The Dark History of Frozen Charlotte Dolls
by Felix Brigham
Artifacts found in the Siqueiros-Jácome House, ranging from dolls to school slates, during Desert Archaeology’s excavation offer a unique view into the lives of Soledad Jácome’s daughters in the late 19th century. One doll discovered, currently on display at the museum, is a Frozen Charlotte doll. However, this somewhat plain appearance doll hides a rather dark backstory.
Frozen Charlotte dolls rarely have any hallmarks, except for a number referring to their size or the type of mold used to make them. They were made from white bisque, a type of ceramic, which was poured into molds. They usually measured 2-15 cm and had immobile arms and legs. These inexpensive dolls only cost a few pennies and were relatively sturdy, which has made them common finds in mid-late 19th century archeological digs in the Western world.
They got their name from a ballad and poem that was very popular in the mid-19th century that tells the story of a beautiful young girl’s demise. The story tells that Charlotte left her house one night with her boyfriend to travel to a ball on a sleigh. Even though it was freezing cold and her mother warned her to bundle up, she did not want her beautiful dress to be covered by a coat. As a result, she froze to death. This backstory worked to teach girls to listen to their mothers and served as a warning against thoughtless behavior and excessive vanity. However, it is unclear if this particular backstory would have reached the Soledad girls, as they were far removed from the threat of freezing temperatures and were probably more concerned with wilting in the sun than getting frostbite!
