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In the past few months, dolls have been coming to me unsolicited. Am I complaining? Absolutely not! In this busy and sleepy Winter Solstice time of year, and with me taking on the work again as a Personal Service Worker for a family member, the problem is choosing who to work on first, and how to carve out a block of time for some uninterrupted work. My Susan Fosnot spoon doll kit is at the top of my list, and I have worked on her some this month. I also have some other non-china dolls to share with you soon. This young-looking lady just begged to be finished today, so here she is.
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I was always intrigued by this unusual cloth doll body shown in Mildred Seeley’s book, Beloved China Dolls. She calls it a C.I. Mott body because it has that signature on it. I have never seen another reference to this body type, and I saw one for sale online only once before, as a complete doll, a few years ago. I did not get to acquire that doll. So, when one came up last month as a body only, with no head, I delightedly seized it!
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This old, and well-used, cotton-stuffed cloth body came with petticoat, drawers, moccasins, and a cotton morning dress that is melting, but no head. The seller implored me to be careful of the dress, as the body had been in her collection for some time, and she was fond of it. She hoped that the body could be matched with a head. I removed the clothing and gently hand-washed it. I tried a few shoulder-heads in my collection on this body, but I knew I would need to find an older lady (not child) head dating to the 1850s to 1870s to go with this body.
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I searched several selling sites for china heads-only, finding some very lovely, and very expensive ones of the right size. I also found some not-very-well-defined flat tops, and some too-new ABG child heads and low brows. Then, rather unexpectedly, I found this early transition covered wagon/flat top, or modified flat top, girl with well defined curls and nice face painting. She is made by Kister, and has a repaired shoulder-plate that is invisible from the outside. I think she dates to 1860s-1870s. Offered at the right price, I brought her home. The seller of the head had it in her collection for awhile, and she hoped that the doll head could find a body. Hence, I am the matchmaker for these two!
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Inside the shoulder-head, the repair is visible, and it does not reach to the face, which is original with no touch-up. There are several pencil marks, including the name “ADDIE” in capital letters, inside the shoulder-plate. Even though the head is large, at 5½ inches tall, there are only four sew holes.
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Though the head is the right size for this body, the shoulders of the body are thin, so I made a bust from the cuff of a cotton sock, stuffed with cotton batting. You can see it separate in the photo of the body, above. Here, I am using a curved needle to sew the bust to the body.
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The head is attached over the high bust, and is held on securely with crochet thread. The body has seen much wear, and many hugs. She has been repaired before, perhaps by a child. She has a sewn-on belt made of seam binding that crosses her back, suspender style. I have left her old shoulder-head attachment strings intact, as her scars from a former life. They are part of her history, her story.
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Her upper legs and knees are attached with buttons sewn through, similar to, but not exactly like, Mildred Seeley’s Mott body. I suspect this was home made, perhaps from a 19th century ladies magazine pattern.
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Her hands are thin with stitched fingers, while the Mott body has individual stuffed fingers.
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Addie has on the drawers and petticoat that she came with. The drawers had to be overlapped in back and pinned in at the waist to fit her, and the petticoat was altered by a former owner with tucks at the waist for her. Her muted pink morning dress with contrast fabric binding is freshened up for her. She has her moccasins that she came with, but no socks. She is now a 24 inch doll.
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Perfect for spending the day with Merrythought and her crochet, getting settled in to her new home.
May your Winter Solstice offer you quiet time at home in your morning dress, creative time for making, and time for burrowing in the covers while the light is dim. Dreams can come true. . . .
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