Withington Auctions sent these pictures along for those interested in Izannah Walker dolls. There will be TWO dolls auction on Thursday, October 18, 2018. Both dolls are 19" in height. You can find lot descriptions for 100 and 161 at their site here - Withington Online Catalog Izannah Walker doll, lot 100 Hammer Price $19,0000 2nd doll, Lot 161 Hammer Price $5,900
Withington Auctions sent these pictures along for those interested in Izannah Walker dolls. There will be TWO dolls auction on Thursday, October 18, 2018. Both dolls are 19" in height. You can find lot descriptions for 100 and 161 at their site here - Withington Online Catalog Izannah Walker doll, lot 100 Hammer Price $19,0000 2nd doll, Lot 161 Hammer Price $5,900
Yesterday brought unexpected rain showers, which played havoc with my photography plans. Eventually the skies cleared and I was able to venture out with doll and camera in hand! Here are my daylig…
Today I finished Carole’s special order “Ismay”. After popping Miss Ismay’s shoe laces in their dye baths, I hurried to take photos of her before dark. :) In the morning Is…
I will be adding more photos as soon as I can but I just wanted to share some photos of my latest 19 1/2" Izannah Walker doll that is finished and SOLD. She is a bare foot Izannah with handmade socks and shoes. She also has amazing antique undergarments that consist of bloomers, petticoat and a darling chemise, all made from hand stitched very early pieces from the England. Her dress is amazing and again made from early calico from about 1850-1860. It is faded brown and faded reddish pink. I also made her a calico bonnet that co-ordinates with her dress. I do not care for bonnets on Izannah dolls but they are wonderful to display with them. Enjoy these photos for now and as soon as the sun goes down I will take some more. If you have any questions or would like more photos before I can get them on here just email me: [email protected] Thanks for dropping by! Kathy SOLD This Izannah has really wonderful ringlets!! 7 of them, 5 across the back and one on each side of her head in front of her ears. Ignore the shine on her head, that is my flash. She has a wonderful warm patina. Here are some "in the making" photos so you can see her wonderful undies! ................and of course her dress. Love the antique fabric, ignore the messy work area! SOLD I just have to share the lovely email that I just received from the lady who bought this Izannah! Joy oh joy, there’s great excitement here with the arrival of Izannah ‘three’ whom i have named Charlotte. Kathy, she is so lovely, her dear little face has the sweetest expression... oh my, and her clothing is perfect in every way, simple adorable.. i love the fabric and i love how her sweet chemise can be exposed over her shoulders. Oh her sweet little socks & shoes, there’s so much loveliness, i just can’t put her down, there’s so much to take in, i don’t want to miss a thing lol. Thank you also for the fabric scraps, which i will include in the quilt i plan to make for her. I thought you’d like to see a photo of the three Izannah sisters. I’ve placed Charlotte, on the cane chair in my bedroom, with her sisters.. i’m so pleased they fit together so snugly. Charlotte’s a little taller than her sisters and she looks just right in the middle, don’t you think? I love that they all look similar, but with very individual facial expression. They are lovely beyond words, Kathy, and i truly appreciate the love and care you put into creating each of these unique dolls... i love and treasure my Izannah dolls!! Thank you so much,
In 2007 I saw my first Izannah Walker doll in person. I didn't know what I was doing then, just that I was thankful to have an opportunity to see this beauty in person and be able to photograph her because of Sue Singer's generosity at Lucy's Doll House. Now when I have the opportunity to document an Izannah Walker doll, I try to take photos from specific vantage points. I didn't know to do that then. I've deleted my Picturetrail hosting and am trying to consolidate all the pictures to do with this blog in the blog archives. So I'm reposting. But it's lovely to revisit this doll again. Enjoy.
