Friday in the comments Anne said this…
“On Thursday at Patchwork someone gave me a reproduction doll they had been given. I will send some photo’s to Jeanne. It has a hole it it’s head (not sure why) and the wig is very hard to get on and doesn’t stay on. she has a very pretty face though. I think the body is quite badly made, it seems to be too big and it is filled with what I think are polystyrene beads. It has a porcelain head and shoulders and forearms and lower legs. There seems to be no shaping to the legs and arms and they are just gathered and sewn to the body under the shoulders so they sort of hang there and don’t look natural at all. Does anyone think it is fixable (by me) and if so what can/should I do? Sam is coming over today so I will get her to help me take some useful photos. I might take them outside so I can show you it really is summer here even though it doesn’t seem like it some days lol.”
Then I received the pictures from Anne…
I LOVE the inscription on the back of the dolls neck…
Oh… and it REALLY is summer in New Zealand…
Now, this is just “Jeanne” talking, not knowing ANYTHING about porcelain dolls, but I LOVE how she is sucking in her bottom lip… I love the color of her wig too… I think that hole in her head is for putting in the glass eyes…
I think she needs some upper eyelashes to make her eyes pop a little more…
I would just make her a dress that had puffy sleeves that cover the cloth body and the same with her legs… make some pantalettes and some lacy socks with some boots and she’ll be a knock out.
Well, that was just might thoughts on what Anne might do with her doll… who else can share about Anne’s doll?
I might not know what Anne is doing with hers, BUT I was waiting for a post where I could work this doll in, and today is the perfect day! I found another doll about a month ago and she is none other than Emily, one of Dianna Effner’s porcelain Bisque dolls. She is in mint condition but doesn’t have her wood stand with her name plate on it, and she has no box. She has the same neck and shoulder plate as Anne’s and also the cloth body except for her hands… (I didn’t take off her boots to see if she has porcelain feet…) There is a wire armature under her cloth body so she can slightly bend her arms. She was made in 1996 for Ashton Drake and has been well taken care of. There isn’t a mark on her face or her hands and she has the most innocent look to her eyes. I am truly smitten by brown eyed dolls (and a few others it seems lately!) She has a number on the back of her neck and the Effner signature in the bisque…
While Anne might not know what she’s doing with her doll, I do… I am going to list mine on Ebay… they are sought after and if I want to, I could use the money to buy a doll I would actually sew for… As beautiful as she is, I just am not a doll collector and maybe someone out there wants her for their collection.
I plan to run my auction and if it goes over a certain amount, I am going to make her a more up to date (still old fashioned looking) dress instead of the one she has on. I just thought that might be fun to see what happens…
Here are a couple for you to see them with the stand and how mine looks compared to others…
Here are a couple that have already ended…
Here are a few pictures of my Emily doll…
Dolls, dolls, dolls… aren’t they grand?
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
As I recall (from the days when I made a few porcelain dolls) the hole in the head IS for putting in glass eyes; I think it should also be covered by what is called a “pate”, which is kind of like a little slice of a sphere. As I recall (I wasn’t working on one with a pate, but others were), the pate is glued in place after the eyes are inserted as desired, and then the wig is put on top. It helps the wig have a more natural “head” shape. Any place that sells doll-making supplies will likely have pates in different sizes available.
That’s a fairly common way for porcelain dolls to be made, and a dress with puffy sleeves will help disguise the odd shoulder/arm line. Pantaloons will disguise the cloth portion of the legs, too.
She certainly does have a cute face! I tried searching, based on what I could read on the back of the neck, but couldn’t find any information; perhaps someone else will be more successful (or maybe even has one of these dolls and can tell us more about her!).
So nice to see your “summer” picture, too, Anne! Our snow (Seattle area) has been gone for a few days now, but tonight it was very windy and we had some rain. So, nothing’s blooming out here yet. However, I have the starts of buds on my little orchid plant again!!
Jeanne, your Emily is beautiful, and her wig is just pristine! What a great find! I hope she does well for you in the auction.
Even though I’m not a doll collector in the true sense of the word, what an interesting post today! Anne’s doll is truly a sweet little doll, and so interesting to see how she is made! I’ve never seen a doll like that before, or what “goes on” before you see the completed doll!
Maybe Anne will take some of your good ideas and make them happen with her doll!
Your doll, Jeanne is just adorable! Yes, she is in pristine condition, and will make someone happy to have in their collection, which reminds me that I have an Ashton Drake bride doll in a box that I bought sometime in the 90’s that I would love to give away to somebody. Yes, give away! I don’t sell on Ebay, and don’t want to, but who wants a bride doll anymore? She has a name and I have seen her on Ebay, but can’t think of it right now. She has never been taken out of the box, except to look and examine her. She is not a playable doll at all, just to look at. Any ideas on who I could give her to?
