Note: Sadly, since I posted this blog in Spring 2012 the doll museum has closed and the premises are for sale. If I find out any more details about what has happened to Vina's collection, I'll post it here.
In a quiet corner of Nottinghamshire you'll find an almost-secret treasure. This is the Vina Cooke Museum of Dolls in the village of Cromwell... A staggering collection of dolls, dolls houses, and antique fashions housed in a grand Georgian house. Vina and her husband have spent several decades putting this collection together. Some might call it an exercise in British eccentricity, others will call it a labour of love.
The most interesting items are the pieces created by Vina herself. These aren't dolls per se, but reproductions of historical figures and film stars dressed in fantastic miniature costumes. Henry VIII and his wives, and Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev are some examples.
In a quiet corner of Nottinghamshire you'll find an almost-secret treasure. This is the Vina Cooke Museum of Dolls in the village of Cromwell... A staggering collection of dolls, dolls houses, and antique fashions housed in a grand Georgian house. Vina and her husband have spent several decades putting this collection together. Some might call it an exercise in British eccentricity, others will call it a labour of love.
The most interesting items are the pieces created by Vina herself. These aren't dolls per se, but reproductions of historical figures and film stars dressed in fantastic miniature costumes. Henry VIII and his wives, and Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev are some examples.
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| Dorothy, Tin Man and Scarecrow modelled from The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
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| The Cowardly Lion looks just like Bert Lahr! |
Film buffs however, will be drawn to the display cabinets housing Hollywood stars in authentic reproductions of costumes by the likes of Irene Sharaff (Liz Taylor in The Taming Of The Shrew 1967) and Cecil Beaton (Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady 1964). Cooke is particularly good at painting eyes - Bert Lahr is very accurate! - and the way she has captured the movement of Brigitte Bardot dancing is also very good.
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| Elizabeth Taylor in The Taming of the Shrew (1967) |
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| A selection of film star dolls can be found in this room including Brigitte Bardot and Yul Brynner. |
Cromwell is a short drive or bus ride away from Newark, so I recommend a quick excursion to see the dolls if you are in the area, but phone first to check for opening times. There's also a doll repair service available if diddum's is falling apart!
Tel: UK 01636 821364
British Pathe film of Vina and her film star dolls
http://www.aboutbritain.com/VinaCookeMuseumOfDolls.htm http://www.vinasdolls.co.uk/
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