Wooden dolls have captivated children since the early days of man, when
such toys were no more than sticks wrapped with bits of skin and fur.
Dolls were found in most every country around the world and midst the
antiquities of the early Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
The Ellis Doll
Among the most well-known American wooden dolls were those made by Joel
Ellis, a wagon maker of Springfield, Vermont, during the 1870s and 80s.
Also known as the "Springfield Doll," it is a rare item today and is
valued among collectors.
Ellis obtained his first patent for these dolls in 1873, but probably
produced many before that. Made of hard rock maple, the doll was
completely jointed and had metal hands and feet. These were the first
wooden dolls with mortise and tendon joints. The parts, made under
hydraulic pressure, were smooth, and of durable design.
The Springfield area became known as the birthplace of the American toy
and doll industry. Soon variations of Ellis' doll were patented, and the
Taylor, Mason, Martin, Sanders, and Johnson dolls began to be produced.
Other American Wooden Dolls
Wooden dolls made to resemble, in design and dress, boys and girls were
patented in America in 1911 by Albert Schoenhut, a German woodcarver. The
unique feature of this doll was the metal spring joint, designed so the
doll could assume nearly any position. This wood was molded under
hydraulic pressure, as with the Ellis doll, and was advertised as
unbreakable.
Other charming dolls were made throughout the ages with cloth bodies and
wooden heads and arms and sometimes wooden legs. These were among the
homemade variations turned out by pioneer women with the wooden parts
often carved by the menfolk or a traveling peddler. The bodies often have
fallen apart, but the wooden pieces can be reused when found today.
Dolls throughout the ages have been favored playthings for children.
Whether they are made of wood or some other material, dolls will continue
to exist and be loved throughout the years to come.
(c)2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has written "Curios of Yesteryear" for publications
since the 1960s. She and her daughter find their trips into the realms of
collectibles enjoyable adventures.
Mary Emma also writes other columns, books, and travel articles. Her
book, "The Magic of Patchwork", takes you into the history of
quiltmaking. Visit her web site for
more information about her columns and books at http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea.
