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Size: Coffin 2" L .. Porcelain 1" L
19th century Frozen Charlotte entombed in unmarked silver colored coffin with brass cross and Staffordshire like mourning doll.
Back of doll remains unfinished for funeral lay out. Velvet of newer vintage.
Thanks to TearDrop Memories friend across the pond Jeanne Trend - Hill, The Angel Of Death, for the following research!
The one-inch sized dolls were commonly known as penny dolls because they generally sold for one cent.
In the early Victorian days, the tiny Charlottes were sometimes baked into children’s birthday cakes or Christmas puddings
to be found by the guests as party favors as they bit into their piece of cake.
Fair Charlotte was a frozen corpse
And a word she no more spoke.
Her flesh had become like fine china
And just as easily broke.
Disobeying her mother’s wishes, Charlotte literally skated on thin ice.
Falling through the crack beneath her feet she paid the ultimate price.
So next time you don’t listen to your parents, think of the dreadful sight
Of poor little frozen Charlotte, rotting in the lonely cold winter’s night.
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Another version
Young Charlotte lived on the mountain side
In a quiet, lonely spot
No dwelling there for three miles round
Except her father’s cot
Her father loved to see her dress
Gay as a city belle
For she was all the child he had
He loved his daughter well
T’was New Year’s Eve, the sun was set
And she looked with a wishful eye
So long at the frozen windows out
As the merry sleighs went by
At the village fifteen miles away
There’s a merry ball tonight
The piercing air was cold and keen
Yet her heart was warm and light
How gaily beams her sparkling eyes
As a well-known sound she hears
When darting up to her father’s house
Young Charles’ sleigh appears!
My daughter dear, her mother said
This blanket around you fold
It is a dreadful night abroad
You might take fatal cold
O, no dear mother, Charlotte said
And she laughed like a gayly queen
To ride in a blanket muffled up
I never can be seen
My silken shawl is quite enough
You know it’s lined throughout
Besides I have a silken scarf
To tie my neck about
Her bonnet and her gloves were on
And she stepped into the sleigh
And off they ride o’er the mountain side
And o’er the hills away
For five long dark and lonesome miles
In silence o’er they passed
Till Charlotte in a few frozen words
This silence broke at last
It’s such a night I never seen
The reins I scarce can hold
Charlotte replied in a feeble voice
I am extremely cold
He cracked his whip, he urged his steed
Much faster than before
Till five more dark and lonesome miles
In silence they passed o’er
He says, How fast the glittering ice
Is gathering on my brow
Charlotte replied in a feeble voice
I’m growing warmer now
And on they ride o’er the mountain side
As the stars shine on them bright
At length they reach the village
And the ballroom is in sight
They stopped then, and he stepped out
And offered his hand to her
Why sit you there light a monument
That hath no power to stir?
He called her once, he called her twice
But yet she never stirred
He called and called for her again
Yet she answered not a word
He raised the veil from o’er her face
As the cold stars on her shone
He took her hand into his own
Oh God! ‘t was cold as stone
Then quickly to the lighted hall
Her lifeless form he bore
For Charlotte was a frozen girl
And never spoke no more
Now ladies, think of this fair girl
And always dress up right
And never venture thinly clad
On a cold and dreary night
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