Posted 11 years ago
Ollie
(64 items)
I don't know anything about this dolls history. My mother had her sitting in her room and we always called her the "French hooker". As you can see from the photos , she has had damage to her head and most of her hair is missing..as are most of her eye lashes.. I would love to know something about her...is she French? Should/could I have her repaired?
I need some leads so I can research her further. Have tried looking on line, but need some kind of information to pin point her .
She is called a "Boudoir Doll"(Bed Doll) made of Composition
Although dolls that sit on beds are still being made today, the classic vintage Boudoir Dolls were made from approximately the 1920s through the 1940s.
These dolls often have much crazing and cracking on heads so I have to think the composition they used to make them was not good quality . She is not French however French did make them but often faces were of silk as well as bodies and more elaborate .
As you said your mother had her sitting on her bed and that is what they were intended to do ,they were not toys . If you have a sentimental attachment to her it would be worth restoring as it is expensive to be done right . Or you can enjoy her as she is . Many companies and countries made these dolls , USA, Italy ( Lenci ) France ect . Yours appears to be USA made . These dolls were always painted in Art Deco style with heavy make up . Some have real eyelashes on them . The most diserable of these dolls are French ,also The Smoking one that has a cigarette in mouth , Lenci Italy felt ones . Yours is more common to find but still a treasure and that it is a family heirloom more special . These boudoir dolls vary in price because there were very elaborate high quality ones and some more rare and some later on with plastic arms and legs which are on low end of collectibility .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-ANTIQUE-BOUDOIR-COMPOSITION-ORIGINAL-BEIGE-SILK-DRESS-RED-HAIR-LARGE-DOLL-/121361198581?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c41b0edf5
Here are a few examples
One with plastic arms and legs
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boudoir-Composition-Doll-W-Cloth-Body-25-Vintage-BL-Hair-Blue-Eyes-Gold-Dress-/231255827495?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d7ebe427
One similar to yours
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Deco-Boudoir-Doll-/201105900215?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ed2d882b7
If you google composition Boudoir dolls you should se lots of examples :-) Hope this helps
Thanks for all your information..I will continue researching the links you suggested.
Your welcome Ollie !