SOLVED. Children's Picture Book about an orphan girl and a doll, set at Christmas, possibly Victorian period. Read around 1997-1999. [s]

[Jemina]

I'm looking for a shortish children's chapter book which I read around 1997-1999 (at latest). It was about an orphan girl, I can't remember much about her situation but she sees this beautiful porcelain doll (described in vivid detail with ribbons in her hair) in a toy shop window. The girl may have had a younger sister or friend. This book was definitely set around Christmas time, i think it was snowing and night time when she saw the doll. Possibly Victorian period but maybe a little later. I recall a dark book cover with a doll behind a latticed window. I can't recall exactly how the story rounds up but I know there was a kindly shopkeeper that put you in mind of st Nicholas. The story starts sad but I'm pretty sure it had a happy heartwarming ending.

This book is definitely not A Little Princess or The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff or Jason Wright or Carol Beach York or Amy Sparks.

[bookel]

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden?
Was it published then or was it much older?

[Jemina]

I think that's it! Thank you bookel, that one has been driving me mad for years. The names Holly and Ivy felt right straight away though I didn't remember that before. I was about 10 when I read it but it always stuck with me.

[bookel]

That's great! It is free to borrow here: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL18253...