WHO IS SHE?

I have no idea who this little doll is. I found her in a consignment shop for $5. At that time that was a lot to pay for a doll only 8.5" tall. She has the infant legs. No neck joint. She had the holes and paint repaired and I gave her my own face version.  Then dressed her in a vintage dotted swiss. Her original dress is of a thinner dotted swiss and dry rotted. I will try fixing it if I can. But any way she is done now.  

 

TIN HEAD

 When I saw this one I was hesitant about buying her. She was 25% off the asking price so I took a chance. After I got her home and undressed her I didn't like how her body looked. It was leaking sawdust and one arm had a cloth instead of the leatherette upper arm like the other.  the legs from the knees down were pretty bad looking.  So I found another new/old body on Ruby Lane.  It is the right size and probably close to the same age. The Tin Heads were popular around 1905-1915. She is a German made  Minerva head.Needs her clothes now. 

Poor pale faced baby

Nasty body. not enough sawdust left to mess with. I will save it and try my hand at fixing it up some.

Inside the head. The eyes are set in a cement or plaster

the New/Old body I purchased to use.

Ready for some new duds.

DREAM BABY

 I neglected to take a before shot. She was in a shoe box at an antique  mall locally. She was loose in the joints so needed re-stringing. Her face paint was chipping off and she was missing a thumb. So these pictures are my progress to finish. Made by Arranbee of all composition. Late 1930s to early 1940s.  As they progressed with her they switched to open and shut eyes which to me didn't look as cute. The eyes could be forward or side glancing brown or blue. I did her the way she was. She is the infant body, 10" long,  though I think some later had the toddler body. Her hair is deeply molded though I have seen some that had the lambs wool short curly cap type wigs.  I like mine better just as she is.  Enjoy

After painting, re-stringing but pre thumb

She has a thumb now and fully dressed. Her clothes are fully removable and customized to her fit. I had some vintage patterns but none would fit this chubby little baby.

Now HOW cute is that!

Horsman Composition doll circa 1930s to 1940s early

 I don't know her name but I loved her on sight. The tag said Rosie Cheeked doll.  Well yeah that fits.

Compos crazed and flaking off, paint flaking off, clothes raggedy and dirty. The wig is not her original and was barely sitting on her head and she was missing her pate. 

she got a good cleaning and that  made her cheeks rosier still.

Fresh touch up to paint. Filling in of chipping paint, made a thumb for her.

clothes washed and ironed. a pair of bloomers made and socks provided. Still need to find her shoes. She has eyelashes now and teeth and a tongue.  I took the same wig and brushed it clean of dust and snarles.  One day maybe a real hair or mohair wig. And there is a pate now to cover the hole in her head and to provide a base for the wig.

 

war between the States

 Dolls have been around for a very long time. And it is very hard for me but exciting when I find an old doll as in early 1900s to late 1800s. That would have me jumping if I still could jump that is.  So when I got this doll she was marked a Tin Head. But when I took her apart for repair I found her to be a paper mache head and German made. And those are a bit older then the Tin heads. She would be closer to the Civil War era. I can't get over how nice she is preserved and how good she looks now.Just need to get her dressed now in time appropriate clothing

She now has a spot to shine and looks so pretty there.  The dress came of another old doll. I thought it looked better then the one she came with.  Ready to face another 100 years or so do you think?

KATHY

I had time before an appointment to walk through an antique mall.  I find some dolls there and if the price is right I buy one.  I found this little doll with trunk for just $18 and that is MY price range.
She is made like the old time composition dolls but her limbs and head are hard plastic. With the help of friends she was identified as Kathy by Madame Alexander.  Made around 1950 to 1954. So she is about as old as I am.  The doll was later made in bigger sizes and out of softer vinyl and with a solid vinyl body. Mine has a cloth cotton stuffed body.

 

 

 the trunk alone is worth the $18. I love trunks and will buy them when I can.  I plan to freshen the paint and inside of this. These dolls sometimes came dressed in Christening gowns.   She is 12" long or close to that.  She has Alexander on the back of her  neck. This one had been someone's teething ring as she has chew marks on her feet and hands. The body is dry rotted so I will make a new one using the old for my pattern.  I used the old cotton. But first I put it in a bag and washed it.I am also waiting on a new voice box. She has one of those "mama" criers but it is old and doesn't work.


Progress so far... taken apart, body emptied ready to make a pattern for the new one.  Scrubbed the parts and painted them and did a clear coat.

 

 

the voice box arrived so now she is back together. Washed and Oxied her clothes she came in, to wear while I sew her new outfits. After getting the trunk all done I had vinyls cut to label it so that there would be no trouble knowing who she is in the future.

Kathy is restored. 

Been a long time

Much has happened since last year.  I recovered from double hip replacement but then my life turned upside down. My husband of nearly 49 years died suddenly.  I am devastated to say the least. So I turn once more to my dolls to fill in the time and keep me busy till the Lord calls me home.  I have had a heart valve replaced and soon to have cancer surgery.  When it rains it pours.  Time for me to tie up the loose ends and get my dolls in order.