A Shoe Doll That Belonged to a Child in the Slums of London, ca. 1905

The fact that it was found in an Edwardian London slum around 1905, and is made from the heel of a man’s shoe, a black sock and some scraps of household fabric, makes it at once the most heartbreaking and marvelous of toys.

Surely this represents the highest form of recycling and it demonstrates the loving efforts of a family who couldn’t afford to buy even the cheapest doll for their child. It’s unusual that a homemade toy like this has survived over a hundred years and it’s thanks to Edward Lovett who collected dolls from all over the world in order to preserve local culture.