Today I finished Carole’s special order “Ismay”. After popping Miss Ismay’s shoe laces in their dye baths, I hurried to take photos of her before dark. :) In the morning Is…
Recently I was looking in my workroom and found a little box of china heads I had purchased on EBay some years back. I purchased the group lot because one head in particular reminded me of a particular Izannah doll I had studied closely when it was at Lucy's Doll House. When I pulled the little China head out to study it again I was struck by the similarity again. I wondered if Izannah used China dolls as her models for some of her dolls? We know that she set out to make a softer doll that wouldn't hurt a child if she fell on it, as could have happened with china dolls. This is mentioned in her patent. So I sent the question off to my friend Edyth O'Neill. She has collected dolls for many decades and I knew she would have an interesting perespective. Edyth's reply: "If working from a generic child, we all have a common human starting place. Germany being the doll maker for the world in the mid 19th century, German dolls surely would have been an influence on Izannah’s dolls. As we know Izannah was an inventor and a designer (of stoves!) she certainly may have had basic sculpting skills if needed. How similar is the Ruben Bates mold? (not very to me). There are many different Izzie heads, they may have been molded after or directly from many sources. The artistry lies in her design of the doll, its body its paint job, its concept if you will. Which face or faces she took off from is not a big question to me. As you have noted, some of the English woodens with heavy lidded eyes remind you of Izannah’s work, many dolls are bound to have a lot in common, just being a child’s head. Other than totally off the wall stuff like swirling a holey bucket of paint over a canvas, there is little in art not influenced by other art before it. When designing a new car we don’t re invent the wheel as it is said. We do not see in Izannah’s dolls the same thing as the Darrow being molded after a certain identifiable parian head, and the linen heads molded over identifiable German chinas and other such exact copies, or Emma Clear reproducing dolls. I do not think there is clear proof yet that Izannah used other dolls directly, but if so, no matter to me. What she made of them was a new thing." In that, Edyth and I agree. Even if Izannah copied a china doll exactly, she transcended the Original design with her methods. Food for thought.
"I don't even look like that any more." That's what I thought when I looked at the picture in the sidebar. It was from five or six years ago. I took that picture to share a hat another artist had made. I needed a picture showing myself as an artist, so my photographer friend, Danielle Pease took some pictures for me. Here are a few. I look like me, but better! This image shows me with my antique Izannah Walker doll and a little Izannah inspired doll in process. This past weekend an artist friend on Facebook said, "I didn't know you make Izannah Walker dolls." It's been a while, but I have a mini Izannah Walker doll in process, soon to be finished.
Today I finished Carole’s special order “Ismay”. After popping Miss Ismay’s shoe laces in their dye baths, I hurried to take photos of her before dark. :) In the morning Is…
Izannah Walker's black dolls are not often seen. One is pictured above in an article written by Donna Kaonis for the Sept/October 1993 issue of Antique Doll World. The doll was in Richard Wright's collection at the time of the article. Antique Doll World is not a current publication. If you're interested in reading about antique dolls, Antique Doll Collector magazine offers great articles specifically on antique dolls. Donna Kaonis, the writer of this article on Izannah dolls, is now editor-in-chief at Antique Doll Collector magazine. Article found in Vintage Cloth Doll Making Yahoo Group. The closest account of Izannah's dollmaking that we have from her time is from Philomena Hart's column in the Providence Bulletin, as quoted by Janet Pagter Johl, on pages 37 - 39 of her book Your Dolls and Mine: "Mrs. N.M.R. (Mrs. Norman H. Robertson, grand-niece of Miss Walker) wrote me a fascinating account of a doll which she thinks is the predecessor of the Chase doll of Pawtucket. It was made in Central Falls by Miss Izannah Walker.(1817-1888) She was the aunt of my correspondent who says of her, "Always inventive, she had created a stockinette doll as early as 1848 when my mother was a little child in New London, Conn. Family tradition tells of her struggle to perfect her work and of the long wrestling with one problem, how to obtain a resistant surface to the stockinette heads, arms, and legs, without cracking or peeling. With this problem on her mind, Aunt Izannah suddenly sat up in bed one night to hear a voice say "use paste." It worked... Aunt Izannah always deplored the fact that she was not a man. However, she made dolls and doll furniture, tinkered with household gadgets, designed a parlor heater, "that beat Ben Franklins," raised canaries, dabbled in real estate, and was looked upon with admiration by male contemporaries because of her skill with carpenters' tools, so perhaps she was resigned."Mrs. Singsen, an early collector whose Izannah Walker dolls were photographed in Janet Johl's book, contacted Izannah's grand-neice, Mrs. Norman H. Robertson for more information, and received the following reply : "The Walker family came to Central Falls in Somerset Mass., and the first dolls were made for friends. One, owned by the family and now out west, is one of the very earliest and is practically life sized. Izannah Walker had three sisters, and as the business began to develop she put them to work painting the dolls faces. There were also darky dolls made, but these Mrs. Robertson said, had wool hair instead of painted on hair. From 1845, when the first doll is said to have been made,until she died in 1886, Izannah Walker carried on the business, not securing a patent until persuaded to do so by friends in 1873." Izannah Walker black dolls differ from her Caucasian dolls in that the hair was not painted, but was applied wool to the top of the head. Who knows where this wonderful black doll is now? Collections shift and change often. Here is a closeup of the magazine page: Black Izannah Walker Doll featured in Antique Doll World Sept/October 1993 issue. Which brings me to my next gentle request. It would be a joy to feature your original antique Izannah Walker doll on the Izannah Walker Chronicles. All copyright of pictures is retained by you. You may offer pictures anonymously or publicly according to your comfort level. Please contact me using the button at the top of the page. Thank you in advance for broadening the knowledge of original Izannah Walker dolls.
