"Sallie" Wooden Pandora Doll....AVAILABLE

 

Sallie is a fine hand-carved wooden doll, seventeen inches tall. Her body is made of wood, except for her cloth upper arms. She has antique glass eyes, and her wig is made of antique mohair in a lovely dark brown color. Her entire body has a wonderful patina that replicates the effect of age on the painted wood. The quality of the doll is remarkable, as is her highly elaborate attire. The textiles I have used to create her underclothing, dress, and accessories are antique. Her clothing is removable. 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

AVAILABLE

The underclothing (shift, dickey petticoat, stockings and embroidered petticoat) is made of antique cotton fabrics dating from the Victorian Era. 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 antique wig is secured with two diminutive nails, one on each side of the wig cap to keep it in place; the use of these nails is adding an interesting detail to the construction of the doll itself, a historical practice during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The head-dress and apron are made of a dotted Brussels tulle lace appliqué; it dates from the early 1900's.

False rumps: they were usually filled with cork, feathers, cotton wool, horsehair; most of them had attached a cotton or linen panel to protect the body from the roughness of these materials.

Her cloth pockets, hussif and shoes are a matching set. This striped silk brocade was manufactured in Lyon, France between 1760 – 1770. 

 This 18^th century damask silk textile was probably made in Lyon or Venice; it is simply gorgeous. Two of the aesthetic characteristics to mention about this textile are: The texture is super light, it was made for luxury garments, dresses, it was reserved for the upper classes and formal clothing. And it was woven in monochrome or subtly contrasting tones (this one is color green and cream).

Apron: it is made of a dotted Brussels tulle lace appliqué; it dates from the early 1900's.

Short lace aprons were worn for gentry women and symbolized high status, wealth and refinement.

Her stays are back lacing, they are made of a mid-18th century Ottoman textile, embroidered with metallic threads, absolutely stunning!

Sallie is wearing an English gown inspired by a superb example dating to around 1770. The dress consists of a fitted bodice with an overskirt parted in front to reveal the skirt that is made of the same fabric. Her dress is adorned with metallic lace trim dating from the 1930’s in a lovely gold color and 18^th century silk flys, that only can be seen in museum collections nowadays.

Hussif (sewing kit): The outer portion of the hussif is made of the same brocade silk as the cloth pockets. The inner portion is lined with fragments of 18^th-19th century textiles. To help with the lacing of her stays, I have included a tiny bovine bone needle. 

And last but not least are her shoes in the 18th century style, they have antique leather soles, and they are adorned with a pair of Victorian cut steel shoe buckles. The colors of this 18th century striped silk brocade are stunning and stand out along with her beautiful dress. 

Georgiana and her historical clothing.....SOLD

 

Georgiana is a fine hand-carved wooden doll, 17 ¼ inches tall. Her body is made of wood, except for her cloth upper arms. She has antique glass eyes; her wig is made of antique mohair in a lovely dark brown color. She has a wonderful patina that replicates the effect of age on the painted wood. All of her clothing and accessories are made with early materials and textiles, they are removable. Please scroll down to see step-by-step photos on how I have dressed her and all the details of this doll. Georgiana is available for purchasing, if interested please send your inquiry to: soniakrausedolls@gmail.com

SOLD

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. The gussets will also help with more movement and comfort.

The shift, dickey petticoat, lace petticoat, false ramps, bonnet and stockings are made of antique cotton fabrics and lace dating from the Victorian Era. All of them have a soft, off-white color reminiscent of antique textiles.

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 cotton petticoat is double layered with a very fine lace at the hem.

Double cloth pockets: late nineteenth-century quilted textile.

Skirt: eighteenth-century embroidery on an oyster cream silk ground. The colors are truly stunning. The side seams of the skirt have pocket slits to access to her secret cloth pockets.

Her chatelaine consists of a hussif (sewing kit) and a pinball pin cushion. The outer portion of the hussif is made with the same quilted cotton of the pockets; the inner portion is lined with fragments of nineteenth-century textiles. 

I made for Georgiana a beautiful pair of stays with detachable sleeves, they have front and back lacing; these are inspired by a wonderful example dating from the mid eighteenth-century. There are not many survivors of these particular stays with detachable sleeves, most of the time they are found with traces of detachable sleeves that sadly no longer exist. The stays made of luxury textiles and detachable sleeves indicate that they were worn to be visible when dressed informally. Her stays are made of blue silk brocade woven with a pattern of meandering flowers; it's fully lined. The origin of this brocade fabric is French dating from around 1780. The detachable sleeves are tied to the stays with dainty silk ribbons.

 To help with the lacing of her stays, I have included a tiny bovine-bone needle.

She is wearing an antique silk flower rosette choker, made in France.

"Julia" Wooden Pandora Doll .... SOLD

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. 

SOLD

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.