Welcome to My Red Cape. Long ago in another time my husband Jack and I lived in a little old red house. It was the stuff of dreams to us for the few years that we were there. I live there still a number of hours every day in imagination, with old dolls and paintings and fabrics and feather trees. I draw inspiration and happiness from the memories of that space in time and share some of it here with friends who remember how to step with Alice through the looking glass and take delight in whimsies and antiquities. ~Edyth O’Neill

Friday, April 20, 2018

Early English wooden doll about 1790


My little doll just came. She was well double boxed and impressively cushioned. I found her last week on ebay.  I love her in person so much more! Her clothing is just a few whisps but I love them too! Her hair is gone but she has the little wig cap where it used to be. The new doll is very friendly with the Mad Alice wax doll of a later time, I knew they would like to be together. Alice has been trying on some nice old unders from my stash. What shall I name these girls? A new doll makes such a happy day. I have never had an old wooden like this, several tuck comb German dolls, but no early English ones. Now I want more! Oh dear.


 
Update two months later, here is Marley after a stay in Canada with master restorers David and Paul Robinson.  I have since added a strand of tiny coral beads.


 Mad Alice is a type of early English wax doll the next generation down from the carved English woodens.
Alice has the daffy expression characteristic of her kind. She was just a forlorn little head when I  got her a week ago, now she is a doll again and hoping for clothing.  e





Blog Archive

Visits