With just a few days left before Christmas, I thought you all might like to see photos of Marilyn’s Christmas doll (don’t worry, I’m not spoiling the surprise, she knows all about…
SOLD. From time to time owners of antique Izannah Walker dolls generously offer to share images of their dolls here on the Izannah Walker Chronices. I'm always happy when they do, because it's why I started this blog back in 2008. Occasionally, people share images of a doll which is available for private purchase. The owner of this doll wanted to be sure the doll goes to someone who loves Izannah Walker dolls, and what better place to find those people than the readers of this blog? This doll is now sold, but here is the seller's description prior to the sale. Endearing 18" circa 1865 Izannah Walker cloth doll with beautiful face and finely painted features. Pressed and oil-painted complexion and facial features, blue grey eyes, feathered brows, pink closed mouth and cheeks, brown hair with two ringlet curls in front of applied ears. Muslin body with oil painted arms, stitched fingers, and legs with painted black ankle boots with red trim, antique dress and undergarments which may be original in cream colored cotton. Condition: Very good-Good. Paint wear and cracks in paint associated with age and normal use. Some old in-painting on hair and face and old repairs of brown tape around ankles and two spots on back of head. Slight split on forehead, wear on tips of boots. Provenance: From the family of Evelyn Ackerman, a well-known doll collector, researcher, and author.
izannahwalkerdoll
Thanks again to the wonderful Strong Museum for letting me take pictures and for allowing me to post them here on this blog. I did a pretty good job taking pictures considering they're through glass. Again, I apologize for ghosts, shadows, etc. I have posted what may look like duplicate angles, but sometimes a slight change in angle reveals something about the doll, so I've posted all the ones that came out clearly. Enjoy! This doll is as close to a red-headed Izannah as I've seen. She compares somewhat to the Little Red Riding Hood Izannah that was shared by Izannah owner Kelly earlier in the year. I believe this particular doll has a shoulderplate that is sewn on top of the body, without the second skin glued on top of the shoulder plate. If you click the link in this paragraph you will see what I mean. These dolls are the patented dolls, and Kelly says these later dolls are actually more rare.
