Toys and games: M. Lavinina Warren paper doll, white and blue dress
Unknown creator, American (created by)
M. Lavinia Warren (associated with)
Discovery Museum and Planetarium (created by)
M. Lavinia Warren (associated with)
Discovery Museum and Planetarium (created by)
1863 – 1870 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
4 in H
X
3.75 in W
Paper doll garment that is part of a set depicting M. Lavinia Warren, better known as Mrs. General Tom Thumb, the wife of Charles S. Stratton. Their 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" in the public's imagination, 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.
This dress is a white ball gown, with pleated blue trimming. A narrow trim edges the bodice at the neckline and just below the bust line, with a pink bow decorating the bosom. Wider blue trim decorates the skirt beginning at the waistline and extending down the front of the dress, curving around the lower edge of the skirt. The figure is shown with short, white gloves, and appears to be holding a fan, from which blue tassels hang down. The back shows only the upper portion of the dress.
The set that this item is 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.
This dress is a white ball gown, with pleated blue trimming. A narrow trim edges the bodice at the neckline and just below the bust line, with a pink bow decorating the bosom. Wider blue trim decorates the skirt beginning at the waistline and extending down the front of the dress, curving around the lower edge of the skirt. The figure is shown with short, white gloves, and appears to be holding a fan, from which blue tassels hang down. The back shows only the upper portion of the dress.
The set that this item is 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.
A Gift of the Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut
2003.009.062 F