Antique Composition Doll
This antique composition doll is from the Dream World dolls collection. They were marketed to a wide audience that depicted characters from stories such as Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind and the March sisters from Little Women. They wore period costumes and hairstyles, or they sported international looks such as Spanish lace and combs, or from Dutch folk-embroidered dress and braids. They featured jointed hips, shoulders, and neck body, painted side glancing eyes, closed mouth and glued on mohair wigs.
Made in the USA from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, Dream World Dolls are all composition, which is a mixture of materials such as resin, wood flour, and glue. Dollmakers from France and Germany at the end of the 19th century were already using composites for doll bodies but most used a technique called "bisque" a mixture of clays that resembled smooth porcelain, for the doll heads. Then, during World War l German imports were curtailed and dolls were in short supply and expensive.
Dollmakers in America seeking to differentiate themselves and sell a less labor-intensive product as superior, marketed composition heads as "unbreakable". This would turn out to be true but what was not anticipated was how composition dolls would react to moisture and humidity, and changes in temperature. This is what gives these dolls their distinctive "crazing" look, the tiny cracks that would appear on some of the dolls over time while stored in an attic or basement.
Most Dream World Dolls measure at 11", our little miss measures at a less common 14". She has some "crazing" on her face and legs, and we think this old-world look gives her beauty and wisdom. She wears oilskin shoes with leather bottoms and laces. All made by hand, her dress has three layers in crochet and cotton in an aged deep ivory/tea color. There are some chocolate brown spots on the front. The main body of the dress is of a large crochet while a finer crochet trim is around her collar, the edge of her sleeves, and the bottom. Real buttons close the dress at the back.
This antique composition doll is from the Dream World dolls collection. They were marketed to a wide audience that depicted characters from stories such as Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind and the March sisters from Little Women. They wore period costumes and hairstyles, or they sported international looks such as Spanish lace and combs, or from Dutch folk-embroidered dress and braids. They featured jointed hips, shoulders, and neck body, painted side glancing eyes, closed mouth and glued on mohair wigs.
Made in the USA from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, Dream World Dolls are all composition, which is a mixture of materials such as resin, wood flour, and glue. Dollmakers from France and Germany at the end of the 19th century were already using composites for doll bodies but most used a technique called "bisque" a mixture of clays that resembled smooth porcelain, for the doll heads. Then, during World War l German imports were curtailed and dolls were in short supply and expensive.
Dollmakers in America seeking to differentiate themselves and sell a less labor-intensive product as superior, marketed composition heads as "unbreakable". This would turn out to be true but what was not anticipated was how composition dolls would react to moisture and humidity, and changes in temperature. This is what gives these dolls their distinctive "crazing" look, the tiny cracks that would appear on some of the dolls over time while stored in an attic or basement.
Most Dream World Dolls measure at 11", our little miss measures at a less common 14". She has some "crazing" on her face and legs, and we think this old-world look gives her beauty and wisdom. She wears oilskin shoes with leather bottoms and laces. All made by hand, her dress has three layers in crochet and cotton in an aged deep ivory/tea color. There are some chocolate brown spots on the front. The main body of the dress is of a large crochet while a finer crochet trim is around her collar, the edge of her sleeves, and the bottom. Real buttons close the dress at the back.
This antique composition doll is from the Dream World dolls collection. They were marketed to a wide audience that depicted characters from stories such as Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind and the March sisters from Little Women. They wore period costumes and hairstyles, or they sported international looks such as Spanish lace and combs, or from Dutch folk-embroidered dress and braids. They featured jointed hips, shoulders, and neck body, painted side glancing eyes, closed mouth and glued on mohair wigs.
Made in the USA from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, Dream World Dolls are all composition, which is a mixture of materials such as resin, wood flour, and glue. Dollmakers from France and Germany at the end of the 19th century were already using composites for doll bodies but most used a technique called "bisque" a mixture of clays that resembled smooth porcelain, for the doll heads. Then, during World War l German imports were curtailed and dolls were in short supply and expensive.
Dollmakers in America seeking to differentiate themselves and sell a less labor-intensive product as superior, marketed composition heads as "unbreakable". This would turn out to be true but what was not anticipated was how composition dolls would react to moisture and humidity, and changes in temperature. This is what gives these dolls their distinctive "crazing" look, the tiny cracks that would appear on some of the dolls over time while stored in an attic or basement.
Most Dream World Dolls measure at 11", our little miss measures at a less common 14". She has some "crazing" on her face and legs, and we think this old-world look gives her beauty and wisdom. She wears oilskin shoes with leather bottoms and laces. All made by hand, her dress has three layers in crochet and cotton in an aged deep ivory/tea color. There are some chocolate brown spots on the front. The main body of the dress is of a large crochet while a finer crochet trim is around her collar, the edge of her sleeves, and the bottom. Real buttons close the dress at the back.