weeks in hospital. I was by her side, when she slipped away from me peacefully, with no pain or suffering.

 

Chris had been struggling with a slow decline in health, associated with a progressive, untreatable, and ultimately terminal lung disease, and finally succumbed to her old adversary, Pneumonia.

 

We had been friends for 55 years, together as a couple for 50 years, and married just a month short of 48 years, when she died.   

 

This website was Chris's idea, and I did all the technical stuff, to make it work.   After news of Chris's passing reached her close friends in the doll collecting world, I was deeply touched and gratified to hear their tributes to my dear wife, and I must thank them all for their kindness and support.   Ultimately, it was her doll friends that gave me the courage to continue with the website.

 

In the months before her eventual hospitalisation, Chris had outlined a number of additions and changes she wanted to make to the website, and it is my intention to honour those wishes, and to implement the changes we had considered, over the coming weeks and months.

 

I must apologise to all those who have written to us via the website, only to have your emails go unanswered.   Unfortunately, the email system had been hacked aroung the time Chris was going into hospital, and many emails must have been lost, as a result.

 

As you might imagine, I felt completely broken by Chris's loss, and it is only now, almost 22 months after her passing, that I have felt strong enough to even look at the website again.   

 

My aim is to continue with the website, and to implement Chris's aims for her many new ideas as soon as I can.   In the meantime, I have hopefully got the email system sorted out, and I will attempt to answer any enquiries as soon as I can, and to send replies with the same high degree of accuracy that a reply from Chris would have had.

 

From now on, I will be flying solo, whilst my co-pilot and guide will be soaring much higher, (though she is always in my heart, and in my thoughts).

 

My thanks to all our website visitors for your continued support

 

Dave (also known as Arthur), and Chris, (my lost love, Guinevere)

 

Christine Poulten

25th December 1949 - 8th December 2021