Izannah Walker's black dolls are not often seen. One is pictured above in an article written by Donna Kaonis for the Sept/October 1993 issue of Antique Doll World. The doll was in Richard Wright's collection at the time of the article. Antique Doll World is not a current publication. If you're interested in reading about antique dolls, Antique Doll Collector magazine offers great articles specifically on antique dolls. Donna Kaonis, the writer of this article on Izannah dolls, is now editor-in-chief at Antique Doll Collector magazine. Article found in Vintage Cloth Doll Making Yahoo Group. The closest account of Izannah's dollmaking that we have from her time is from Philomena Hart's column in the Providence Bulletin, as quoted by Janet Pagter Johl, on pages 37 - 39 of her book Your Dolls and Mine: "Mrs. N.M.R. (Mrs. Norman H. Robertson, grand-niece of Miss Walker) wrote me a fascinating account of a doll which she thinks is the predecessor of the Chase doll of Pawtucket. It was made in Central Falls by Miss Izannah Walker.(1817-1888) She was the aunt of my correspondent who says of her, "Always inventive, she had created a stockinette doll as early as 1848 when my mother was a little child in New London, Conn. Family tradition tells of her struggle to perfect her work and of the long wrestling with one problem, how to obtain a resistant surface to the stockinette heads, arms, and legs, without cracking or peeling. With this problem on her mind, Aunt Izannah suddenly sat up in bed one night to hear a voice say "use paste." It worked... Aunt Izannah always deplored the fact that she was not a man. However, she made dolls and doll furniture, tinkered with household gadgets, designed a parlor heater, "that beat Ben Franklins," raised canaries, dabbled in real estate, and was looked upon with admiration by male contemporaries because of her skill with carpenters' tools, so perhaps she was resigned."Mrs. Singsen, an early collector whose Izannah Walker dolls were photographed in Janet Johl's book, contacted Izannah's grand-neice, Mrs. Norman H. Robertson for more information, and received the following reply : "The Walker family came to Central Falls in Somerset Mass., and the first dolls were made for friends. One, owned by the family and now out west, is one of the very earliest and is practically life sized. Izannah Walker had three sisters, and as the business began to develop she put them to work painting the dolls faces. There were also darky dolls made, but these Mrs. Robertson said, had wool hair instead of painted on hair. From 1845, when the first doll is said to have been made,until she died in 1886, Izannah Walker carried on the business, not securing a patent until persuaded to do so by friends in 1873." Izannah Walker black dolls differ from her Caucasian dolls in that the hair was not painted, but was applied wool to the top of the head. Who knows where this wonderful black doll is now? Collections shift and change often. Here is a closeup of the magazine page: Black Izannah Walker Doll featured in Antique Doll World Sept/October 1993 issue. Which brings me to my next gentle request. It would be a joy to feature your original antique Izannah Walker doll on the Izannah Walker Chronicles. All copyright of pictures is retained by you. You may offer pictures anonymously or publicly according to your comfort level. Please contact me using the button at the top of the page. Thank you in advance for broadening the knowledge of original Izannah Walker dolls.
I spent all day Sunday exhibiting at the Jenny Lind Doll Show in Southbury, CT. I had a chance to meet some wonderful people and spend the day talking about dolls, dolls and more dolls! Surprisin…
Withington Auctions sent these pictures along for those interested in Izannah Walker dolls. There will be TWO dolls auction on Thursday, October 18, 2018. Both dolls are 19" in height. You can find lot descriptions for 100 and 161 at their site here - Withington Online Catalog Izannah Walker doll, lot 100 Hammer Price $19,0000 2nd doll, Lot 161 Hammer Price $5,900
Today marks the 196th anniversary of Izannah Walker’s birth. She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on the 25th day of September in 1817. You may read more details about Izannah’s life…
Jennifer Berkeley, a member of the Izannah Walker Dolls group, went on an Izannah tour recently in the Rhode Island, Massachusetts area. Jennifer with the Izannah doll - I recognize the happy look on her face! Little Compton Historical Society was one of Jennifer's stops on her Izannah tour. I've posted small pictures of the Little Compton dolls here before, but Jennifer was able to get some larger closeups of the dolls at Little Compton. Thank you, Jennifer for sharing these epictures with the Izannah Walker Chronicles. Be sure to go to Jennifer's blog to see more - the links are at the top of the page of her blog. Beautiful! It makes me want to do an Izannah tour as well. Plus I have ancestors from Little Compton from early colonial times. Little Compton's site has an improved online collection where you can read more about these dolls. Type Izannah into their search bar and information about the dolls will come up. The doll in green is a barefoot Izannah and is wearing Bru shoes.
