Julia is 16.5 inches tall. She has a jointed wooden body and cloth
upper arms. Julia bears a resemblance to the antique pandora dolls,
distinguished for the pupil-less glass eyes and fine painting of the facial features with dotted brows and lashes. Unmistakable and remarkable
signature of these early wooden pandora dolls, which I deeply admire and I recreate them.
I custom made her clothing and accessories with early
materials and textiles, some of them dating back to the eighteenth-century. Please scroll down to see step-by-step photos on how I have dressed
her and all the details of this doll.
If you are interested in purchasing her, please send your
inquiry to: soniakrausedolls@gmail.com
She has antique black pupil-less glass eyes and her wig is made of English mohair in a lovely chestnut, reddish-brown color. Her entire body has a wonderful patina
that replicates the effect of age on the painted wood.
The shift is considered the most basic garment of the eighteenth-century woman's wardrobe. It plays an essential role because not only does it
protect her clothing from the body moisture but also will protect her from the
roughness of some elaborate textiles like the brocade stays that she is wearing, woven with
metallic and silk threads. The triangle gussets under the arms will also help with more
movement and comfort.
Graduated ombre silk ribbons are tied around her legs, just
below the knees, to hold up her stockings. This beautiful diminutive ribbon was
sold by Au Bon Marche Department Store in Paris, France around 1890.
Her quilted petticoat and skirt are supported by a bum-roll. The underclothing is
made of antique cotton fabrics dating from the Victorian Era.
Quilted petticoat: this beautiful fabric is a nineteenth-century French printed cotton with a dainty floral pattern in diminutive scale, so delightful!
Her stays and shoes are made of an early eighteenth-century silk brocade textile with silver metallic
threads. To help with the lacing of her stays, I have included a tiny
bovine- bone needle which is kept safely in her husswife.
Cloth
pockets: Nineteenth-century French silk embroidered with dainty floral
motifs.
Outfit:
It consists of a two-piece dress made of a madder-brown cotton fabric from the Civil War era; it has a lovely floral design.
Her bonnet and sleeve ruffles are made of a beautiful tambour lace; it is a fine net embroidered with floral garlands and sprigs. It dates from early 1900's, French in origin.
Her necklace and bracelet are made of antique glass beads,
beautiful ruby red color; the silk ribbons are dainty, made in France around
1920's.
Her apron is made of a wonderful late nineteenth-century Ottoman
textile, embroidered with silk and metallic threads.
Her chatelaine consists of a hussif (sewing kit), and a
pinball made of an Ottoman embroidery. The outer portion of the hussif is made with of an eighteenth-century silk brocade, the inner portion is lined with fragments of
19th century textiles.
And
last but not least are her
shoes, made of an early eighteenth-century silk brocade textile with silver and metallic threads.
