Featured My Mother’s Inherited China Doll

O.K., I dug out Mom’s packed away doll, and hopefully, you experts, can tell me what you all think. As I previously said, I was never a “doll” person, but after finding a letter in one of the little pillows yesterday dated from 1949, I am now fascinated with her history!!!! I still have to get back on DH’s computer to size down the letter before I can post that though....am still on my iPad.....hopefully am showing enough of the doll that you can see there are NO markings on her whatsoever!!!!!! BUT it appears she is ALL hand sewn, with her arms and fingers made of kid leather! I honestly do not know who or when/where her clothes came from, or who made them, but I was having 10 fits trying to carefully undo those tiny buttons!!!! You’ve seen the mini quilt before.....Mom occasionally moved her stuff around. I also do not know who made or when the bed, sheet, ticking mattress, pillow cases or little pillows were made, but I’ve never looked this thoroughly at it all before to that it all does look hand sewn to me......so, have at it, and I will get the letter up when I get it resized down to under 1 mb!!!!! BTW...There are a lot of images.....sorry.....

 

Don't know about the doll.
But the bed looks mid to late 1800s.

The whole ensemble, doll, bed, quilt are lovely and good quality.

 

Hi,
What a wonderful doll. My neighbor still makes doll clothes and bedding. Her quilts are so amazing. I always buy heavy old handkerchiefs and tiny pieces of material so she can quilt them. Her squares are usually ½" square. How she makes 12 stitches an inch is incredible. She is 94 years old.
greg

 

She's lovely, and 19th Century by the hair do.

I think her arms have been replaced. Difficult to tell about the legs/body. from the picture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_doll

@Christmasjoy

 

Hi Aqua .. Does she have any markings on her back !!! Her arms and hands appear to have been replaced and her feet definately aren't original. She is in the style of an 1860's High brow, flat top china doll. These dolls if original usually have wear on the back of their heads with some white showing through .. check the lower back and neck for markings. The old bed is original as is the mattress .. VERY NICE, Joy.

 

The next/last 7 images, minus the letter........at this point I should get some sizes up.....
LOA for doll...head to toes: 17”
Whoever sewed her hips.....they’re 7” wide
2 pillows- each : 7”
Mattress: 12” x 17”
Bed: 13 3/4 x 20 1/4, corner posts are 12 1/4” high

 

A wonderful set .....she looks happy !!!

 

The body has some staining on it....not a pristine white, that’s for sure!!!!! The only reason I didn’t strip her down was I didn’t want to disturb the pins on her bloomers!!!!!! I think there are enough images to see there are no markings on her head anywhere.....I found two that got missed in the first post....they’re the first two here ......you’re probably right about the arm replacements.....the kid goes right up to her armpits......

 

Now I;ve had a better look at her ONLY the head may be original .. and I'm unsure of that. She is lovely though ... Joy.

 

Love the bed and quilt, just gorgeous. I know zip about dolls so please defer to others.

Dang, your mom had good taste. Other things you've posted... just awesome.

 

That's impressive. Quilting is very precise.

 

Are there some "white" spots on the back of her curls (as Joy mentioned) or just glare?

Does her face have a pale pink color?

(her shoulders look very white)

 

I like the bed & the mattress .....

 

But not the doll?

 

sure the doll as well.....I already said ....she looks happy !

 

So you did!!

Short memory!

 

If I get brave, maybe I’ll see about stripping her down.......meanwhile, I finally have the letter edited down to a reasonable size......I just find it fascinating with the history I’m reading.....I was 7 years old at the time Mom got this doll, but she must have carefully tucked it away.....apparently not to be even looked at!!!!! In later years, I DO remember Mom talking about an Aunt Bird though!!!

 

No, Judy, that’s my phone....or me...I don’t always take the time to make sure the colors are clean.....and I had overhead lights on in the living room.....our house can get dark quickly....I do know natural light IS BEST!!

 

How nice to have that letter.

It fits the age description of at least the head.

Where in Ma is that? Green what?