Withington Auctions sent these pictures along for those interested in Izannah Walker dolls. There will be TWO dolls auction on Thursday, October 18, 2018. Both dolls are 19" in height. You can find lot descriptions for 100 and 161 at their site here - Withington Online Catalog Izannah Walker doll, lot 100 Hammer Price $19,0000 2nd doll, Lot 161 Hammer Price $5,900
Happy Birthday Izannah Walker! We are starting this year’s birthday celebration with a video that I filmed this spring for Beyond All Limits March 2020 Virtual Doll Convention. I hope you enj…
In doing research for her book on Izannah Walker, Monica Bessette contacted the friend who owned Ella Hawes doll to see if she could use her doll's story. As will sometimes happen in life, a question will have more than one answer. The initial question led to Monica's purchase of the doll once owned by Ella Hawes so many years ago. Monica says: "This doll is the one featured in my article "Walker Dolls: A Family Affair" originally owned by her grandmother, Ella Hawes. Ella was born in 1861 in Virginia, but was sent north to Attleboro, MA (about 5 miles or less from Central Falls) just before the Civil War. Her mother had died, and her father sent Ella and her brother up to live with his family, along with the coffin containing his wife and youngest daughter, who had both recently passed away, to be buried in the family plot. I've included a few photos of comparison between my first doll, Joy, and my new doll, Ella. Joy is 18" and Ella is 16". The stockinette used on Ella is a much lighter weight and smaller weave. Ella is complete with both hands and feet, but one hand is unattached." Enjoy the images below. Thanks, Monica, for sharing! I'm looking forward to reading Monica's book! For fun, Monica shared a comparison of her two Izannah Walker dolls. How alike, and yet different they are!
Today marks the 196th anniversary of Izannah Walker’s birth. She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on the 25th day of September in 1817. You may read more details about Izannah’s life…
Ginger, a kind collector, emailed me to say how much she had enjoyed reading the Izannah Walker Chronicles. Then she told me she owned an Izannah Walker doll. To make a long story short, she was willing to share her pictures on this site so that others can enjoy Addie the way she has enjoyed seeing other Izannah Walker dolls. I love collectors who are generous like that. Thank you, Ginger! Dress made by Kathy Patterson, who also makes Izannah Walker reproduction dolls.
UPDATE: This doll sold for a $25,000 hammer price to Bidder 518. There was a 15-18% premium, depending on method of payment. This barefooted almost 20" doll from Carol Corson's collection will be offered at auction by Withington's on October 20th. Withington's offers this description of the doll: 115 19 ½” Izannah Walker girl “Caroline” cloth doll, Central Falls, RI, 19th century, pressed mold stockinet head, painted features, center parted brown hair with 2 cheek curls each side of face & 6 back of neck curls, red leather shoes (as is), period red & blue print dress (age tears), & green dress, along with 12” doll’s yellow painted barrel- back chair (Ellis?), (facial touchups, wear, cracking) Here are additional pictures of the doll, which was featured in a group photo in the August 2011 issue of Antique Doll Collector.
Yesterday brought unexpected rain showers, which played havoc with my photography plans. Eventually the skies cleared and I was able to venture out with doll and camera in hand! Here are my daylig…
Withington's will be auctioning this near mint, all original 17 1/2 inch Izannah Walker doll at their October 21-22-23 auction.
Today marks the 196th anniversary of Izannah Walker’s birth. She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island on the 25th day of September in 1817. You may read more details about Izannah’s life…
Today I was able to take a mini-vacation and drive down to Lucy's Doll House in Camden to document the latest Izannah Walker doll in residence there. It is because of Sue and the generosity of Lucy's Doll House that I've been able to document these dolls. Sue Singer was in the shop today while I documented the two dolls below and we had great conversation while I took pictures. A note about the pictures - All photos/pictures presented in this post are copyright Dixie Redmond 2009 and all rights are reserved. An artist or student may copy for personal use for study but the images themselves may not be used in derivative works of art or shown/reprinted in any publication without permission. The doll on the left is a cloth doll with an applied bonnet. All cloth! I was fascinated by it and took well over 200 pictures of both these dolls. Detailed pictures of the folk art doll on the left are on my Northdixie Designs blog. The Izannah doll is divine - so wonderful and petite. It's hard to tell the scale of things, but my thumbnail is about as large as the palm of this little 15 1/2 inch doll's hand. She's so wonderful! This beautiful doll is available for purchase at Lucy's Doll House 49 Bay View Street Camden, ME 04843 Summer hours - 10 to 4 7 Days a Week (207) 236-4122 Again, I am thankful to Sue Singer and Lucy Morgan for the opportunity to share these pictures. Lucy's Doll House 49 Bay View Street Camden, ME 04843 Summer hours - 10 to 4 7 Days a Week (207) 236-4122