The snow is melting and it is getting warmer, but not warm enough for seeing anything like Anne’s pictures of her yard! What a beautiful yard, Anne!
Hi Jeanne What beautiful dolls. They both have pretty faces. I also have a question about restringing one of my AG dolls. You did a tutorial where you restrung your doll that showed the elastic cord you used. Where did you get the cord and what size did you use? My Samantha is beautiful but she needs restringing, badly as her legs just flop downward. Thank you for the help. Carole
Hi I just sent my Addy to the American Girl Hospital as she could not stand up even with a stand and they did a great job. $32.00 and shipping included. Go to their website and they walk you through the process, I didn’t think that was to bad, as I didn’t want to to take her apart!
Sylvia from NH
What beautiful dolls! I especially like the brown haired one. She has a pretty face and hair. Those Diana Effner dolls sure cost a lot. Hopefully you can get a good price for yours! Spring is next month! The snow melted overnight, but there’s still some on the ground. The buttons and one penny eye fell off of the girls’ snowman they made yesterday.
I know nothing about porcelain dolls, but really enjoyed seeing Anne’s lovely backyard. So lush and private. A little slice of paradise. 🙂
Good luck on selling your Emily doll. I’m sure collectors would like the original dress, but an added bonus might be nice too.
Been doing a little on other person’s family history. Delving into the southern Italy births/marriages/deaths. Now we have the relatives back to the late 1700’s. Not too hard either as they never moved from the same little town. 🙂
What a lovely face on the doll Anne is so lucky to have been given. I hope more will be found about her and that we’ll see how she dresses this doll who has such a pretty face.
I do have an Emily Ashton Drake doll with the box and papers. It’s the only doll of that kind I have as I’m not a collector. I may have bought her because she has brown hair as so many dolls have blond hair. Mine will stay here with me. When I bought it I certainly didn’t know the significance of the name Dianna Effner. It will be interesting to see how the auction goes.
Anne’s doll is a cutie. Her facial expression is adorable. Her red wig is becoming to her.
Anne, your yard is very nice. It looks like a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the view of the yard and your plants.
Jeanne, your fill is sweet too. She has a pretty face and nice hair. She does look to be in good shape. Hope she does well on Ebay.
Emily is gorgeous. Was she a thrift store find? I have paid more attention to porcelain dolls after you said you got some shoes that way. Around here those dolls in thrift stores are priced $10 or more. Doesn’t seem like a bargain to me. I intend to keep looking. 😊
Anne’s doll is a sweetie. I, too, love her expression and she looks great as a redhead.
Only one porcelain doll here and she’s an Anne of Green Gables that my daughter bought on our trip to Prince Edward Island. You can’t visit Green Gables without buying an Anne doll.
My one great aunt on my dad’s side collected porcelain dolls. She had them in all sizes and in three bog glass fronted cabinets. I remember standing looking at all of them as a child. I can’t imagine how many now.
Jeanne, your doll is very nice as well. I like the way her hair is styled. Wow, they are pricey dolls. Wherever did you find her, surely not the thrift store? If so, I will have to haunt ours to make some kitty care money
Thank you all for your kind comments about my back garden. I like it too, and yes it is very private.
I loved seeing your doll, Jeanne, and can see a huge difference between the body on yours and the one on mine. The wire armatures make a huge difference. I don’t think there are any doll making supply shops in Christchurch and I am not sure if there are in NZ. There was a place in the Arts Centre where you could buy what you needed and they did classes on making porcelain dolls but unfortunately the Centre was badly damaged and was closed after the earthquake and repairs only finished recently to part of it, still a long way to go. It was the original University of Canterbury and is a Heritage building. I have no idea what happened to the doll making business. There were a lot of little craft shops in there before, I used to love wandering around. You used to be able to rent work rooms where you could make things as well as sell them so there were jewellery making places, wood working workshops, bone carving, quilting, all sorts
I think I will have to redo the body as when I looked at it more closely it is only calico and some of the stitching is frayed. I won’t be able to remake it completely as the legs and arms are glued in place. I didn’t think about needing the hole in her head to put in the eyes, it makes more sense now. I know she needs eyelashes but not sure I am competent enough to paint them on. Anyway thanks for your suggestions.
By the way I don’t think she is any kind of registered doll, I think it might be one that someone has made in a class. The body isn’t particularly well made and I am sure no reputable company would fill the body with polystyrene beads! If I do redo the body the beads will go.
Well what do you know? I tried Mr Google and not only is there someone in NZ who sells doll supplies but she is in Christchurch! I think she only sells on line but I have e mailed her to see if I can bring the doll around to her to find out exactly what I need to fix her. She has eyelashes for sale so that is a start!
