Orginal Jenny Lind Dolls!

[Nona Nelson]

I was browsing e-bay and I found a hand full of orginal Jenny Lind dolls (aka Civitilty as in Elizabeths repoduction of Jenny Lind). Most are costing hundreds or thouands of dollars! But they are really fun to look at and I thought that I would share them!

I love this one! she is really tall, 30 inches. I LOVE her button up boots!: http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Large-Victorian-Jenny-Lind-Style-Doll-30_W0QQitemZ250059263549QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4624QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one is dressed in a later century dress:
http://cgi.ebay.com/China-Jenny-Lind_W0QQitemZ200058411889QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4624QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

this one is tiny! 4 1/2 inches tall!:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-4-5-China-Doll-Rare-Jenny-Lind-Brushstrokes_W0QQitemZ290006129835QQihZ019QQcategoryZ4624QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one has a lovey purple dress! shes 24 inches tall:
http://cgi.ebay.com/24-JENNY-LIND-China-cloth-body-original-costume-Ca1850_W0QQitemZ290018687496QQihZ019QQcategoryZ4624QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Nona,
Thank you so much for posting these. They are so pretty. My first thought when looking at the images was, "these look like my doll from Grandma W. I could make some miniture clothes for that doll like Civility." then I looked at the prices and thought "oh?" I think I need to dig out that doll and take a better look. It's packed away with with the one Grandma made, each wrapped in muslin. She was a big, doll collector but I hadn't given the collection much thought over the past several years. There is a good chance it's not a Jenny Lind doll since I haven't had it out in years and can't really picture it. Still it would be worth knowing more about. I guess I need to ILL some doll books.

Does anyone have an opinion on where the line would be for age, uniqueness and history for me to make her new clothes or not?

Anna

[Elizabeth]

Looking at original dolls gets rather addictive.    I also like Kestner dolls, and Greniers... we'll eventually expand the doll options for repros, so folks won't have to pay $1400 for an original unless they really want one.

Anna, you might be startled how many doll collecting books your library already has--most have a pretty good stack.

On re-dressing her: she belongs to you.  You can redress her in anything you like.  Collectors will generally consider a redressed doll as "devalued".  This only matters if you were planning to sell the doll to that collector.  Personally, I find the dolls are generally more sturdy than their clothing.  In order to safely preserve both, it's sometimes a good option to remove the original clothing, archive it for display (acid free/UV shadowboxing), and duplicate the clothing in new, top-notch fabrics to actually display ON the doll.  You get the best of all worlds: the original clothing is available for study or dressing the doll, but it's also protected from additional handling and wear; the doll is dressed and looks more like she might have in her original state, than in her antique, decaying condition.

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

There are two libraries near me to check. The library I usually go would fit inside my classroom. The one closer to my home is more likely to have what I need since their antique selection is nice.

I see what you are saying about taking off the original dress to preserve it. From memory, the dress is net-like and very delicate. So, this will be a good idea. I can get a good box from Light Impressions for it. I wonder if I should do the same with the one Grandma made. The dress is a very loud, vintage poly print but also rather delicate. Neither doll would ever be for sale since I have onl a few things from Grandma. This could be a nice February project.... dress the doll to match me. Thank you.

Anna

[Carolann Schmitt]

Looking at original dolls gets rather addictive.   

Oh, jeez, Elizabeth! You're going to get me hooked on another hobby! Did you see the fabric used for the dress on the 4.5" doll? It's gorgeous. And the whitework and tucked petticoat on one of the other dolls? I want one my size!

I do not need another hobby. I don't. I don't. I don't. 

Carolann

[Denise Butler]

Looking at original dolls gets rather addictive.   

Oh, jeez, Elizabeth! You're going to get me hooked on another hobby! Did you see the fabric used for the dress on the 4.5" doll? It's gorgeous. And the whitework and tucked petticoat on one of the other dolls? I want one my size!

I do not need another hobby. I don't. I don't. I don't. 

Carolann

My reaction exactly! I do NOT need another hobby... goodness, I haven't even gotten myself to my first event! But looking at those beautiful dolls and the incredible dresses and pettis... and I thought "what a terrific way to practice whitework or try out pattern ideas..."

I'm not sure whether to thank Nona for posting those links or not!   

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Just think the big plus about this being another hobby is the doll clothes can be made out of good size left-over pieces from big sewing projects, as long as the print is scaled small enough. Little dresses, little petticoats, little drawers, little bonnets, little hoods, little shawls..... It really is tempting isn't it?

Over the weekend and last night I made little clothes for my sister's "build-a-bear" tiger. A doll must be easier.

Anna

[Carolann Schmitt]

Over the weekend and last night I made little clothes for my sister's "build-a-bear" tiger. A doll must be easier.

