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Monday, April 12, 2010

Dolls Getting Dressed

Here are a few of the dolls that I am in the process of dressing. Thus far they are wearing pantalets, petticoats, painted on shoes and stockings, and the Queen Anne has her panniers under her petticoat.

Since I tend toward "early" dolls, and as early is regarded as pre-1850, I use the maché because it preceded porcelain dolls. Otherwise I love to make cloth dolls, and am working toward woodens, one-of-these-days!



I enjoy making their stands. As our 1888 home has a lot of old wood in the basement, I use that. This batch was made from a piece of the original siding. We still have the same style siding, but from time-to-time, a piece or two has been replaced, and they frugally did not throw them away. I am so delighted to have this attractive and old wood available for some of my doll stands.

My blonde is my latest doll in history, because she was created in about 1870. This makes her not early. I do fudge occasionally, don't I? I call this model, Amy.



This smaller brunette doll is one that I call Claire. Claire is an M&S Superior from the middle 1800's. I regard her as early enough.



Here is my beautiful Emma, an 1820's "milliner's model", a term that I recently learned is not a correct one for any dolls. She was simply a lovely toy. The original has wooden limbs. My doll's limbs are made from maché.


Maggie is truly my very favorite of all of my maché head dolls. This doll originated in the early 1800's and had the beautiful, pupiless glass eyes. She is known as a doll's doll. She is a "pre-Greiner" and was the doll to one of the larger Greiners. Some purists do not believe that all dolls called "pre-Greiner" were that early, but I just don't know. I am not a purist. I simulate with paint the glass eyes.



My new Queen Anne with actual glass eyes, is a one-of-a-kind. She isn't named yet. I learned that pantalets and bloomers were not even considered for ladies until the 1850's, and so, the early styles really offered nothing of this sort. The ladies wore shifts and many petticoats under their dresses. My Queen Anne does not have pantalets or bloomers. I've given her some panniers under her skirt.



These are only a small handful of the dolls I have in progress.

I hope to have a few more uploaded soon.


15 comments:

  1. Each doll is a treasure and adorable. I can tell everyone has an unique personality all their own. They look like they could start talking at any moment. I wonder what they would talk about?

    Donna

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  2. Hi Christine,
    What a most BEAUTIFUL group of ladies!!! Each one unique, each one has there owe story to tell, yet each one was made by the same artist hands. It cannot get any better than this!!!
    Thank you so much for the wonderful the eye candy!!! they are truly a FEAST for the eyes!!!

    HUGS!!!!
    Julie

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  3. Wonderful grouping...Just in time for my milliner's Model post...They are so pristine and gorgeous!
    Thank you for sharing your beautiful dolls!

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  4. They are all really so beautiful, love seeing the different expressions.
    Debby

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  5. what a lovely grouping of dolls! they each are so pretty with their own personalities~

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  6. Sweet Christine,

    Your dolls are darling!

    XO,

    Lisa

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  7. Oh, they are so very beautiful. You have such a talent for making these gorgeous dolls.

    They look stunning all together.

    xoxo
    Nancy

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  8. These are fantastic!! I can't wait to see them when they are all prim and proper with their clothes on!

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  9. What a lovely site...such fine ladye's standing about in their bloomers :)! So very pretty.

    Hugs, D

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  10. Your dolls are wonderful! I can see you have been working hard on your blog! Everything is beautiful!

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  11. Zwee...I posted about you today! And I made a little 1800's inspired doll yesterday. She is waiting for her dress!

    oxx

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  12. These are truly the most beautiful works I art I have seen, I love them all!!!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  13. Oh my goodness. Found you through Sarah Wallis of Circles of Rain and am so glad I did. I just managed to find a gorgeous glorious doll, still in the antique shop I had seen her in last summer.

    I have named her Sophie. She still has her china head, feet and hands but I think her clothing is new-ish. Someone loved her but...
    I love love love your site. And
    your girls are Simply Amazing!
    Candace

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  14. You have a beautiful collection of dolls. I read the article in EAL it is my favorite magazine and you sure have a great talent. I also enjoyed the pictures of you Mom's house it is wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

    Sallie

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  15. Hi Zwee, love all of your dolls! Looks as if you have been so very busy! Beautiful work. And their stands are great...love that you have a supply of old wood to create them.

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