The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

The Hattie Thompson Doll — An early heat transfer face perhaps? — #AmericanDoll #7

For today’s “History of Dolls” blog post, I’m researching what I’m calling the “Hattie Thompson Doll” because according to the DAR website, this doll was made at some point in the 20th century, by a woman name Hattie Thompson. Today’s blog post is part of a history challenge! Click here to read about the challenge and download the free PDF to join the history challenge. … Continue reading The Hattie Thompson Doll — An early heat transfer face perhaps? — #AmericanDoll #7

In this purple background thumbnail, the text reads "Ken versus GI Joe: Who is the best dance partner?" There's an image of a blond Barbie dancing with African American Ken from Texas A&M articulated EMT dolls, and standing out as the third leg is a somewhat shorter crew cut GI Joe (also African American) with kung fu grip hands.

GI Joe vs. Ken: Who makes a better boyfriend for Barbie? — Please leave a comment! #gijoe #retro70s

  This is not my advertisement, but I certainly remember the ad from when I was a kid, and my brother had this exact same GI Joe! Of course I own a GI Joe today, and I’ve designed some attractive clothing for him, which you can find on this page, on ChellyWood.com. Before I dive into this ad and what it means to me, I … Continue reading GI Joe vs. Ken: Who makes a better boyfriend for Barbie? — Please leave a comment! #gijoe #retro70s

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

Izannah Walker: an icon in the history of doll making in America #AmericanDoll #6

The doll you see above was created by a woman who is considered something of an icon in American doll history. The person I’m talking about is Izannah Walker, an early American manufacturer of dolls and an artist in her own right. Today’s blog post is part of a history challenge that has been running throughout the month of August. You’re supposed to look at … Continue reading Izannah Walker: an icon in the history of doll making in America #AmericanDoll #6

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

Can we judge a doll by its costume? #AmericanDoll #5

Meet Cordelia… Isn’t she sweet?! If you’ve been playing along with the history challenge, I’m very curious to hear your honest guesses. What era do you think she comes from? Please leave a comment below. If you’re not familiar with my history challenge, please click here to read about the challenge and download the free PDF to join us. When I first saw Cordelia, I … Continue reading Can we judge a doll by its costume? #AmericanDoll #5

Three black question marks on a purple gingham background. Each question mark is turned at a slight angle, to create an arc of question marks. The image below the question marks is the Chelly Wood dot com logo. The purple gingham represents fabric.

Can you help doll collector Mandi Lee identify these items? #FridayFollow #DollCollecting

  I follow lots of different doll-related YouTubers, but recently I started following Mandi Lee, largely because this unboxing video was so much fun to watch! In this video, YouTuber Mandi Lee goes through a bunch of vintage dolls, miniatures, and doll clothes that she found on Facebook Marketplace. She asks viewers to help her identify some of the cool items she has in this … Continue reading Can you help doll collector Mandi Lee identify these items? #FridayFollow #DollCollecting

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

A Precious Native American Doll with a Beaded Face #AmericanDoll #4

Have you given a guess yet, as to the age of this precious little doll? That’s part of the history challenge that I issued at the start of this month. Click here to read about the challenge and to download the free PDF to join my doll history challenge. In what year do you guess this doll was “born” into the world? And who do … Continue reading A Precious Native American Doll with a Beaded Face #AmericanDoll #4

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

What would a Victorian era doll look like if it was never played with? Meet… “Annie” #AmericanDoll #3

You read that title correctly. This doll was never played with! Affectionately called “Annie,” this doll, which stands 21 inches tall, was won by a man named Joseph J. Rand, at a fair. Having no children of his own, this doll was never, ever played with. Eventually it was donated to the DAR Museum in Washington DC, and as we’ve learned in previous “doll history” … Continue reading What would a Victorian era doll look like if it was never played with? Meet… “Annie” #AmericanDoll #3

