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Nelling, Inc.
E a r l y D o l l s
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Joel Ellis Wooden Doll 12" |
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Missing Face Paint $825. |
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If you are an early wooden doll or even an early American doll collector, a nice addition to your collection is an American made, Joel Ellis wooden doll, made in 1873-74 by the Co-operative Manufacturing Co. in Springfield Vermont. The doll is know for it's carved and sculpted wooden head, intricately jointed wood body and metal hands and feet. One of the hands on this doll is closed as it to hold an object and she is the version with black painted hair. What happens to most of these dolls is that the paint on the face wears off, depending on where it was kept or how it was played with which explains why most of the facial finish is gone. |
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This is reflected in the price. The paint on her hands and feet, which are molded black boots, also has some wear, however the body is in very good condition and has a rich, aged tint. The cotton dress is sewn on to her bodice, however the skirt was lifted for viewing of the legs. She also has a cotton apron and both of these pieces of clothing are as old as she is. |
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English Wax Lady $695. |
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What an elegant wax lady (16") in her original costume and wig, with pierced ears! Her blue glass eyes and a hint of a smile look to the side with her slightly turned shoulder head as she shows off her original earrings. A strawberry blond head of inserted mohair is swept up into an elaborate do, encircled by a long braid at the crown. |
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Her rich, burgundy silk costume is in excellent condition with its black silk trim and intricate lace collar/shawl that matches the lace trim on the sleeves. She has a sturdy cloth body with wax lower arms and hands that has stitched jointing, and as her costume is originally secured, there is a shot of her starched undergarments and black leather shoes to show a bit of what is underneath. Her only flaw is a bit of flatness to the tip of her nose. |
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Parian Lady with Pierced Ears 21 1/2" |
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The Judy McDonald Collection $675 |
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Looking smart in her tailored suit, shown here is a German parian lady with a head full of molded, blond curls in an up-doo, with more curls cascading across her forehead and at the top of her neck in the back. She has finely painted blue eyes, brows, a demure closed mouth and healthy shaded cheeks and the added feature of pierced ears with earrings. |
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She has glazed bisque lower arms and lower legs with molded black shoes and white stocking and what looks like her original stuffed cotton, wide-hipped body. Her two piece suit of small black stripes on white, heavy cotton has accents of black lace as trim around the sleeves, jacket and hem. Undergarments antique and as final touch, a vintage, tiny glass bead strand around her neck. From the long-loved collection of Judy McDonald. |
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Early Continental Doll 27" |
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Composite over Wood $6,950. |
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As with many early dolls from the European continent, this intriguing wooden female most probably started out as a creche or religious figure and with some style and grooming changes over the centuries, now stands as a refined lady. She looks to be French from the late 18th century with a very expressive face having enamel eyes, character features, and detailed molding of facial structure and ears. Her antique long, mohair wig is an addition and not original, covered by an antique lace mob cap.. |
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| Head and shoulder are stationary and the material is a wood/paper/gesso composite over a layer of carved wood underneath. The cloth upper arms are jointed at the shoulder and are composite from the elbow to the hands. The rest of the body is wood with a painted gesso surface jointed at the hips and knees, painted white stockings and cared footwear. The doll cannot reach a full sitting position as the jointing is stiff. Her undergarments are antique with the pantaloons actually looking as old as she is, however the dress is made in the 21st century with old fabrics. Her face has had professional, conservative touch up to retain her stately and regal presence. |
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German China with Rare Hairdo 17" |
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and Molded Snood ON LAYAWAY |
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Truly a sweet German china from the 1860's, she earns her sweetness with her gentle presentation, when sometimes, just by chance, all the components come together so gracefully. She has a rare, loosely pulled back hairstyle, secured by a molded band and snood, covering a large braided bun. There are a few white rubs through the hair surface. Her painted blue eyes with orange detailed lids and her demure rose colored lips are softly rendered. She has sloping shoulders, antique china lower arms and legs, with her feet as molded black boots that lace up the shin. |
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The cloth body is antique, in very good condition and could be original. She couldn't have a more appealing antique, tiny blue print cotton dress with a highly detailed bodice and flowing full skirt. Undergarments are all antique and she is just as comfortable standing as sitting., filling her surroundings with warmth and yes, sweetness. |
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Rare Nymphenburg China ON LAYAWAY |
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Inspired by historical sculptures, paintings and creche figures, these serene chinas were made in the Bavaria region of Germany just after 1900, at Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory. The downward glance of this 17" muse, gives her a serious, pensive mood and the fine quality of her china can be seen in the detail of her cafe au lait, curly locks of molded hair with a molded bow on the top of her head. Her blue painted eyes, slightly visible under her eyelids, her elongate nose and softly blushed cheeks are mesmerizing. |
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Just like her head and shoulder plate, she has beautifully sculpted china hands in a delicate, open pose and her lower legs of china have molded, lace-up bootines. Her body is cloth, jointed at the shoulders, hips and knees, she has what seems to be her original costume of silk with metallic accents, depicting late eighteenth century fashion, and she holds a celluloid fan. |
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Early German Wooden and Extras 27" |
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from Oberammergau ON LAYAWAY |
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Open your mental history book and turn to the chapter on extraordinary wooden dolls of the early 1800's from the Oberammergau Passionplay region of Germany, and you will find something like this statuesque doll of 27”. In addition to her early time of production she comes with her original finish from head to toe with no repaint. Yes, there is wear, however it is the type of wear that is genuine to her age and importance. |
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Being constructed completely of carved wood, she has the very early, egg-shaped head with pierced ears, painted features and black painted hair with carved detail of strands and an inset, carved hair ornament or comb at the top. You can see that at one point it had some color in a dark golden tone and all around her forehead are many wisps of painted curls showing the typical hairstyle of the day in 1800. |
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Her finely carved body is left in its natural color and grain, except for the lower arms and legs that are carved and painted with long fingered hands and slipper shoes painted in a rich green. The body is jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees and even has extra articulation with jointing at the waistline. There is a number painted on her lower back that may belong to the carver. |
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She displays the silhouette of the day with several pieces of clothing, much of it possibly original to her and including many items like slips, pantaloons, camisols, sleeping gowns, blouses, and sashes for accent color. She has a fine, early, antique white gown and an aubergine silk gown made of very early fabric that has been added but not know when. Only she can tell us, but she came to me directly from Germany so she probably has many interesting stories to tell, either in a sitting or standing position.. |
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Early Tuck Comb 12 1/2" |
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Grodnertal Wooden in Box LOST BY USPS - GONE |
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Reclining in her bent wood container, this endearing Grodnertal wooden doll looks quite comfortable and very well preserved. She has a yellow painted tuck comb, black hair trimmed with spiraled wisps of bangs around the forehead, an egg shaped head with all her little painted features placed on the bottom half of her face, typical of these early girls. Only her nose has some restoration and there are only spots of wear to her fair complexion, while she retains her blushed cheeks and pierced earrings. Her expression is unusually sweet! |
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Her body is completely of wood, jointed at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, for full articulation, both her lower arms and legs have finished surfaces, and she has the signature cadmium red painted slippers. Her clothing is completely original to her 1820's time of production, and consists of a sheer, light lavender on white cotton print dress, with highly puffed upper sleeves that made fashion news around this time. In addition, her delicate muslin cotton slip and pantaloons are original and all clothing is in very nice condition. |
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