Once again the earth has turned and November has come at last, drifting in on gently falling leaves and soft, warm rays of light… More than any other month, November causes my soul to ring w…
On Saturday, October 10th Richard Wright's collection of rare and important dolls was auctioned by the Skinner auction house. When I heard that three Izannah dolls were going to be auctioned, I decided to drive the 5 hours from Bangor, Maine to Marlborough, Massachusetts to see the dolls in person. From the outside the Skinner Auction building looks unassuming, but oh the treasures that were inside! Inside there was a sense of camaraderie as people who had known Richard Wright reconnected with one another and viewed the spectacular collection he had crafted. Andy Ourant, consulting specialist and auctioner, commented that the friends and acquaintances of Richard Wright were privileged to gather to compete for something from Richard Wright's collection. There were so many wonderful things in this collection. But since this is a blog about Izannah Walker dolls, we will focus on those. When the bidding was opened for the first Izannah doll above you could feel some excitement in the air. The doll was small - 14 inches - and was wearing a dress that was described as a "cotton dress with frail silk blue and white check trim." One theory is that the dress would have originally been all silk blue checked trim, and that the white was the lining of the dress. Bidding went along at a fast clip until it ended at $11,000, within the estimate printed in the auction catalog. As the gavel came down, a cheer went up. It was clear that many of the people were rooting for the prevailing bidder to win that Izannah doll! The doll above is a classic Izannah Walker doll with two side curls in front of the ears.This doll was won by the same bidder as the doll above with a final bid of $10,000 - the auction estimate range being $15,000 - $18,000. Finally, the "Lady" Izannah Walker Doll was auctioned. Now these dolls go on to their new loving homes.
The following Izannah Walker Doll has been listed for auction on EBay. The doll sold for Sold for $18,099.00.
More photos of Evelyne’s doll now that her dress is dry :) These are much better photos that those I took yesterday at sunset. I almost deleted yesterday’s photographs, but I decided t…
SOLD. From time to time owners of antique Izannah Walker dolls generously offer to share images of their dolls here on the Izannah Walker Chronices. I'm always happy when they do, because it's why I started this blog back in 2008. Occasionally, people share images of a doll which is available for private purchase. The owner of this doll wanted to be sure the doll goes to someone who loves Izannah Walker dolls, and what better place to find those people than the readers of this blog? This doll is now sold, but here is the seller's description prior to the sale. Endearing 18" circa 1865 Izannah Walker cloth doll with beautiful face and finely painted features. Pressed and oil-painted complexion and facial features, blue grey eyes, feathered brows, pink closed mouth and cheeks, brown hair with two ringlet curls in front of applied ears. Muslin body with oil painted arms, stitched fingers, and legs with painted black ankle boots with red trim, antique dress and undergarments which may be original in cream colored cotton. Condition: Very good-Good. Paint wear and cracks in paint associated with age and normal use. Some old in-painting on hair and face and old repairs of brown tape around ankles and two spots on back of head. Slight split on forehead, wear on tips of boots. Provenance: From the family of Evelyn Ackerman, a well-known doll collector, researcher, and author.
I’d like to introduce you all to Melissa’s doll. She is a wonderful example of one of my custom ordered reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. Melissa requested a doll with a very thin ne…
On April 4, 2018 the following Izannah Walker doll will be offered for sale at auction at Alderfer Auction. The auction will feature the doll collections of Rosemarie Snyder and Regina Steele. The hammer price was $16,000. 15.5 inches tall
SOLD- Thank You! I’ve just finished making Lily #2’s pantalettes, petticoat and sun bonnet. Now that she is finished she is looking for a new home to call her own. I am able to offer …
Thirteen years ago, in January 2009, when I first started this blog the following aptly introduced my beloved antique Izannah Walker dolls. In succeeding years my collection of antique Izannahs ha…
Both of the dolls I’ve been working on from my latest mold are finished and ready to find new homes. This is a long post with many photos, so scroll down to see them all. You can enlarge a…
