Dolls
by Patricia L. Cummings
Dolls make wonderful playmates for children and are collected by many adult women, who perhaps are in their second childhood, like me! Doll bed quilts are equally fun to make, whether one has grandchildren yet, or not. They are great decorator items, especially for a guest room. Collecting doll beds, doll furniture, doll houses, and other doll accessories can go along with this hobby. As I seem to have collected or made many items in this category, I will be adding photos to this file, as time
allows. Some of these dolls appear on other pages of the website. Call this a "doll round-up."
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Remember the song, "Oh, You Beautiful Doll?"
A miniature quilt made by Pat Cummings and designed by Tess Herlan and published in Miniature Quilts magazine (now out of business). The doll above is from the 1950s, shown in her original outfit, and has been owned by Pat since that time.
photo design by James Cummings
1950s Dolls
These two dolls were two of my favorites in the 1950s. photo by James Cummings
All but one of the dolls shown in this picture are from my childhood. The Black girl on the mantel is one collected by my mother, at a yard sale, because she thought it to be cute. I made her a new dress from Guatemalan fabric. photo by James Cummings
Doll House
Doll house built as a simulated Log Cabin using an old wooden box found in our home. Log Cabin dollhouse made and photographed by Jim Cummings.
Pre-WWI German Kestner Dolls, Dressed by Joan Kiplinger
Joan Kiplinger has provided the following four photos of dolls that she dressed for an antiques dealer. All of the dolls are highly collectible Kestner dolls, of which the pre-WWI dolls rival French bisque dolls as far as collectibility, she says. The first doll is seen in both a side view and a frontal view. Her petticoat edging and skirt with silk ribbon are both from around the time of WWI.
24" Kestner doll, made in Germany, circa WWI. Six years ago, this doll was valued at $1,500. photo by Joan Kiplinger
Frontal view of same doll. photo Joan Kiplinger
Kestner "Hilda" doll, a "toddler with flouncing from a batiste petticoat." Worth about $2500. today. photo courtesy of Joan Kiplinger
Kestner 15" doll, a toddler in a christening dress. Her petticoat and pillow "combine a petticoat with eyelet flouncing. Her diapers are made of vintage birdseye diaper fabric, complete with pins as per diapers of that age. Silk ribbon dates from post WWI-early 1920s. Value approximately $1500 or more today." photo and information from Joan Kiplinger.
In Dressing Dolls, Authenticity the Key
Joan adds that all of the costumes she constructed were copied from original illustrations and by mixing other patterns she had on hand, to achieve authenticity for the time period. Thank you, Joan!
Note: Joan Kiplinger passed away in 2009 after a brief illness. She is sorely missed as a knowledgeable person about the early production of textiles and vintage fabrics.
Send us a Photo!
If you have a picture of a favorite old doll that you'd like to see featured here, please send us a photo and information about why the doll is special to you. pat@quiltersmuse.com
See more Dolls by clicking on this link
©Copyright 2007. Patricia L. Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. pat@quiltersmuse.com