It was a day like any other for Fitzgibbon local Paula Forbes.
She and her sister grabbed a coffee before setting off on their twice-weekly walk along the Shorncliffe foreshore, collecting sea glass and picking up rubbish along the way. But this particular day in June, something different would catch her eye.
It was the brightness of the tiny object that immediately drew Paula’s attention.
“At first I thought it was plastic, but as I put it in the water to wash the sand off, it sank,” she said.
It was a rare porcelain penny doll.
“I was amazed,” she said.
Paula shared her discovery with members of the Shorncliffe Pier, Brisbane, News and Views Facebook group, hoping to gain some insight into the unusual find. Within days, her post had attracted more than 900 reactions and around 90 comments from members of the community.
Comments included “Wonderful find”, “Jealous! I’ve found one…but it’s missing its legs” and “Maybe from the long-ago fun fair at the end of the pier?”
“I was very surprised by the huge response to my post,” Paula said.
A Rare Piece of History Unearthed
Penny dolls earned their name because they originally sold for just one penny during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Also known as ‘Frozen Charlotte’ dolls, they were commonly sold as bath toys, cake toppers, or inexpensive children’s toys. Made from porcelain and mass-produced in Germany, they were exported around the world, including to Australia. While once considered ordinary playthings, intact examples are now prized by collectors and offer a fascinating glimpse into everyday life more than a century ago.
Exactly how Paula’s penny doll came to rest on the Shorncliffe foreshore may forever remain a mystery, adding another layer of intrigue to an already remarkable find.
“So far it is my most special discovery,” she said.
When asked what she plans to do with the doll, Paula replied: “It is currently sitting with some of the sea glass I have collected over the past six years.”
A bright reminder that a keen eye and a disappearing tide can sometimes uncover the most magical pieces of history.
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