There has been a long and interesting tradition of dolls associated with the House of Seven Gables In Salem, Massachusetts, USA. The house itself has been a tourist attraction since the early 20th century. Over the years, many wooden dolls have been sold from a shop in the house. Apparently a successful enterprise carried on by successive owners from about the 1910s up to possibly as recently as the 1970s, it satisfied a public demand for carved wooden dolls. They were sold both dressed and without clothing, most of them approximately 9" tall. They can be identified by a characteristic hair style and painted facial features.
It is possible to approximate the dates of manufacture from the subtle changes in the dolls' carved body shapes and style of painting over time. Some were labelled, but most of those labels seem to have been written on small pieces of paper and many good have been lost during their travels. I'll do my best to describe the ones I have in hand. If you have questions or need to see more photos, please don't hesitate to contact me.
1. 1930s style doll. Original clothing lost, this doll has been redressed by me. She wears a lace trimmed cotton chemise, eyelet trimmed cotton petticoat, and a printed cotton gown. The underclothes are my usual drawstring attached reproductions. The gown is held in place with a few stitches on the back of the bodice and the silk ribbon sash. 8.75 inches tall.
2. 1940s style doll. Original clothing damaged, this doll has been redressed by me. She now wears a printed mauve & ivory cotton gown of the same cut. It is supported by an eyelet trimmed, drawstring petticoat and trimmed with antique cotton lace. 9.5 inches tall
3. 1940s style doll, found without clothing. I have supplied her with a lace trimmed cotton chemise and a corded cotton petticoat -- both secured with drawstring closures. She is ready for someone to make her a few more garments, but what she is wearing will keep her decent until that transpires. 9.5 inches tall.
4. after 1950 style male doll, without clothing. This one is a relatively rare gentleman doll. His pear shaped face, short hairline and substitution of applied wooden ears for the characteristic curls set him apart. 8.75 inches tall.
5. after 1950 style female doll, without clothing. Simpler (more flat) carving of head and body, as well as less detail of facial features indicate a later date for this doll. 9.2 inches tall.
6. Smaller doll with repainted head and limbs - date unknown and without clothing. This doll was acquired in a group of Seven Gables associated dolls and the carving style of body and feet resembles them closely. She is utterly charming. 5.75 inches tall
Product code: Seven Gables associated Dolls good