Presbyterian Dolls

Presbyterian Rag Doll with Painted Face
This charming little rag doll with oil painted face dates from the 1930s-early 1940s. She is a one of a kind handmade rag doll who was originally created to raise money for the church in a bazaar or fund raising activity. This charming doll has an oilpainted face with lovely handpainted facial features. There is some wear to the pain finish on her head and a small area above one eyebrow. Oil painted hands, original cloth body in lovely condition. There is even a note hand written on her bottom which read Ranae from Grandma Lynn 1959, perhaps a gift to her granddaughter, from the original owner... Doll is dressed in her original clothes, underclothing and bonnet. She measures 16" tall and is a delight! Perfect for early American decor, she is an enchanting part of the nation's history.

I am creating two Presbyterian Dolls one is 12 inches ,The second is 17 inches.
for the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageClothdollmakingg Challenge.

The challenge is about recreating a historic Presbyterian cloth doll using a pattern created by Lucinda Durbin. (Lucinda used her original Presbyterian cloth doll in creating the pattern!!)

I love learning about all the historical info that comes from searching the internet and very importantly.. in doll books.
If you want to learn and grow in doll making , it is important to have historical info- books..I highly suggest Amazon.com and I
99% of the time buy used books,which are like brand new.
I am a doll maker / doll artist, As I continue to make my dolls , I feel I'm beginning to under stand a bit more of the Why's.. How Comes,.They way yesteryear doll makers did things!
Several doll makers influence my work and online groups ,Doll Bookshttp://hardincountykeepsakes.blogspot.com//http://clothnclay.blogspot.com/
online group called Vintage ClothDoll Makershttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageClothdollmaking/
Helen Pringlehttp://www.heirlooms4tomorrow.com//Techniques written by: Linda Johnsonhttp://ddd-favoritter.blogspot.com/2009/01/presbyterian-doll.html
http://plain-n-simpleblog.blogspot.com/
http://atticbabys.blogspot.com/
http://edythoneill.blogspot.com/
http://maijaandme.blogspot.com/
http://theblackberrybriarwares.blogspot.com/
http://northdixiedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.picturetrail.com/clciampa
http://anniebeezfolkart.blogspot.com/
http://ladysrepositorymuseum.blogspot.com/
I'm so excited and and so thrilled to see a change in my doll making..I mean I can see it with my own eyes finally I will always created Prim , Folk Art , Whimsy..But I am walking into a new wonderland of "reminiscent dolls of Antiques/YesterYear Doll" How EXCITING is this!!."

Year: 1875 - 1900
Auction Note: The dolls in lots 329 to 337 were
individually crafted during the late 19th century, and
they share a folky charm with flat hand-painted faces,
homemade cloth bodies and period clothing. They
resemble the "Presbyterian" dolls made

Oil-painted cloth doll with painted head and chest has soft brown hair and eyes, gusseted one-piece head and torso and attached limbs. Wearing a tucked bodice black wool dress, a bonnet and painted boots. Cloth; Presbyterian-Type, Lady, Gusseted 1-Piece Head, Oil Painted Features & Hair, 31 inch., dolls, cloth
An oil-painted, Presbyterian-type cloth doll with painted head and chest, having soft brown hair and eyes, gusseted one-piece head and torso, and attached limbs.;http://www.prices4antiques.com/dolls/cloth/Cloth-Presbyterian-Type-Lady-Gusseted-1-Piece-Head-Oil-Painted-Features-Hair-31-inch-D9821554.htm

According to Linda Edward, on page 28 of her book Cloth Dolls From ancient to Modern - "The First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio, started making rag dolls in 1885 as a fund raiser. These dolls measure about 17 inches (43 cm) and have hand painted faces. Their bodies are made of unbleached muslin which is stuffed with cotton and they are jointed at the hips and shoulders. The mitten shaped hands have fingers indicated by stitching. Their feet are stub shaped. The dolls and their original
clothing, consisting of an ankle length dress and prairie bonnet, are all hand sewn.

In 1956 the church again made these dolls using the original patterns, however, the differences in the finishing and fabrics make them readily discernible from the older version. The hands of these latter dolls do not have the fingers stitched and the oil paint
used for the face and hands is very heavily applied. The fabric used for the clothing is also easily identified as being from the 1950's."

The above picture is a rare doll called "Presbyterian Dolls"

According to Linda Edward:

(Cloth Dolls From Ancient to Modern A Collectors by Linda Edward)

According to Linda Edward: Description:

The First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio, started making rag dolls in 1885 as a fund raiser. These Dolls measure about 17 inches and have hand painted faces. Their bodies are made of unbleched muslin which is stuffed with cotton and they are jointed at the hips and shoulders. The mitten shaped hands have fingers indicated by stitching. Their feet are stub shaped. The dolsl and their original clothing, consisting of an ankle length dress and prarie bonnet, are all hand sewn
HOW THESE BEAUTIFUL RAG DOLLS JOURNEY
By: Sherrie Nordgren
The Bucyrus, Ohio, Presbyterian Church needed funds for a back in the 1880s - or maybe earlier, I can't be positive about the date, - Every one decided to make rag dolls for sale.

These church dolls are very similar to the Moravian dolls in
structure and technique,They came to be know as "Presbyterian Dolls," oh they have such sweet faces, and clothing!They were very popular, and the
Ladies Church Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus, Ohio sold a lot of them.
But the church stopped making them for a very long time. But then, in the 1960's, the church needed funds again and they decided to bring back this wonderful rag doll, Today it is highly sought after by collectors, These dolls are part of the church's history. to
read even more indepth about them go tohttp://www.firstpresbucyrus.org/history/dolls.html
Year: 1875 - 1900http://www.prices4antiques.com/dolls/cloth/Cloth-Presbyterian-Type-Boy-Gusseted-Head-Oil-Painted-Features-Hair-30-inch-D9821524.htm
Auction Note: The dolls in lots 329 to 337 were
individually crafted during the late 19th century, and
they share a folky charm with flat hand-painted faces,
homemade cloth bodies and period clothing. They
resemble the "Presbyterian" dolls madeOil painted cloth boy doll. Nicely detailed face with ears peeking through his parted hair. One-piece cotton-stuffed gusseted head and torso. Neck supported by wooden rod. Antique black jacket and short pants cut down to fit. Painted feet.