Studying Izannah Walker Dolls

The purpose of this site is to document and share original Izannah Walker Dolls.  It began as a way to share photographs I was able to take at Lucy's Doll House.  Since that time, I have traveled to other places to photograph dolls and share them.  But auction photos are a very good source of information.  

A savvy Izannah student can learn quite a bit from really studying pictures of original Izannah Walker dolls.  Skinner's has some very good images of this Izannah Walker Doll at their site.   I posted about this doll previously before the auction.  Also, search past posts to find other auction images.    

Antique Izannah Walker Doll Sells for $2,500

This Izannah Walker Doll sold for a hammer price to a floor bidder of $2,500.00 plus buyer's premium of 15-17%, depending on payment method.   Julia's description reads:

"1860s era cloth doll with molded and painted oil cloth head with separately modeled ears with short curly brown hair, large brown eyes and exposed ears. Arms and legs are painted in the same manner as the head and the legs also have painted black leather boots with red edging at the top. She is well recostumed in an 1860s style cotton print dress with white linen apron. SIZE: 19" (49cm). CONDITION: Head has had some professional re-touch to major areas of face and hair as well as to back of shoulder and around the neck."

Withington's August 2011 Izannah Auction Price

The auction ending price for 

this doll which sold 
at Withington's last Friday was 

$16,800 plus 10%.

More On Izannah to Be Auctioned by DGW Auctioneers and Appraisers

UPDATE:

Hammer price was $5,200.00 

plus 18% Buyers Premium.

D. G. W. sent these additional pictures as well as this description of the Izannah to be auctioned May 1, 2011. 

For more information, visit the  
D. G. W. Auctioneers & Appraisers

Condition: Her face has considerable repaint . There are some cracks on her forehead one above her left eye brow. There is paint wear to her arms and legs. Her hands do have crude repairs, upper arms have old tape between the paint area going to the cloth part. Both upper arms are reinforced with newer fabric over the old. Also old tape between the painted area and the  cloth part on the upper legs.  Her right ankle has been taped. Antique garments do have age discolorations.  Body recover has a tear in the front. She still is a Treasure in the need of preservation  and deserves it as she has  been around for a long time. Unusual large size doll by this artist.  

For more information, visit the  
D. G. W. Auctioneers & Appraisers
.

The Richard Wright Collection: Rare and Important Dolls

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.

Izannah Walker Doll at Lucy's Doll House

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

Two Izannah Walker Dolls to Be Auctioned

"Let the Little Lambs Play"

On April 26th not one but two Izannah Walker dolls will be auctioned in Theriault's "Let the Little Lambs Play" April 26th auction in Short Hills, New Jersey. A huge thank you to Theriault's for allowing me to post the pictures here. Click the pictures to be taken to the auction descriptions.

Wonderful Izannah Walker Doll to Be at Auction

It's the mission of this blog to provide wonderful images and information about original Izannah Walker dolls to those of you who love Izannah dolls. I love it when I open up my e-mail and I've received some wonderful fresh, new pictures of Izannah Walker dolls to share!

Larry of Withington Auction, Inc. sent these pictures and information, and I'm happy to post the pictures here of this astounding Izannah Walker doll with an amazing provenance!

Here is the provenance provided:


ELLA – All Original Izannah Walker
with Wardrobe & Provenance -
In the Pope Family for 148 years!

Elizabeth Coggeshall Pope was born in New Bedford, Mass on October 26, 1857. Given to little Elizabeth at her birth, the doll called ELLA, is an example of Rhode Island doll-maker Izannah Walker’s earliest works.

William Pope married Anna Coggeshall in 1836, and together they had six children, only one son, Edward Ritchie Pope – lived to maturity. Edward’s younger sister, little Elizabeth died at 2 ½ years from scarlet fever. The doll named Ella, was preserved in her memory, descended through the Pope family to the present. The child’s maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Brown of Providence, RI- the Browns were among the first settlers of the Rhode Island Colony. Izannah Walker’s Doll shop, located in Central Falls, RI, was not far from Providence and the doll was probably a gift to Elizabeth from her Rhode Island grandparents.

Ella is 17" tall
click the picture above to enlarge

Izannah Walker registered a patent for her dolls in 1873, Ella is an example of her earlier work, having applied ears, and the fact that the owner, Elizabeth, only lived from 1857 to 1860, confirms the date she was made. Ella comes with a wardrobe, and accessories, including a bonnet, traveling cape & muff, and an extra pair of red “French slippers” with striped stockings. Her condition is exceptional, in all original paint with a bit of wear and light crazing. In addition to the wardrobe, she has a paint decorated country chair which bears a date of 1824 on the bottom.

Anne Stuart Hodgson of Minnesota is the fifth generation of Popes to own this special doll. Having no heirs, the family has decided it is time to find a proper home to care for her for the next century. Withington Auction is honored to be able to present ELLA to the world. She will be sold at auction on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Nashua, NH. For more information please visit at www.withingtonauction.com or call 603-464-3232.

A Mystery Indeed...

Reproduction doll or an original Izannah Walker doll that has (ahem) been "helped and helped and helped"?

The seller of the Izannah doll above ended the auction with this note:

"I am ending this listing early due to MANY INQUIRIES on this doll as to what is UNDER HER SHOULDER PLATE fabric. There is a possibility this is an ORIGINAL IZANNAH WALKER DOLL that has had repair with the pink fabric that you see put OVER an existing shoulder plate and blended into the neck and then repainted...This could explain the thickness at her neck. In order to truly check this, I have to end the auction and relist it, with the new buyer only having to RESTITCH the pink material back onto the body. There will be nothing else done to her from the original listing...I will POST all PHOTOS with new ones of what I find."

I love a mystery! We've all read about those paintings that were put under a special devise only to discover a long-lost Rembrandt or Titian. Again, mostly likely this is a reproduction doll, but what if it were an Izannah doll underneath? Maybe one with a crackled face? But I also have an active imagination which may mean that underneath that pink cloth is more pink cloth that's been painted.

Underneath view of the pink cloth of the shoulderplate

Click here to see the relisted doll at auction

A Flock of Tiny Izannah Walker Reproduction Dolls

Doll by Mandy Broome of Fiddlestix Studios

There are many wonderful past dollmakers that we dollmakers like to emulate. Emma Adams, Ella Smith, Julia Beecher, Martha Chase are examples. But no other dollmaker inspires like Izannah Walker. There is something about studying a master that informs your own independent creations.

The Coffee with Tea Ebay group had a challenge to make an Izannah Walker inspired doll that is under 8 inches tall. All of you dollmakers out there know what a feat that is! Smaller is not easier. I am so impressed with the creativity of the dolls that came from this challenge.

Click the links or pictures to see what each dollmaker has made.

Doll by Jackie Hendricks of Plain-n-Simple

Doll by Nancy Gerber of Atticbabys

Doll by Dixie Redmond of Northdixie Designs






Doll by Bonnie Cain of Saltforkridge

Doll by Nina Mason Dolls

Doll by Lone Pierette

If I had the discretionary income at this time, I would buy every one of these beauties and line them up. They would be wonderful displayed as a group!