OPHELIA by artist Francesca Loi of Littleswimminmachine

Mixed media OOAK art doll: air dry clay, dip dyed watercolor sari silk ribbon, silk fabric, organdy, vintage French lace and remnants, wool locks and imitation gold leaf. The body (not posable) is made of white, needle-felted Corriedale Top, over a wire armature wrapped in a dip dyed watercolor sari silk ribbon.

The head, hands and feet are sculpted in air dry clay. She has a metal ring on her back for displaying on a wall. Completely hand sewn.


Artist signature is hand stitched onto the doll.
Certificate of Authenticity from the artist included.

Size: 14" tall (35.5 cm)

About the doll:

This art doll was inspired by Sir John Everett Millais’s painting “Ophelia” (1851-52).

“The scene depicted is from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act IV, Scene vii, in which Ophelia, driven out of her mind when her father is murdered by her lover Hamlet, falls into a stream and drowns.” *

Most of the plants and flowers depicted in Millais’s painting have a symbolic significance. Francesca decided to pick the ones she liked best and handmade each one using fabric and thread only. An anti fray liquid was applied to each to prevent the fabric from fraying. Each was lovingly hand stitched onto the skirt and around her neck.

Violets, which Ophelia wears around her neck, stand for Faithfulness.
Poppies signify death.
Roses and Field roses, allude to her brother Laertes calling her ‘Rose of May’.
Daisies are associated with innocence.
Pansies refer to love, in vain.
Forget-me-nots refer to memory.

*From the Tate website.