[MR] History Blog: 16-17th c. Lead “Doll"

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today's History blog reports on the discovery of a lead doll or puppet in
England.

The toy is in the shape of a woman with 16th or 17th century clothing, cast
flat though with detail on both the front and back. The figure is about 2
inches in height. Remarkably, the toy is intact. The Portable Antiquities
Scheme lists several similar dolls, but all are broken.

The doll was found by a mudlark, a hobbyist who searches for treasure and
lesser finds in rivers or streams. The most famous mudlarks are those who
comb the Thames shoreline during low tides. This piece was found in a small
stream in Leicestershire.

Because the doll is made of base metal it was not declared treasure. The
finder was allowed to keep the piece, and is considering loaning it to the
British Museum.

The story is found at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/70440 .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