Dear Anne, first, thanks for showing us Spring. The snow fairies just dropped a ton of snow here in PA this morning. I don’t even want to think about trying to get my car dug out.
Second, thanks for showing us your lovely doll. Please share photos of her conversion.
Dorothy, I lived in PA until I was almost 18 and I can never remember the amount of snow you have been having the past few years and especially this year. It sounds like the winters my grandmother used to talk about from her childhood. She was born in 1896 and grew up in Bloomsburg, Columbia County. They had a sleigh and evidently got much use out of it.
Dear Barbara, yes, there seems to be a ton of snow nowadays.
I remember once when I was in first grade there was a big snow storm on a Sunday. The next day I got up to go to school. The neighbors on my street had shoveled their sidewalks. The snow was banked so high that it was higher than my head. I got as far as about a block but I fell so many times, I just went back home. School was about a 15-minute walk (in good weather). In those days they didn’t really have snow days.
Come back for a visit! As our old slogan used to say, “You’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania.”
I’m so glad you found someone with doll supplies near you, Anne! I’m sure she’ll be able to help you with your new “project”!!
Dear Jeanne, I have a little doll like this but she is African-American and all porcelain, I guess more of a figurine. She was created by Dianna Effner.
I tend to associate Ms. Effner with Little Darlings but, of course, she has created so many other sculpts. I think her little Nancy Ann dolls are particularly sweet but I don’t have any of those.
I think my two “rescue” dolls may be porcelain. I’ve never thought about it before. I de-wigged the 16″ doll the other day. Her previous wig had serious dry rot. I found she has a hole in her head but she has a pate. Both the 16″ and 12″ doll have cloth bodies from the neck to the knees and down part of the arms with the lower arms and hands and lower legs and feet in porcelain (I guess). And they both have the tiniest feet. They prefer wearing capris to shorts and dresses a little below the knee to hide the fabric part of their legs but are okay with sleeveless tops where the fabric part of their arms show. The only problem I have with that is that even a sleeveless top looks like it has sleeves in it. The way I figure when little girls played with these dolls, keeping most of the female body covered was expected unlike many of my other dolls that have incredibly long legs and can wear the shortest of shorts. Does anyone remember their daughters wearing “Daisy Dukes”?
I love the expression on Anne’s dolls face. A new wig might be in order though. And I so wish I had her back garden. I have no place on our property that’s the least bit secluded. I could create a space somewhat like that but it would take some doing and a whole lot of money. I’m actually thinking of hiring a landscaper to do the flower gardens in the front of my house. Everything is pretty much dead after our extreme weather so now would be a good time to start over using someone with some experience in growing things in southeast Texas. I still think like a Yankee when it comes to gardening. Grass and weeds take over here if you turn your back for even a minute.
I was a late comer to the world of Dianna Effner creations so I’m still learning every day of her wonders. So much to learn. Emily is a lovely doll with a sweet face. But I’m not much into dolls for display purposes. I like the ones I feel comfortable playing with.
Last week we not only had the dead of winter here but it was more like the dead of someone else’s winter we can’t even imagine. I must confess my whole time living in PA it never was so bitter cold we kids didn’t want to play in the snow. But then we rarely lost power in the midst of a snowstorm so when we got cold we came into a warm house for a nice cup of hot cocoa my mother had been making while we played outside. She often turned on the porchlight so we could play after supper. She knew that after a warm bath and a cup of cocoa we would fall asleep with no problem. But today here is like a late spring day. Such a contrast to this time last week.
Dianna’s Doll faces are always so lovable. These two are great. Anne…I have seen many dolls made like yours and when they are dressed they look just fine. IMHO… Your doll could use some small real eyelashes on top. They have adhesive on them and you trim them to fit. I have quite a few and if you send me your address I’ll mail them to you.☺️
I love her red wig but it looks a bit big for her head… Maybe it is just too much hair? As far as the beads go … is the whole cloth body full of beads? You need some beads to weight her down for sitting and to balance out the heavy head..otherwise she is top heavy and can tip over and crack her head. She may not need to be all beads though. Fill some small plastic bags with beads ..one to fit in her tush..and another to fit in the chest/ tummy area with poly fill all around. Hopefully the supplier you found will have pates but if not you can make one out of styrofoam.
Jeanne, I can fix the cracks in your doll…but you could too… I can talk you through it and that would eliminate postage back and forth that eats up profit.☺️
Interesting post today!
HI Kathie,
I thought I’d answer you as you mentioned something about fixing cracks in my doll. Actually, I didn’t mention anything about cracks in a doll… did I miss something? But if I HAD cracks in a doll, I would certainly send her to you… My Emily doll is pristine and no cracks here…
Thanks for all the suggestions you gave to Anne… I hope some of them work for her… eyelashes are easy to put on… no need to think about painting them on…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne