Some more dolls....

I am convinced dolls must be like buses; none for ages then three come at once! Eliza walks a dog for an lady who lives near us and was telling her all about the previous doll, who is now called Isabelle. This lady then went and found two more dolls that she had as a child and had no-one to give them to so she gave them to us to love. This first one she got for her 5th or 6th birthday in 1945 or so and she came in a pink dress which has sadly been lost over the years.

She has a composite face, basically woodpulp and glue, and as you can see has been well-loved. I took all three to a doll hospital and she needs to have her head mended to prevent it cracking completely in half.

This second doll was rather a shock. She is in pieces as you can see and was made by British National Dolls in the 1950s. She was sold in Marks and Spencers along with a blonde version and is called a walker doll as her legs "walk" and move her head at the same time.

She too is rather pretty but needs a good wash and hair-do.

These are her original clothes too. Now here's for the shocker, she is quite valuable! In fact the most valuable of the three once mended so if you have any of your old dolls from your childhood DON'T just sling them out! I have some from the 70s that were mine as a child and in good condition they are worth £40 or so already.

I did take her back to the lady who gave her to us once I realised her value. She was amazed and delighted and is contemplating having her restored now.

A beautiful doll

Meet Isabelle, she belonged to my Mother in Law and as my FIL is moving house shortly she has come to live with me. Now I assumed that as MIL was born in 1940 the doll was from about 1945 but having taken her into a local auction house it would appear she is from 1910. Hmmm I am rather sceptical about this myself, knowing the family history, so this afternoon I am taking her to a doll hospital for more advice.

She has a rather beautiful face and I think that her hair is rather 1920's. When I do find out how old she is I shall make her some appropriate clothes as hers are not original in any way. She did come wearing a baby vest bearing the name Corah St Margaret. So I Googled it and it would appear that Corah were a company who broke away from the Wholesale Textiles Association to supply Marks and Spencers in the early 20's. By doing this they were thrown out of the Association and thereby could only trade with M&S. In order to cover up their links with M&S they traded under the name St Margarets which later became the well know St Michael brand that M&S used! How fascinating is that? I was unable to find out exactly when the name changed to St Michael but it would be in the 30's I think so the vest must pre-date that.