Cloth dolls
Classification(s):
Textile
Date: c. 1951 - 1976
Organisation: Grecon
Maker: Margarete Cohn
Medium: Wire, wool
Object number: W464I
DescriptionA family of cloth dolls formed over a metal wire frame, with cloth and felt clothing and feet made from lead. The dolls wire limbs can be positioned into different stances. The dolls were made in England, by Margarete Cohn. The family of 8 dolls comprises 3 generations: grandparents, parents and children (a pair of young children and a pair of infants).
Each doll has a fabric label sewn into the reverse of their clothing “Grecon, Made in England”.
All dolls share the same ILEA number.
Each doll has a fabric label sewn into the reverse of their clothing “Grecon, Made in England”.
All dolls share the same ILEA number.
ProvenanceThis object was originally acquired for the Inner London Education Authority’s (ILEA) ‘Circulating Design Scheme’ collection.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
The collection was instigated by the London Country Council (later the Greater London Council) and the Council of Industrial Design (COID). The collection’s original purpose was concerned with the teaching and dissemination of modern, ‘good design’.
The collection was established in 1951/52 as the ‘Experiment in Design Appreciation’, later renamed the ‘Circulating Design Scheme’.
The Circulating Design Scheme lent boxed showcases to London schools. The showcases contained handling objects, material samples and interpretation on a specific subject.
COID withdrew its involvement in the Scheme in 1957. After which time, it was managed exclusively by the London County Council from 1957-1963.
After the administrative restructuring of London authorities, the Scheme was jointly managed by the Greater London Council and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1963 – 1976.
The Scheme was operational until 1976 when the collections were withdrawn from circulation. ILEA was abolished in the late 1980s and the collection was donated to Camberwell College of Arts in 1989/90.
ILEA was responsible for secondary and tertiary education in the inner London boroughs, this included Camberwell.
NotesMargarete Cohn registered her trademark 'Grecon' in Germany in 1920, and again in 1940 in England - having moved to London in 1937 from Berlin. Many of the dolls were sold in Hamleys, Harrods and Liberty's.