jeudi 13 mars 2014

The Many Faces Of Cloth Dolls

By Jaclyn Hurley


Mothers have always tried to provide their children with something to keep them occupied while important chores are being completed. Cloth dolls came into being when man started making his clothing out of woven fabrics. With the leftover pieces of material mothers would stitch together a doll and give it to her child as a companion.

With time professional doll makers began using more plush fabrics and embellished the doll with smiling faces and clothing that was removable by the child. The faces were first drawn on with inks and later painted on the finished doll. To enhance the beauty of the doll velvets and silks were used for faces and bodies as well as gowns or aprons.

In the middle of the nineteenth century toy manufacturers began mass production of various types of this doll. The patterns were generally printed on the fabric and included facial features. They were then cut out, stitched together and stuffed with cotton. At this point hair and clothing were added to some. Others had the hair and clothing printed directly onto the pattern. During the 1880s some manufacturers made the doll from hand sewn worsted fabrics and employed people to hand paint the faces onto the completed forms.

One version of the rag doll that has been around for decades is Raggedy Anne. She was rescued from an attic and used as a prop for a father while entertaining his daughter. Later he put the adventures of Raggedy Anne into print and she became an instant success story. She was later partnered up with her pal Raggedy Andy and the two of them are still a popular item for children today.

During the 1920s in Europe a new trend came with the Art Doll. A high quality cloth doll created to be a decorative piece rather than a toy. They have a wire frame inside that allows them to be positioned in different poses and come in a seemingly endless assortment of colors and patterns. They are meant to mimic life and the ever changing world we live in.

This type of doll is experiencing a resurgence of popularity in current markets. They are somewhat different than their predecessors because the models are outrageously dressed and posed in comical ways that attract immediate attention. They are made to simulate the way life is today. They poke fun at professions as well as life styles of individuals. The costumes contain feathers and beads as well as props such as martini glasses, cigarettes and small dogs or cats.

An antique doll can be a valuable possession and may bring a lot of joy to it's owner. Before embarking on this collection you need to study and gain intimate knowledge of the field. The market for these pieces is wide open and the only way to be sure you are getting a real piece of history is to know the subject matter as well as you can.

Factors to consider include clothing, the type of face used or if it is painted whether it is the original paint or has been touched up. From there you need to determine if the proper paint, stitches and fabrics have been used to refurbish the doll. If you do not know how to determine these things it may be wise to have the doll evaluated by a professional to help you find the true value of your prize doll.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire