Posted 13 years ago
mac
(18 items)
I have purchased this doll and looks like a Terri Lee dolls. but the doll is made of cloth with the joints/arms and legs jointed at the body with wire. Does any-one knows if the companies that made the Terri Lee's ever made one of cloth as a example/promo before making them in plastic. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you
I'm not an expert on Terri Lee dolls, but like you, I was struck immediately by the resemblance. But as someone in the toy & doll business, it seems unlikely that they made a doll in cloth as a prototype. That's not how dolls are designed & produced. What's more likely is that this is a handmade rag doll, created by a loving mother or grandmother for a child who loved dolls- maybe even Terri Lee dolls, but perhaps couldn't afford them. Just a stab in the dark here!
Hello: Thank you for taken the time to write. But the doll is manufacturing made, not home made, and yes some companies did make some cloth dolls as proto or beginning of their company like Madame Alexander and others. Again thank you.
What about the doll is manufacturing indicated? Are there tags?
No tags. I do have a 1935 cloth Scootles doll designed by Rose O'neill and the material, stitches and stuffing is identical to this doll. For this reason believe is commercially made, also the wire joints as the arms and legs are not sew into the body.
Generally speaking, prototypes were made for a few reasons. One was to substitute for production dolls for purposes of catalog photography, licensor approval or presentation, etc. before a doll was actually produced. Another reason was to serve as a 'stand in', or fitting model for the outfits when production dolls were unavailable. A third reason might simply be to test a doll's look or size in the early stages of development. I can't see this doll serving either of the first two purposes. The body is not the same as the actual doll, so the clothing would not fit correctly (look at that large neck!) And as far as being a stand-in for the real doll for commercial purposes, I don't think so. But it certainly is possible that it's a very early 'concept' model.
There are lots of other possibilities. Perhaps it's not a Terri Lee doll at all, but an early design for some other doll. It could also be a 'kit doll'. The face looks very homemade and primitive to me.
I'll certainly be interested if anyone else knows who she might be!
Will. I have a friend that she is an expert on Terri Lee dolls. I did send to her the same pictures of this doll as shown on this site. In her email/replied she stated that she did not think was a Terri, but a Dotty, She did not give-me any more information about Dotty??.
I have an appointment with her this coming Thurday and if we come out with any definite details about this doll or what "Dotty" is I will posted on this site. I do appreciate you taken the time to write and your opinion. Thank you very much.
I'm always happy to learn new things about dolls, so I hope you update when you find out!
I have also noticed that the WPA dolls' faces look a lot like Terri Lee's face. But my cousin and I searched the internet after reading my book on the WPA projects, and could not find a connection.
Are you in UFDC Dollmaker ? Maybe we know each other :-) My Friend donated a huge collection of WPA dolls which are on display at are musuem and has wrote articles on them also :-)
I can't tell if he face on this doll is stitched or painted ? which is it ? I have one like it and know it is not WPA but I always thought of her as a kit from maybe 40's ?
Dear: Dollmakerbard, Thank you for taken the time to research this doll and the time to write the information. My friend is an expert in Terri Lee's and she thinks the same as Stefdensign that the doll could be home-made, but she/my friend, also suggested that many companies made cloth dolls as models and these doll were never sold but dispose-off. My fascination with this doll is that she is jointed with wires, the same wires that manufactures use to joint dolls in the 1920's to 1930's. Again thank you for all of you who have taken the time to write.
NO, But we may know each other. I deal in dolls and this takes me to many, many auctions all over. I know a little about dolls, I do purchase antique dolls but my favors are from the 1960's and 1970's, Mattel, I have recently purchase an original 1935 cloth Scootles doll designed by Rose O'neill, I'm very fascinated about cloth dolls for very few have survived and sense they have lost their tag it is difficult to identify. Thank you for your friendship and keep in touch.
Dear: Manikin. I fogot to tell-you that the doll face fixtures are stitched.
Thanks Mac for clarifying the face on doll . What a wonderful find a cloth scootles ! I have a fondness for cloth dolls also . I always think they were loved more by the child:-) Did you see my cloth doll posted from 1800's to 1910 era?
Yes we will keep in touch and share info as we find these treasures :-)
"YES", I have seen many of your dolls posting. I believe you are like me. I have a large closet full of Barbie dolls. But I'm curious about a lady who wrote you from Spain, Well I'm originaly from Madrid Spain, Came to the US in 1963, I also purchase and have the Marin Chiclana dolls, the historical/Royal or sigle that Marin made in the 1960's, they are beautiful dolls.
Esther is in spain and loves dolls also Mac