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Cloth Dolls 1880-1977

Cloth dolls have been some of the earliest types of dolls made, some of the most popular were the Pillow or Rag type dolls and Folk art Dolls made from print, lithographed onto fabric and meant to be made, then stuffed as a craft item.  Most of these were made in the New England States in the 1880's in the USA.  During the war years when materials were scarce, Rag type dolls were particularly popular, as you can imagine, there are many manufacturers, artists and the home sewer who could re-create these mass produced dolls, sold to the public in kits or One Of A Kind doll (referred to as OOAK).

Here's some cloth dolls or manufacturers of cloth dolls we have found:

1904-1925 Alabama Indestructible Doll, 11-24" tall, all cloth, molded face with oil painted facial features, applied ears, wigged or painted hair, tabbed joint sturdy cloth body, some have stockings & shoes painted on.  Created by the Ella Smith Doll Company.

There were both white and black babies and children dolls made.  Often marked: Pat. Nov. 9, 1912/No.1/Ella Smith Doll Co or Mrs. S.S. Smith Manufacturer and dealer to/The Alabama Indestructible Doll/Roanoke, Ala./Patented Sept. 6, 1905.

 

Alabama Indestructible Child Doll, 24"

ca. 1910- ? Maggie Bessie doll, various sizes, all cloth doll with painted facial features, made in Salem, NC USA by the sisters Margaret Gertrude Pfohl (1877-1965) and Caroline Elizabeth Pfohl (1870-1959) both who remained unmarried.

 

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ca. 1910- Maggie Bessie

1920-1930's Alma Company, Lenci look a like dolls, have elastic strung heads, usually have a label sewn into the clothing or on the dolls foot

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Alma Doll 15"

1920-1930's Chad Valley Company, Doll 16" tall.

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1920's Chad Doll, 12"

1889-1970's Martha Chase Doll Company.

Pre-1920's Martha Chase Company, stockinette dolls, dolls have jointed elbows & knees.

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Pre-1920's Martha Chase Doll, 23"

ca. 1920's Martha Chase, 16" doll, bobbed hair (popular during this era).  Dolls made in the 1930's are characterized by painted hair with a side part.  chase16bob_hair1920s.jpg (12703 bytes)

Martha Chase, 16" doll, bobbed hair

ca. 1930's Martha Chase, Hospital Doll, 25", these later dolls do not have the jointed elbows & knees.  The stamp will now read "Chase Hospital Doll".  See above shown Stockinette label

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ca. 1920's Martha Chase Hospital Doll, 25"

1903- 1939 Dean's Rag Book Company, England, made lots of cloth dolls and toys.

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1930's Dean's Rag Doll, 15"

1906-Present Käthe Kruse Dolls, German, Käthe Kruse, off site link to official website for current available dolls.

15" Boy, has a celluloid face with cloth body.

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Käthe Kruse Doll, 15"

1919-Present Lenci Di Elena Scavini Dolls, Italy

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1930's Valtellina, 

10"

1926-1960 Norah Wellings Dolls, England.

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Norah Wellings Doll

1977 Glamour Doll or Big Eyed Girl Dolls, 12-13" tall, foam with beige nylon over wire body, came in many different long gowns and other accessories and were on a wood stand.  Made by the Bradley Company, which may be a division of Milton Bradley and sold to Hasbro in 1984. 

These dolls may have been sold thru catalog  type companies like Sears or Montgomery Wards from the 1960's to 1980's. Doll shown is marked © Bradley, Made in Korea 1977.  Another later doll found with tag that says - Hasbro © Bradley, Made in China 1985 a similar big eyed type doll.

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1977 Glamour Doll

Cloth Dolls 1880-1977

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