Well here she is at last! After a year of planning, months of materials gathering and careful budgeting. I present Pandora a replica of 16th Century Swedish Fashion Doll. Original extant doll resides in the Royal Armory in Stockholm, Sweden.Debuted her at the Aethelmearc Kingdom Arts and Sciences Championship.Which was great as I was able to gain some resource on the lace on the doll being a later version of Viking wire weaving called Pasoment. There are some definite comparisons when looking at patterns in the lace then look at the versions of Pasoment left behind by the Vikings.
Since she is Swedish this is a possible regional style of lace in this area. Though there would be a challenge even buying this lace outside the country, let alone finding it online. I will have to learn to make my own version eventually to replace the current space holding gold wire. The wire treatment on the skirt is for now to save a place for the lace when I do learn the skill. Its on the to do list.
The sleeves are by far the nicest part, as they were also the part that took the longest to complete. Though her wig was a challenge to get right with the hyde glue stinking up the house. Though every aspect of this doll was planned and thought out meticulously. I do have some guiding stitches that will need to be replaced and some finishing touches I plan on doing before spring.
I also am looking at doing some more work rounding out my research with
more documentable portraits of Swedish fashion in the 16th century. As looking at the original doll and what was fashionable at the time, there are many missing accessories. Could this be lost to antiquity from use or from a mean sibling we will never know. This was also thought out carefully as I wanted to come up with ideas but not change the orginal doll. So the added accessories are removable and do not change the integrity of the doll. Showing two versions of photos ones with the accessories and ones without as she would exist now. Did include these in the documentation for the competition.I was presented with a challenge to scale up the clothes and accessories since she is a fashion doll, now do the period thing make the clothes. Have the fashion, now make the fashion. This would be a true challenge but I do have electronic list of all the materials I purchased, So this is another way of working out the project using all the same materials. Would the gown and all the petticoats really work? In theory yes!
All in one project is possible and I think this is my best shot as such a rare unicorn kind of piece, just a rarity. Side note I did receive new Sca business cards for contact info. Always good to advertise the society. Not publishing my documentation till its complete yet I do no really do this online anyway.
Keeping out of Trouble,
Mairin
