Questions about a home-made rag doll

This doll was in with my mother's things. I think it may have been hers from her childhood, since it's not at all like the antiques she bought... or possibly had belonged to an older relative. My mother was born in 1915 and her mother was born in 1884.

It's also possible that my mother or someone else made the doll for my sister or me in the mid-20th century. But I honestly don't remember it at all and do remember lots of other toys and dolls we had.

There are a few things that are a mystery to me...

-- I read that modern-style snaps were first made in the late 1800s, but I don't know what the early ones looked like. Were snaps like the ones on the dress made as early as the 1910s? Even earlier?

-- I have no idea why there are blue markings on the dolls face. It looks like "Indian war paint" to me since the marks on the forehead look so regular, but I can't imagine anyone intentionally making a red-headed doll as an Indian maiden. Maybe a child added the lines for some unknown reason?

-- I also have no idea why there are clumps of red thread on the top of the doll's feet, where the ankles meet the feet.

Any thoughts on age and anything else will be much appreciated.

 

Hi! Your doll is a home made rag doll and probably from the 40's era. Her clothing is probably worth more than the doll itself, but of course the doll would be invaluable to the present owner. The red ties are probably just decorative. The blue paint might not have been intended, but occured during the playing years.

 

Pat, the snaps look relatively modern to me... but that's just an impression. I agree with the assessment that judy gave, although I don't have expert knowledge of this.

 

It looks like an exorcist doll.

 

If it helps, I have cards of those press studs - snaps to you - bought new by my mama in the 1950s.

 

Thanks, all.

Judy, interesting that the clothes would be worth more than the doll... that never occurred to me. I'm curious what clues indicate the '40s?

Fig and Bear, the snaps did give me pause. In a search this morning, I found a number of sets of silver-tone ones for sale that the sellers attributed to the '20s, so it seems the snaps themselves may not signify '40s or later. I have no expertise here, so I dunno.

Fenton, LOL! Do you think the doll is the exorcist, the instrument of exorcism, or the exorcee?

 

Re the snaps: my grandmother made me a doll (a full size-me, actually). We had matching outfits with those snaps. But, they were probably from Much earlier, as I have some of my mother's clothes - made by my grandmother - with the same ones.

Grandmother had a compartmentalized drawer in a sewing chest. Each in its own place were snaps, hooks and eyes, tiny pearl shirt collar buttons, larger pearl buttons to fasten the shirt, short pins, long pins, needles, safety pins (large, small, gold, silver), garter thingles, frogs, etc., etc., etc.

LOL! Trip down memory lane!

 

I have some neat cards with hook and loop fasteners that my mother had in her sewing box with wonderful graphics. I forget which decades, maybe '30s. I love old images, especially when they're the real deal and not a reproduction.

 

Pat you have some of the neatest finds right in your own home.

 

Aw, thanks, Pearls.

Thanks to my mother, I do have quite an eclectic collection of interesting things.

It's a mixed blessing, though. Unlike a collector, I know almost nothing about much of what I own. And I'm too sentimental about these things because they were my mother's, and too cautious, which has slowed down generating income from it considerably. Plus I have so much stuff I can't justify buying a single thing... and I like to shop!

 

I know what you mean Pat. I have some of my mother's and grandmother's items here.
Some of the items, I would never part with at all. Others I am trying to work my bravery up to sell at some point because I could use some extra space and those particular items are just not my taste.
It pulls at the heart strings I know.

 

Hi Pat!

The clothes look to be made of cotton, a desired cloth amongst doll collectors of that era.
The clothes on your doll would look great on a 40's or early 50's composition doll.
I have been collecting dolls for probably 30 years. I have one of this and two of that. Some are in the closet....not being my favorite ones, for many different reasons. Perhaps they are only parts dolls, or later dolls that I picked up because of their collectibility.
Truth be known, the desirability of dolls has gone the way of many collectibles.
I thought my kids would reap dollars when the time came. Now, they would have a problem getting a buyer(s). I always bought dolls very reasonably, so there is not money loss for what I could get for them now. Supply and demand means a lot.
There are some that will always be desired, just like any other collectible.

I don't think snaps have changed much over the years. I haven't bought any recently tho.

 

LOL......funny when I re-read closet dolls.

 

Yup, have felt those tugs on the heart strings....

 

Judy, ah, I see what you mean... the clothes on this doll are in very good condition and I think they'd look lovely on a mid-century doll.

That's a shame that the value on dolls has gone down. I have several mid-century dolls that one of these days I'll probably try to sell, but looking at eBay completeds, I don't expect much for them.

I have some doll clothes, too, but not sure what condition they're in.

 

The blue could be the marks from the original embroidery pattern?

 

One foot has red marks where you were meant to embroider. Red embroidery thread was used to add a more finished look. I could see myself doing that, I love a short cut. Your doll is really charming.