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Doll dressed in French peasant costume, carrying a tray of cheese. Purchased from a French cheese seller at Eton Fair. Known as a santon.
A female doll dressed in French peasant costume, comprising a patterned dress, a red apron, a black shawl and a white bonnet. She is carrying a tray of cheese for sale. The doll was purchased by the donor from a French cheese seller at Eton Fair. This type of figure is known as a santon.

1 doll: various materials; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: JMB // Date: 1.12.97 // Description: A doll dressed in peasant costume. She has a patterned dress, a red apron, black shawl and white bonnet. The doll is carrying a tray of cheese for sale. // Dimensions: Height: 26.0 cm // Associated information: The donor bought this doll from a French cheese seller at Eton Fair. // It is a French doll.’, Website [Twitter, @Stroppycow, 4 June 2019] – ‘My grandmother had a few of these, they are from the South of France and they aren't dolls/poupees, they are 'santons' ... The head, hand and feet are terracotta, the ones my grandmother had were old men and old ladies in traditional Provence dress doing rural jobs. Other popular figures are nativity characters.'

France