Toys and games: M. Lavinina Warren paper doll, winter coat with fur collar and muff
1863 – 1870 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
3.75 in H
X
3.9 in W
Winter outfit that is part of a paper doll set depiciting M. Lavinia Warren, wife of Charles S. Stratton, and better known by her stage name, "Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb." The couple's marriage in 1863 set them on a course to achieve international celebrity, and a wide variety of souvenir items were produced to capitalize on the "miniature" couple's immense popularity. Though paper dolls were not new in the 1860s, they were becoming a more popular pastime for children due to the greater affordability of printed items, including books, magazines, and puzzles. As little people with the condition of proportionate dwarfism, Charles and Lavinia would probably have been likened to "dolls" and thus perhaps one of the reasons paper dolls were made in their image. In addition, Charles's character performances in costume presented a perfect opportunity for creating a paper doll wardrobe, as did Lavinia's taste for fashionable, expensive clothing.
The double-breasted winter coat is a pale tone and features a thick, brown fur collar. The coat is shown worn over a full-skirted purple gown which peaks out below the lower edge of the coat; the purple is better seen on the reverse side of the paper doll. The coat sleeves end in very deep cuffs and show decorative buttons or trim that appear to hold the cuffs in place. The coat has pockets. The figure holds a brown fur muff, which hangs down from her hand. In use, the muff would have been held across the wearer's stomach with both hands inside the muff, a substitute for gloves.
The set that this item is a part of was likely produced around 1863 or soon after, amidst the hype of the couple's marriage. Their wedding was heavily promoted by P.T. Barnum, who called it the Fairy Wedding and elevated it to the biggest social event in New York City society. Both Warren and Stratton were highly regarded, and were engaging and poised. Lavinia was admired for her beauty, intelligence, and sense of style, making her ideal as a fashion plate for paper dolls. A set was also produced to showcase Lavinia's younger sister, Minnie Warren.
M. Lavinia Warren was a well known entertainer, whose career spanned the 1860s to the early 1900s. She was born Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump on October 31, 1841, in Massachusetts. She married fellow entertainer Charles S. Stratton on February 10, 1863, and following his death in 1883, she married an Italian entertainer of a similar stature, Count Primo Magri, on April 6, 1885. Warren was a schoolteacher originally but soon began her performance career on a river boat at a time when exhibiting people with dwarfism was profitable. Warren signed with showman P. T. Barnum at age 21, along with her younger sister Minnie (Huldah) Warren, who also had dwarfism. After her marriage to Stratton the two toured the country and around the world giving performances, becoming America's first international celebrity couple. During Warren's second marriage, she and her husband also toured for many years and later operated a roadside stand in Middleboro, Massachusetts, her birthplace. Lavinia Warren Stratton Magri died on November 25, 1919, and was buried beside Stratton at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The outfit is a pale lavendar, double-breasted full-length coat with a deep purple ruffle at the bottom and a wide brown fur collar. The silhouette is triangular, flaring out to a width suitable for a hoopskirt gown. There are four buttons over the middle, and additional buttons on the large sleeves which feature deep cuffs. Both arms are slightly bent, one gloved hand is hidden in a pocket, the other holds an unidentified item and the carrying cord of a brown fur muff that matches the coat collar. The back of the outfit features the same purple ruffled continuing around the hem.
The paper doll set that this item is a part of was likely produced around 1863, amidst the popularity of Lavinia Warren’s marriage to Charles S. Stratton. Their wedding was heavily promoted by P.T. Barnum, who gave it the name of the Fairy Wedding and elevated it to the major social event of the year in New York City society. Both Warren and Stratton were little people, and well regarded as entertainers. Lavinia was also admired for her beauty, intelligence, and sense of style, making her ideal as a fashion plate for paper dolls.
The double-breasted winter coat is a pale tone and features a thick, brown fur collar. The coat is shown worn over a full-skirted purple gown which peaks out below the lower edge of the coat; the purple is better seen on the reverse side of the paper doll. The coat sleeves end in very deep cuffs and show decorative buttons or trim that appear to hold the cuffs in place. The coat has pockets. The figure holds a brown fur muff, which hangs down from her hand. In use, the muff would have been held across the wearer's stomach with both hands inside the muff, a substitute for gloves.
The set that this item is a part of was likely produced around 1863 or soon after, amidst the hype of the couple's marriage. Their wedding was heavily promoted by P.T. Barnum, who called it the Fairy Wedding and elevated it to the biggest social event in New York City society. Both Warren and Stratton were highly regarded, and were engaging and poised. Lavinia was admired for her beauty, intelligence, and sense of style, making her ideal as a fashion plate for paper dolls. A set was also produced to showcase Lavinia's younger sister, Minnie Warren.
M. Lavinia Warren was a well known entertainer, whose career spanned the 1860s to the early 1900s. She was born Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump on October 31, 1841, in Massachusetts. She married fellow entertainer Charles S. Stratton on February 10, 1863, and following his death in 1883, she married an Italian entertainer of a similar stature, Count Primo Magri, on April 6, 1885. Warren was a schoolteacher originally but soon began her performance career on a river boat at a time when exhibiting people with dwarfism was profitable. Warren signed with showman P. T. Barnum at age 21, along with her younger sister Minnie (Huldah) Warren, who also had dwarfism. After her marriage to Stratton the two toured the country and around the world giving performances, becoming America's first international celebrity couple. During Warren's second marriage, she and her husband also toured for many years and later operated a roadside stand in Middleboro, Massachusetts, her birthplace. Lavinia Warren Stratton Magri died on November 25, 1919, and was buried beside Stratton at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The outfit is a pale lavendar, double-breasted full-length coat with a deep purple ruffle at the bottom and a wide brown fur collar. The silhouette is triangular, flaring out to a width suitable for a hoopskirt gown. There are four buttons over the middle, and additional buttons on the large sleeves which feature deep cuffs. Both arms are slightly bent, one gloved hand is hidden in a pocket, the other holds an unidentified item and the carrying cord of a brown fur muff that matches the coat collar. The back of the outfit features the same purple ruffled continuing around the hem.
The paper doll set that this item is a part of was likely produced around 1863, amidst the popularity of Lavinia Warren’s marriage to Charles S. Stratton. Their wedding was heavily promoted by P.T. Barnum, who gave it the name of the Fairy Wedding and elevated it to the major social event of the year in New York City society. Both Warren and Stratton were little people, and well regarded as entertainers. Lavinia was also admired for her beauty, intelligence, and sense of style, making her ideal as a fashion plate for paper dolls.
A Gift of the Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut
2003.009.062 G