A Wonderful Unique Folk Art Cloth Doll


About once a season I drive down to Lucy's Doll House as a mini-vacation for myself. All by myself so I can stop at any little interesting place along the way and take pictures.



Above is a stretch of land in Stockton Springs that my ancestors might have seen 200 years ago. I enjoy the beauties of creation contrasted with the uniqueness of Mainers. Where else would you see The New England School of Hypnotherapy (which is also a car sales lot)?


Above is the road going to Searsport, Maine - the first spot where you can see the ocean. This is where my great-great grandmother used to say, "Smell that salt air!" when on the way to her summer cottage near the ocean.

Lucy's Doll House always some wonderful treasures that await, and yesterday was no exception. My reason for going was to take pictures of their new Izannah for the Izannah Walker Chronicles, but I was astonished to see this wonderful doll below - an all cloth doll with a molded bonnet attached.



All cloth!
Even the stiffened doll bonnet and face.




So very folky!
I've never seen a doll like this before.



Her hands have 5 fingers.



Her face was needlestitched -
kind of a trapunto technique.






Her body is constructed with a flat seat,
similar to a papier mache or china doll body.



The bonnet is attached to her head.
Both the bonnet and the face are stiffened
somehow so they are very, very hard.
Similar in feel to the way Izannahs are made,
but the top layer is a woven cloth and not stockinette.





And the colors of her boots and stockings
are so wonderful! Love the gold and green.
Her dress and apron are so charming.



I wonder how Izannah feels
about this newcomer? Thirty years ago
you could get an Izannah at auction for $100.
Now Izannah Walker dolls command thousands.

I wonder if the dollmaker who
made the doll on the left made more?
Or perhaps she only made two?
Whoever purchases her will get a treasure.

There are many treasures at Lucy's!



Here's another treasure -
A fully operational crib
where the sides go up and down.



Sue Singer brought her own childhood rag doll
to show me, and tucked it into the crib
as I was taking pictures. The doll is so sweet.
The doll is not for sale, but the crib IS.
This crib would have delighted any child.
Click the picture to enlarge it, you can see that
it says "PATENT APPLIED FOR".



A wonderful folk art portrait of a child.


Some small dolls...


A German Shop


The shop is open!




Lucy's Doll House
49 Bay View Street
Camden, ME 04843

Summer hours - 10 to 4
7 Days a Week
(207) 236-4122

10 comments:

The-Artful-Attic said...

Oh..Dixie! You must have been in dolly heaven!! I absolutely love the cloth doll...do you know who made her? How very interesting... She makes me want to try to recreate her!! What fun the maker must of had making her.

Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful trip!
hugs,
Kimberly

Dixie Redmond said...

Hi, Kimberly - I had the same thought - to recreate her. It would be fun, wouldn't it?

Cindy Ribet said...

What a wonderful doll. I wonder if she made the bonnet permanent to the head to hide the stitches in the back or to keep from having to make hair. I have done that myself.
I love the clothes and the colors of the boots.

Dixie Redmond said...

Cindy, I think you're right. There was a similar doll at the same auction that didn't have an attached bonnet... but a removable one. Or maybe the dollmaker was just experiementing? I do that, too. :-)

Blondie ~ Vintage Primitives said...

Dixie
I can always count on your for enchantment. What treasures.
Thanks for sharing!

Plum-duff said...

Dixie is so great! I'm not breathing from the fun:) Thank you very much ..

SympleTymes Cloth Art By Sherrie Nordgren said...

oh gosh Dixie Thank You so much for taking us back in time,I loved your pictures along the way as much as I enjoyed your pictures of these wonderful dolls.It is so kind of you to share your wonderful knowledge and pictures and your heart with us..Thank You (((Hugs ))) Sherrie

De-De said...

She's special enough to make a trip to Maine just to see her in person! I'm so glad you shared her with us. :o)

Countryfolk Keepsakes said...

Oh my goodness!! That dollie is FABULOUS!!! May I ask what was the price on that precious folk art gem?
The Izzy is gorgeous too. Thank you for taking us on your dollie journey. I look forward to "our" next visit. :> )
~Peanut

Dixie Redmond said...

The price of the folk doll with the molded face is $3,500.


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden