Upcoming Exhibition

Carved Couture: 18th-Century British Wooden Fashion Dolls

January 28, 2025 – July 31, 2025 The Barry Art Museum will continue its series of historical doll exhibitions by taking a closer look at English wooden dolls. Popular among affluent consumers between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, these dolls acted as three-dimensional fashion plates for viewers, their simple bodies a backdrop for showcasing elegant clothing in miniature. Centuries before Barbie dazzled the world with her extensive wardrobes and accessories, English wooden dolls modeled the latest fashions for their privileged viewers. In keeping with the Barry’s commitment to showcasing the richness of Hampton Roads’ art and material culture, this show will highlight was not Just from our permanent collection but Colonial Williamsburg and local private collectors as well.