Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art (81)

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

How often do you see a flame stitch mat? This one still has vibrant color. The foundation is a loomed homespun. It has a spider web fringe that is so fine and beautiful. I have taken pictures of the 3 areas of with condition problems. There are two small holes and one larger one. The fringe also is sparse in many areas around the mat. That said this is a rare form of flame stitch and is paper thin and very finely woven. It is mid 1700's and is 6" by 11".

This are small red boiled wool mittens, hand sewn and 3" long. They are from the 1890-1910. In very good condition and amazing they are still together.

These lovely linen travel rolls were made and sold in Maine and NH by the Shakers. They are made with natural linen and have red trim. During the winters the sisters embroidered them . I have owned a few of them and they are all different but great. This is a travel roll-up and so pretty to look at. It is 22" by 12". It does have a hole on the front, see pictures. Circal 1890

A very nice pair of antique hand knit blue and white cotton socks with a initials at the top. I think the initials are WWF. The stockings are knit with three different weight cotton yarn the heaviest is the wonderful true blue that is the foot and ankle where all the wear is and the area where you want the most cushioning. The lighter blue is medium weight and the white is the lightest where you don't want it to bind. The have been used but not abused...

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...

These are two linen homespun pillow cases that are beautifully made. They are embroidered with the name Emily Clark with a heart and the number 4. They are is excellent condition with just a little age related yellowing. The stitches are so tiny you can’t see them at the hemmed end. They are 15 ½” by 38”. Circa 1820-30

Two antique bunny rabbits, one is a paper mache candy container and the other is a fury rabbit with moveable arms and legs and a wire that may have attached him to a basket or it stabilizes her to stand. They both are a little under 5" tall and show their age a bit. They are both as cute as can be.

Two antique bone thread winders one in the shape of a fish and the other with to concave ends. Both measure just shy of 1 1/2". These would be nice to add to a sewing collection. Mid to late 1800's.

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...

Dressed in a blue calico dress this sweet little stump rag doll has a lot going for her. She has an ink drawn face, a lollipop head, and a body that flares out but stops at the hips and never had legs. If I was a mother back in the 19th C. I would have been mighty pleased with myself that I thought up the stump doll concept. It really works, and makes for a very nice doll. She is rag stuffed, has dainty little arms, and a nice blue calico striped dress...

This cloth doll has very dear oil painted face with great soft blue eyes. She has leather hands that could be original by the way they are put on. (I bet some mother was proud of herself for thinking of using old children's gloves for unique hands!) She has the body form, like so many cloth dolls, that looks like they were meant to ride a horse. The stance gives her the look of authority. She is cotton stuffed rather firmly and because she is not jointed she is pretty much a standing doll...

This is a Shaker hand sewn needle case make by the Shaker sisters and sold in their gift shops. It is a brown and beige silk fabric with a white flannel interior to hold the pins and needles. It is 4" by 4". and is in nice condition with wear to a bit of the ribbon.

These little handmade Civil War era dolls are some of my favorite. This one has on a heavy satin dress with a brown egg wash chintz cotton petticoat. she has a net bonnet adorned with a white ribbon over real hair. She is wearing the tiniest metal eye glasses I have ever seen. She has little rolled arms and a stump body that never had legs. Her dress is melting a bit above her waist and there is a crack in the nut shell but an old one and it is hard to see because she is so small...

True to the name this doll is rag stuffed simple and straight forward. Her body is two gingerbread shaped pieces of cloth, sewn together and firmly stuffed with rags. Her eyes are two old snaps sewn in place and they do the trick. Her legs have been bent so many times that she sits nicely. She has on the dress she came in. It is a soft worn red dress with with a ruffles down the front and around the neck and sleeves. She is 19" tall and is circa 1900...

A rock solid play doll with a red calico dress an a blue calico bonnet. She has sturdy little legs and arms. Her face is blank other than her shoe button eyes. Her arms are jointed but her legs are not. She can be persuaded to sit. She is 16" tall and circa 1900-1920 She is a very sweet played with doll.

Very nice poplar Shaker bonnet with a label marking the size as a 5. They were also made in size #6 and size #7. The bonnets were sold by the Shakers in their gift shops but they were not made by the Shakers. This one is in very good condition. It does have a few brown stains at the top of the brim edge, see photo. This is just about as good as you can get for this type of Shaker bonnet.

Hand made Shaker table mat with multi colored field and a wide brown border. The mats were the product of left over scraps from the sewing rooms in Shaker communities. This mat is 13" by 15" and is in excellent condition. C. 1900