Doll's Armoire

Description

This doll’s armoire is a perfect example of the luxury experienced by planter families in the early 19^th century. Standing as a miniature of what her parent’s would have owned, Jeanne’s toy is composed of a Rosewood base construction, topped by a Rosewood veneer that is then inlayed with boxwood details. To enhance this toy even more, a mirror fronts a workable door and a beautiful, white marble slab forms the top plane. A small drawer can be found directly under the main storage compartment.

Jeanne Aimée Roman was born May 25, 1818 to Governor André Bienvenu Roman and Françoisé Aimée Parent. During her childhood, this item would have been used as a play armoire for her dolls cloths. Growing up, Jeanne was the second born girl in a family of four children. Tragedy struck her older sister Aimée and her husband Ursin Bouligny, Jr. when both died, leaving behind them two young orphan daughters. The daughters, Marie and Therese Bouligny, moved in with Jeanne’s parents and were essentially raised as additional sisters to Jeanne. It’s Therese that married the son of Oak Alley Plantation’s original occupant and Jeanne’s son that married that owner’s granddaughter. Jeanne eventually married Eli Farault de LaVillebeuvre, a younger but wealthy man. At the age of 71, in July of 1889, Jeanne passed away.

O2013.001.002