This glamorous young lady was made by myself in 1947/48 when I was about 14/15 years old. She is 20″ tall/long. She is sitting down in this photo and is able to sit unsupported.
Yes she was a challenge to make as there was a lack of the necessary materials after the end of the war. The red velvet was from an outgrown dress belonging to my younger sister. The hair is real and also originated from my sister. The doll has transparent underwear with red garters. Her petticoat is in three layers and the hemstitching is so fine I am not able to see how it is stitched at my current age. Her shoes are red leather decorated with pearl beads.
I created the pattern for her dress and, considering I knew nothing about pattern drafting at the time, I think that it turned out well. The velvet ribbon edging matches the red velvet of the dress. It is stitched with pearl beads and gold thread. The gold used to be quite vivid but has faded despite the doll being in storage. There are also pearl beads all up the center back which will open so that the dress can be removed.
I do not remember how I created her head and face but think that I may have used an existing doll’s head and covered it with starched or glued fabric. It was then painted and varnished. The whole head has been intact for many decades but has become damaged in very recent years. It is now sensitive to being handled though the rest of her is strong and undamaged.
The body? I cannot remember how the pattern was created but suspect that it was made by myself. I subsequently made another doll wearing a pale blue dress. That one was from a Dryads pattern using the face and hair they supplied. I was not enthusiastic about the result and never made another doll. The body fabric of both dolls is closely woven cotton stuffed with kapok. The limbs are jointed and the head of the blue dressed doll rotates.
Your interest and comments are always appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.