#1908 $2,950
Papier mâché doll with original clothing, c.1840
This early 19th century doll from a New England estate is all original. An unaltered, all original antique has a special presence that intimately connects us with the past. We can almost imagine the little girl who, while playing with her doll, stuffed padding into the bust of the doll's corset.
The doll has a kid leather body, arms, and legs. Her head and shoulders are fashioned from papier mâché. I love the tranquil expression on the painted face.
The head has the typical black painted hair found on early 19th century dolls. She also has a wig inserted into a slit on the top of her head. The feet are stylized and were probably covered with shoes; the fingers are individually formed and separated.
The doll comes with the original clothing. Under the hand-stitched corset that laces in back, she wears a cotton chemise. Her calico dress has an attached pelerine. The edges of the bodice are carefully finished with narrow piping.
The sheer cotton apron has a little patch pocket. Her bonnet is trimmed with hand-embroidered eyelet and a gros-grain ribbon bow. Included is a pair of bloomers not original to the doll but which are of the period.
The condition is very good to excellent. The doll's hair was probably more abundant when it was new. Her corset does not have the shoulder straps typical of the period—see a woman's corset. The clothes have darkened with age; they were left unwashed because many collectors appreciate the original surface. There is no damage to the doll's body.
The doll is 12" tall.