Anna

Don't get me started on dressing bears or other plush. I designed a set of Civil War bears - Union, Confederate and their wives. Bears have no necks, their arms stick straight out and they have no waistlines or derrieres. I wasted $75 worth of Charlie Childs wool before I finally got the uniforms to my satisfaction. The women were a little easier, but still had fitting "issues". If I ever do any more, I'm sending full-size clothing to the factory and let them reduce it.

I don't know if dolls are any easier or not. Elizabeth, please tell us yes!

Carolann

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

The tiger (actually there are two) have short thick arm, a back 3-4 times the size as the front and a huge seat. I had to make a set of muslins for each to get patterns for dresses, skirts, shorts and tops. That's the only way I could do each set of clothes. I even tried a swim suit - won't do that again.

Anna

[Elizabeth]

I don't know if dolls are any easier or not. Elizabeth, please tell us yes!

YES!

Dressing mid-century dolls is MILES easier than doing plush toys, or even Barbies.  Many mid-century dolls have solid lower arms, but cloth upper arms (so they BEND above the elbow), and are shaped more or less like actual people, though somewhat exaggerated.  They do use small bits of fabric and trim, whitework projects are not a "forever" thing, and many things are nearly "instant gratification."  The fabrics must be very lightweight to get a nice drape, so anything heavier than a tropical wool is too bulky, but silk tafettas and batistes, etc work brilliantly, as do sheers.

None of my dolls survived childhood with five younger brothers.  (The untimely demise of all my Barbies has absolutely nothing to do with me having read stories of the French Revolution as bedtime stories.  Though I was there at the woodchopping block, and did have a homemade flag on which was written "Liberte, Fraternitie", it was not my fault.  Really.  My brothers and the neighborhood boys took turns playing the headsman.)

I love playing with dolls now.  Barbies, not so much... but cloth and chinas, YES.  They don't yelp when you jab a pin in, either.  Those of you who will be helping on the Civility project, you're going to have a blast fiddling with the little bits!  They're large enough to get hold of, shaped enough like full-scale garments to be useful in testing designs and patterns, and very easy to store (I could pack an entire wardrobe of teeny replicas in a single, small carryon case--couldn't do that will full size things!!)

I look at it this way: it's not ANOTHER hobby--it's just one segment of the EXISTING hobby.  Like having an organic rose garden along side an organic veggie garden.

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Ruby Lane antiques has several dolls, not Jenny Linds. This is a must see:
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/joysdolls/item/C-JP289
This trunk if full of doll cloths..... just like what Civility should have.

Also, I really like the rick-rack trim on this one's drawers and petti. http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/joysdolls/iteml/C-M512#pic2


Anna

[Elizabeth]

Those are nice!  One thing: we do have a lovely couple who are making a small trunk for Civility's collection.  It's of a "store the doll and stuff" size, not a "This is Civility's steamer trunk" scale (there's another family working on one of those)... the same folks did a great painted chest for the last doll project (Sarah Ellen), and it was beautiful.


That cool "stacked wavy braid" trim is something I'd consider for a doll or baby/child's petticoat or drawers hem trim mid-century.  Heirloom stores do sell 100% cotton, narrow waved braid in white. 

[Nona Nelson]

BTW, Elizabeth, how tall is Clivilty??

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Oooo, a trunk for Civility to travel in and a trunk for her to travel with. I love it.

Anna

[Nona Nelson]

That trim is so cute! I want to do that to a pair of drawers for my Civility doll when I get going on her clothes!

[Denise Butler]

I look at it this way: it's not ANOTHER hobby--it's just one segment of the EXISTING hobby.  Like having an organic rose garden along side an organic veggie garden.

That's it... I must have a China doll!

Rats... it's too late to add to my Christmas wish list... oh, wait, I don't get to make a Christmas wish list... <sigh> guess I'm going to have to wait until I'm employed again...

[BarbaraSmith]

Hey Nona, when you get your doll, bring her to the Fort. Maybe we could all practice making underclothes for her as a way to get our feet wet making period correct underclothes for ourselves. I'm really liking this idea right now.

You don't have to keep our creations. Maybe people will get their own dolls to dress, or hang on to the clothes as samples/examples.

Wouldn't it be great to have a "Jane" doll with a big wardrobe that we could use as examples for new folks? 

Cheers,
B.

[Nona Nelson]

I can't wait to get my Cvility doll!! I can't wait to make her up some clothes! I never have grown out of playing and dressing my dolls.
Good Idea Auntie Barbara! I think a Cvility would look very purdy sitting on Lettia's bed! Too bad Jane didn't have any girls in 1855!

[BarbaraSmith]

Also, I really like the rick-rack trim on this one's drawers and petti. http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/joysdolls/iteml/C-M512#pic2
Anna

HA HA!!! Okay, who'se lining up to offer to hand knit some stockings  just like these for Civility? 

LOL,
B.

[RhondaElvin]

Weeeellll, maybe we will need to scale down the kannik's Korner pattern and sew her some!!!