Inspired and produced around the time of the Columbian Exposition or Chicago World’s Fair in 1892, we have a “Columbian-type”,  24" cloth doll, with artfully oil-painted face, in a very similar manner to the award-winning Emma Adams cloth dolls from that event.  She has light brown painted eyes and shaded short locks of hair, delineated closed lips, and a pink-toned complexion.  Her head consists of three pieces of cloth, cleverly sewn together with pulled stitches to give an abundant effect to the hair.   

Kathe Kruse Doll I

$3,250.

Out of the Sherryl Shirran collection, this delightful 17" Kathe Kruse doll I was previously owned by the promoter and educator of antique dolls, Jim Fernando. Representing a girl, she has her original finish with soft brown painted hair and eyes, an even, smooth complexion and the early, wide-hip, stuffed cloth body, jointed at the shoulders and hips.  Her dress and sweater are original, as are her shoes and socks, with the cream socks with red borders being quite frail.

An early cloth girl with an appealing primitive quality, combined with a refined elegance.  The one-of-a-kind quality of these cloth dolls is so enchanting, when at the same time they remind you of something you have admired before.  Was she painted in the likeness of a family member, with her large and soulful brown eyes, rosy, pink, full lips and short cropped, honey-blond curls around her face?  She has a swing-jointed cloth body with leather arms, and stitched, moccasin type bootines cover her quite husky feet. 

Beaming with personality plus, this early black cloth boy wears his own wire-rimmed reading glasses (not know if glasses original).  From the late 1800's, he is of a dark stockinette fabric with eyes made of a hard early plastic or wood substance. His nose is slightly molded to support his spectacles, and he has a bold, red embroidered mouth with a suggestion of teeth!.  His hair is longer, straight yarn.  His arms are jointed at the shoulders, however the rest of his body is static so he can only stand or lie down.

Having a very realistic oil painted face, this tall girl (23") is appealing in her statuesque simplicity.  Her watery blue eyes and refined facial features are classically applied like in a painting on a museum wall.  Her face piece is cleverly gathered where it is sewn to her forehead, simulating the volume created by real rooted hair.  Around her neck is a strip of fabric indicating an early reinforcement onto her swing jointed cloth body with leather arms.  Her garment is an antique, white cotton gown with undergarments, and she wears antique red leather, lace-up shoes.  The antique quilt she is holding is available separately for $45.

Darling, smaller cloth boy with dark brown stockinette head and body, glass or enamel eyes, painted mouth and stitched eyebrows, formed nose and black skin wig, stitched fingers and toes, and swing jointed at the shoulders and hips.  Homemade in second half of 19^th century and casually dressed in his chambray blue trousers and jacket with gold toned metal buttons, white collar and cuffs, and a smart looking, matching belt.  The suit has water discoloration and fading. 

An early, hand-made cloth girl with a similarity to the Columbian dolls, who is certainly full of personality and life.  She has a friendly face, oil painted with strong colors that contrast beautifully with her pale complexion and gentle shading.  The head is of three-piece construction, with wear to the upper and rear surface of her hair, and a paint loss line near her mouth. 

Poupee Fabrette Cloth Lady in Purple

$950. (Still Available)

Poupee Fabrette Cloth Lady in Brown

SOLD

These two ladies came to us recently as sort of a mystery. Of course their similarity to side-glancing French boudoir dolls or Italian lady dolls was clear, however the nature of their model stance, life-like poses and intricate costume details kept us hunting for more information. Then, while dealing with completely separate doll collection, what surfaced but one more of these sultry ladies. To have never seen one before, then to fall upon three of them from two unrelated sources was intriguing. Finally, we unearthed a past auction lot that featured ten of these figures in one lot that brought an astounding $19,500.00 years ago. And in that lot are three familiar faces, as the sold lot was probably broken up and the dolls sold individually, with three of them now being in our possession. 

They are called “Poupees Fabrette” and the lady in browns and blues wears a smart outfit from the 1880's, stands on a wooden pedestal and her wire armature holds a matching muff with her costume. The other lady in lavender depicts a high fashion female of the 1860's wearing an elaborate, two piece silk suit with metallic trim, a ruched chiffon over-skirt and dramatic drop sleeves on her button up, fitted jacket. Both of them have feather adorned chapeaux over their tightly curled locks of hair. The fabric of both dresses have weak spots that are melting, but both dolls display very nicely.  They are priced separately however a price for both is negotiable.

His polo outfit scores First Place with the vivid red felt polo jacket, cream felt riding breeches with saddle area reinforcements, a cream felt knotted tie stuffed into the lapels of the jacket, a black felt riding hat and his original wooden polo stick with braited leather handle. Last but not least are the serious, black leather, knee-high riding boots of high detail and quality, onto which are mounted authentic metal spurs. 

Dating from the early 1900's, this black cloth doll in her colorful outfit is quite charming! She has a face with features created by strategic stitching that creates a protruding nose, and her eyes, brows and mouth are created with embroidered thread. She even has some white stiching between the red lips and giving her a dot of light in each eye!

Resting in her original, labeled factory box, is this spunky Lenci Mascotte girl (9"), dressed in her original “sweeper” outfit, holding her straw broom with wooden handle. She has light blue, side glancing painted eyes, long blond hair with a top bun and a slightly olive complexion.

Her costume is an orange-red and crème checkered felt dress with crème fabric apron, crème socks and orange-red felt shoes. The red color has faded somewhat but there are no mothholes visible. The box is is good condition, with wear at the corners of the lid.  Cara Bambina!

LW

From the rare and sought-after Lenci sports series comes this handsome guy (17"), the Lenci Rower (missing his wooden oar) who dates from 1930 Italy. His face is pressed and painted felt with the side-glancing shyness of the 300 series, with brown painted eyes and soft blond mohair on his swivel head. Also of felt is his chubby, stuffed toddler body, jointed at the shoulders and hips, as well as his rowing costume of cream with bold black stripes repeated on the shirt and cap. He is the proud winner of a blue ribbon from a past doll competition. Just a bit of soil is on his face, with a small area of wear over his right eyebrow.