Carmel Doll Shop -Early Dolls-

Izannah



Let's face it, there are Izannahs, and then there are IZANNAHS. Like all Izannah Walker dolls, this very special model, who stands seventeen and one-half inches tall, is born of pure, honest, and simple materials. Cotton and paint met artistry and this infinitely charming plaything was the result. Like many of her sisters, Izannah is a survivor of who knows how many childhoods, but comparatively speaking, this doll is in truly exceptional condition. Izannah retains lovely painted brown hair, albeit with scattered losses. There is a center part, with a profusion of wisps at her temples, wisps that brush her wonderfully detailed applied ears. Of special note, her multi-hued brown eyes are completely intact. Because of this, we are able to see the fine details of the liner, upper and lower lashes, and that the brows are feathered! The soft blush of her cheeks is right there in plain sight, while her shaped nose shows the wear of being nuzzled for decades The stuffed body is in gorgeous condition – even her limbs, with their vulnerable fingers, and in this case, extremely rare, red-painted, high-button boots. If her sweet painted lips could speak, Izannah would tell you how she is dressed for autumn weather, in her golden cotton dress, with its fine piping, and black soutache trim. If the day turns cold, she has her red wool hooded cloak at hand to help ward off the chill. Through her painted eyes she shares her life story, but if you care to learn more – we know a bit of her family history, as she came to us complete with provenance. If you have been yearning for an IZANNAH – there may be no need to look further. Please click here to view details "au naturel" $22,000.00



For the "Big China Collector", we are thrilled to offer a big China – and a brown-eyed model, too! Standing twenty-seven inches tall is this lovely lady with an amazing pink luster complexion, gorgeous painting and those oh-so-unusual, big, light-brown painted eyes. On a fabulous antique cloth body with an ingenious "articulation" system on the legs, she has very nice, long leather arms in good condition. Also fabulous is the soft tomato red wool dress, plus a delicate eyelet apron and quite wonderful leather shoes. A loveable doll, with an equally loveable presentation. Please click here to view details "au naturel" $3995.00

Provincial Shell Couple

Pair of Shell Dolls, (German woodens from the Grodner Tal) that are in our opinion, the perfect size at eight and one-half inches. Circa 1830, the pair is strikingly different from other shell doll examples we have seen, as this couple depicts a very foreign-appearing duo, largely due to their headdresses and "clothing" styles.
Note the gentleman, who smokes a pipe, while his companion attends to her spinning. Rare and exotic, their overall condition is good, due to scattered losses.
The perfect addition to your early doll collection, from the former Collection of John Darcy Noble.

Measure: Twelve inches with the dome in place.

$3500.00


Of the finest English stock – dating circa 1760, this magnificent English wooden doll stands twenty-one inches tall. The doll's paint is original and lovely, although there appears to be a spot of restoration to gesso loss under her left eye. Her black pupil-less eyes are sensitive – a characteristic one might not expect to be expressed from dark eyes, and do not miss her beautifully stippled lashes and brows. The heirloom human hair wig was styled to suggest the doll is indeed a child – just as she is costumed. Her carved wooden body is sturdy, featuring articulated legs, and cotton-stuffed, linen-wrapped arms terminating in carved wood, forked hands – with all fingers intact. This child wears a beyond-wonderful printed cotton dress in a very pleasing floral pattern. In addition, a fabulous gauze apron and cotton cap convince us that this early doll is a child. Above all, wooden dolls such as this carry something that is quite invisible – at first. And that would be soul. Please click here to view details "au naturel" $22,000.00



8-1/4" German bisque Lad with a molded hat – a very rare fellow, indeed! Details include blue painted eyes, healthy cheeks, and the wonderful molded hat, of course, which features molded blue streamers that cascade over his blond hair and onto his shoulder plate. Even the shoulder plate is special due to a molded shirt-front with a collar and a molded, maroon-painted neckerchief! On a classic cloth body with bisque limbs, our little fellow wears wool tweed trousers and a Bavarian style jacket with wide lapels edged in black velvet...quite the fashion statement! Please click here to view "au naturel" details $2200.00


This extraordinary, early, fashionable, Cornhusk doll in fine condition, may look primitive at first glance, but please study the wonderful detail of the 1880s costume. Of special note are the many buttons and bows, folds in the skirt, ample bustle, large bow on capelet and over-the-top bonnet. Her fabulous long corn silk hair and bangs, a basket of straw flowers in one hand and a bouquet in the other, all over shadow her “simple” face. A true rarity (and once part of a prestigious collection), which will appeal to the collector of the esoteric. Measures: 11” to top of bonnet. $595.00



Measuring a mere ten inches tall, this elegant China Lady, circa 1860s, boasts a very stylish, molded, up-swept hairstyle with fine brush strokes at the temples, plus very nicely painted facial features. Do not miss her blue-painted earrings! She is on a cloth body with china limbs and painted black shoes, and wears a French blue, cream and charcoal plaid silk dress, enhanced with extraordinarily tiny ecru soutache trim. Her under things and fine lace shawl are also antique. A single strand of azure beads completes this very pretty picture. $1495.00



Enthusiastic collectors of English wax dolls should find this extremely fine lady very interesting...we know we appreciate magnificent wax examples which feature untouched originality. Details of this sixteen and one-half inch doll include a poured-wax shoulderhead with amazing modeling, (of special note are her hooded eyes), early, spiral-threaded blue glass eyes, and an incredible original mohair wig in its original style. This doll also retains her original pearl bead jewelry, which includes a necklace with cross pendant, earrings (loss to one, we will do our best to match the remaining one) and even an ormolu hair comb with matching pearl decoration! On a stuffed cotton body with wax-over limbs, including legs with wonderful yellow, high-button, molded boots, she wears her original gown of natural gauze and lace (tender in places), with multiple pinked and pleated layers. Palest pink silk bows highlight just the right places, and a pale pink ribbon sash ties in back with a dramatic over scale bow. Layers of original under things complete the original presentation. A one in a thousand doll, who is ready and willing to enhance your early doll collection. $4950.00

I Got My Doll!

I Didn't Get My Doll!

14-1/2” two-faced German Wax by Fritz Bartenstein, a portrait of a Doll Collector. One face crying, one smiling, rotating on a vertical axis hidden by a fabric-covered carton-cap, molded as an extension of the composition shoulder-plate, on a cloth body with composition limbs.
A wonderful doll, circa 1860s!

$2600.00

18th Century
Wax Dollhouse Men...

...dollhouse Gardeners actually, as John Darcy Noble discovered – eventually.
In an article cleverly entitled "Sowing Seeds of Discovery" for DOLLS magazine, John identified these two eighteenth-century, German wax dollhouse gentlemen as gardeners, due to the style of their clothing. He compared these elegantly clothed dolls to a circa 1750 painting that illustrated gardeners of that period attending to the lawn and came up with a perfect match.
The two incredible early wax dolls shown here wear original, matching, long linen coats with wide brimmed hats, all with silk ribbon detail. Handmade straw brooms help them with their eternal chore of "tidying up".

Each man measures nine inches tall.

$3500.00