homemade
rag doll - that huggable confidante of children down the centuries.
While some fabric dolls can have a high price tag, English fabric
character dolls - to take just one of the many types -
Dolls
made of plush, pressed cotton, or printed felt are classed as fabric
dolls.
These materials are fragile, so older examples are rare. Most of the fabric dolls available today were made between 1900 and 1950. Prices for marked dolls with maker's labels or marks by well-known companies, such as the Italian firm Lenci, rose in the 1990s, but inexpensive dolls still exist.
These materials are fragile, so older examples are rare. Most of the fabric dolls available today were made between 1900 and 1950. Prices for marked dolls with maker's labels or marks by well-known companies, such as the Italian firm Lenci, rose in the 1990s, but inexpensive dolls still exist.
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| Fabric Dolls |
Felt
dolls made by Lenci, established in 1908, were designed for display.
Typically,
they have elaborate costumes and expressive painted faces, often with
sideways glancir Dolls with glass eyes are valuable than those with
painted ones.
The
most desirable Lend dolls, made in the period from 1920 to 1941, tend
to fetch £200-500, but rare examples can be worth up to £5,000.
Those
made after 1941 are usually valued at less than £200. Reproductions
of early designs, issued in the 1970s, may prove to be a good
investment.
Lend
dolls have a black or purple stamp on the foot and often a label
attached to the costume. Early dolls may have a Lenci repainted faces crying eyes more button
sewn on to the costume,
Starting
in 1926, in Shropshire, Norah Wellings made high-quality fabric
dolls. Those modelled on nursery rhyme characters, such as Little Bo
Peep, can fetch £300.
Character dolls, such as cowboys and Indians, are generally less expensive. Smaller sizes can be found for less than £100; larger sizes ^an cost up to £300.the sailor doll, often marked 'Imperial' — so check the labels.
All Norah Wellings dolls have a cloth label on the foot or wrist, although sometimes this is missing.
Character dolls, such as cowboys and Indians, are generally less expensive. Smaller sizes can be found for less than £100; larger sizes ^an cost up to £300.the sailor doll, often marked 'Imperial' — so check the labels.
All Norah Wellings dolls have a cloth label on the foot or wrist, although sometimes this is missing.
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| Fabric Dolls |
Those based on the young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, or on Mabel Lucie Attwell characters, can cost up to ±500.
Two
teddy bear manufacturers, Alpha Toys and Dean's Rag Book Co., also
made fabric dolls. Alpha Toys is renowned for its costumes.
Its dolls date back to the 1930s and include ones that play music. Look for its George VI doll from around 1937, which can fetch about .£200.
Its dolls date back to the 1930s and include ones that play music. Look for its George VI doll from around 1937, which can fetch about .£200.
From
1905 to 1995, Dean's Rag Book Co. also produced printed fabric dolls
designed to be cut out and sewn up at home. Its post-war dolls often
had features such as shoes and socks printed on the fabric. Dean's
also specialised in ready-assembled promotional dolls. It introduced
The
German company Steiff made felt dolls such as firemen and military
figures.
They
have distinctive painted felt faces with a centre seam, sewn-on ears,
and felt hands.
Recent
limited editions of its earlier dolls from the 1920s to the 50s have
the script 'Steiff button, used since 1986. Larger dolls can fetch
±500-700.
Another
famous German maker is Kiithe Kruse, who introduced her fabric dolls
in 1912. Look for early examples produced before 1929 with three
hand-stitched seams on the head.
Her Du Alein ('You are Mine') and Tratimerchen ('Little Dreamer ) dolls are desirable. Early dolls in good condition are very expensive. Dolls from 1948 onwards have plastic heads and tend to
fetch £100-£300.
Her Du Alein ('You are Mine') and Tratimerchen ('Little Dreamer ) dolls are desirable. Early dolls in good condition are very expensive. Dolls from 1948 onwards have plastic heads and tend to
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| Fabric Dolls |
fetch £100-£300.
- When examining a Lenci doll, check that the pewter
button from an early doll has not been attached to a
later one. A tell-tale sign is new stitching.
- Be wary of unmarked 'Lenci' dolls - they may be Chad
Valley copies
. - Do not wash a fabric doll
. - Wrap dolls in acid-free tissue and store them in a box
. - To eradicate insects, seal the doll in a bag and place it in a freezer overnight.
- Look for characters from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and
stars of stage and screen: these are especially
collectable.
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