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

The mystery of the pen wiper seated doll… #AmericanDoll #2

We’re going to refer to the doll shown above as the “Pen-wiper” doll because the little black felt pad she’s seated upon is what’s called a pen-wiper. Back in the 1800’s people used what we think of today as calligraphy-style pens to write letters and correspondences. The black felt circle, with its “circular pieces of layered felt and silk” (1) would have been used to … Continue reading The mystery of the pen wiper seated doll… #AmericanDoll #2

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

The history of the corn husk doll (AKA cornhusk dolls) #AmericanDoll #1

The doll in the image above is what’s known as a cornhusk doll (sometimes spelled as two words: corn husk doll), and they are so called because, well… they’re made from corn husks. This one is housed at the DAR Museum in Washington DC, and it dates back to the mid-19th century, so if you’re participating in the history challenge, you can give it a … Continue reading The history of the corn husk doll (AKA cornhusk dolls) #AmericanDoll #1

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

History Challenge! And… announcing three contest winners! #History #DollLover

In July, we did a quick study of some of the oldest dolls on earth, but did you know there was also a contest running? All you had to do was leave a comment on the “History of Dolls” blog posts in July, and your name was automatically entered in a drawing for one of three free copies of Doll Castle News. To read the … Continue reading History Challenge! And… announcing three contest winners! #History #DollLover

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

Learn about the history of dolls with today’s links… #History #DollCollector

Please click on the image of the doll you’d like to learn more about. It will take you to the original article that I wrote, after researching that doll or type of dolls. My website counts on your generous donations, income from class fees, and the purchase of goods to maintain the storage space for the hundreds of free doll clothes sewing patterns found here. … Continue reading Learn about the history of dolls with today’s links… #History #DollCollector

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

What’s the oldest articulated doll that girls played with in history? #Plaggona #DollHistory

Because Greek and Roman writers left us a large body of written texts, including anecdotes about everyday life, we know that little Greek and Roman girls did play with dolls in ancient times. Some of the oldest Greek examples of dolls, dating back to the 7th century BCE, have a strange bell shape to the body with elongated necks. Their legs, however, were jointed to … Continue reading What’s the oldest articulated doll that girls played with in history? #Plaggona #DollHistory

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

The Tlatilco “Pretty Lady” objects… Fertility goddesses or early fashion dolls? You decide! #Mexico #History

While archaeologists have not yet determined the purpose of these so-called “Pretty Lady” figurines, for the purpose of today’s blog post, we will imagine that they were used as dolls. Perhaps they even gave children an opportunity to learn how to sew by providing clothes for the figurines. These dolls or figurines were found in excavation sites in Mexico, where archaeologists studied the Tlatilco culture. … Continue reading The Tlatilco “Pretty Lady” objects… Fertility goddesses or early fashion dolls? You decide! #Mexico #History

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

What’s the oldest doll on earth? An Egyptian paddle doll! #PaddleDoll #AncientHistory

According to World Book Online, “The earliest known doll-like figures are wooden images found in Egyptian graves dating from about 2000 B.C.”(1) It should be noted, that there’s actually an even older articulated “puppet” that I wrote about last week. However, that item has not been classified by archaeologists as a “doll” per se. These, however, are actually called “paddle dolls” because they’re shaped, well, … Continue reading What’s the oldest doll on earth? An Egyptian paddle doll! #PaddleDoll #AncientHistory

The text reads, "The History of Dolls" and the image shows a brown history book with cover art that shows paper dolls, a rag doll, a voodoo doll, a nutcracker, a Japanese peg doll, and a row of Russian stacking dolls. The ChellyWood.com logo appears in the lower right-hand corner. This thumbnail will be used during the month of July, 2024,to show that we're learning about the history of dolls this month. Be advised that the same thumbnail will be used throughout this series study of the history of dolls from around the world.

Let’s learn about the OLDEST DOLLS ON EARTH! #Anthropology #ArtHistory

Ooh! I’m so excited about the research work that I’m sharing with you during the month of July! I can hardly contain my excitement! My regular followers know that in my day job, I’m a school librarian. What do librarians teach kids in the 21st century? We use computers instead of old fashioned Dewey decimal card catalogs for research these days. So as a school … Continue reading Let’s learn about the OLDEST DOLLS ON EARTH! #Anthropology #ArtHistory