Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (81)

Early all hand sewn with tiny stitches black doll. The embroidered face is outstanding with the raised eyes, the pupils on a bed of white layered thread and her mouth is also done that same technique. For hair she has cotton floss thread sewn to her head and it is most effective. She has attached arms and legs so she sits easily. Her body is stuffed firmly with cotton. Over all she is in very good condition with only slight discoloration from age and use...

This tall lollipop head pencil face doll has lots to tell. One look at her body tells you many hands have fixed her up. She has one replaced arm, patches and holes on her legs and feet. She has the tiniest of a waist and the biggest of the hips that I have seen. She is nice and early and is all hand sewn. Her pantaloons have been on her so long they look like her body. Her dress is all hand sewn and in tatters here and there...

A nice early antique cloth doll with an amazing brown calico dress. She has a sweet ink drawn face with big round eyes. She has applied black fabric on the back of her head representing hair. She has an hour glass body with a tiny waist. Under her calico dress is a early petticoat and pantaloons. She has sewn on brown polished cotton fabric shoes or boots. Her dress is sewn on and the dress is fragile. The hem either never was done or it has more than likely been cut off to accommodate this doll...

This black cloth doll is from a private collection in New Hampshire. She is 16" tall and has embroidered face with a pinched raised nose. She has floss hair coming out from around the sewn on gathered bonnet. She is rag stuffed and is very firm. She sits but it is a bit forced maybe because she has been stored flat in a box for many years. She is hand sewn as is her great early dress with a pocket on one side.The dress is without arms but with her black cloth arms it is hard to notice...

A black cloth doll with lots of assets. This doll has a very nice embroidered face, the clothes are fabulous, (including pantaloons, petticoat, skirt blouse,apron, lace shawl), her hair is deerskin hide, her socks are hand made with a different color yarn on the sole to make it look like a shoes and she is 20" tall. She is firmly stuffed with cotton. She sits but resists a little so she would sit on an upholstered chair but would tend to slip on a wooden surface...

A wonderful character cloth doll that just might be one of the earliest selfies. I can imagine a grandmother making a doll in her likeness to give to a child that is not living close by but loves her Grammy. This doll has a face created by using same color thread and string to sew on the face for knotted string eyes, applied nose and a golden floss for her mouth. She is made with a heavy cotton homespun and is stuffed with a grain. She is very heavy...

I bet her kitchen smells like homemade bread and biscuits. This doll lets you know she is strong and capable and isn't afraid of work. I love that she has big hands formed as a fist with fingers and thumb. Her shoes are also big and sturdy also. The carving is bold and yet touching. She is a great example of the 1920-30's woman farmsteading, likely in Appalachian Mountains. She is 21" tall, carved from heavy hard wood and jointed with screws at the hips and shoulders. She is C. 1920-30

This is the biggest Amish doll I have ever owned. She has really nice age, is heavily stuffed with rags and cotton, hinged arms and legs, and the best clothing. She has had lots of being played with so it is a given that the clothes are not original. The dress is a little big for her and early 1900's as well as her undergarments but the bonnet and the cape are very early and terrific. She sits nicely and is the center of attraction where ever she is. She is 22" tall and circa 1890-1900

Really finely carved husband and wife in hand sewn clothes from Tennessee. They are from the 1930's and you can tell that the carver was experienced. You can actually see wrinkles in their faces and the great protruding chins. Her bonnet is lovely but her hair is carved beautifully. They are fully jointed and the joints actually work. They are 9 1/2" tall...