1850s Antique Papier Mache Grenier style Doll, no label

Beautiful Antique 1850s Grenier-style Doll

lovely condition of cloth body, hands with separately sewn fingers

kid arms very rough, face with old smudges, breaks to shoulder edge

30" long cloth body, 13.5" circumference head

fantastic antique underclothes and gown

VERY GOOD condition: head and glass eyes beautifully painted; skin surface needs rehab cleaning, kid arms very rough; hands great, separately sewn fingers! Lower body very good, jointed hips and knees

We are proud to present to you more treasure from our friend's home in Kentucky. The original house was built in 1804, occupied for eight generations. The last four generations were our friend's family, and as she said, "No one threw anything away!" The variety of goods we have for sale is staggering.

We are listing a large collection of antique DOLLS. The items are authentic, from the family home in Kentucky.

FAMILY HISTORY: The consigner is a direct descendant of this family's collection. Her great-grandfather was Dr. Moreau Sequard Browne, born 1840, Confederate veteran of the "War for Independent Rights". His first wife died in childbirth in 1886.

Moreau started out life with a completely different name: Murray Stover Brown (no e). During the Civil War, he had some problems getting confused with another Murray Brown, so he changed his name to Moreau Sequard Browne.  MS Brown's grandfather was Jacob Brown, immigrant from Germany, died in Tennessee in 1818. MS Brown's father was Isaac Hayter Brown (b 3/22/1810, d 11/7/1899 Carter City Tennessee).  I.H. Brown was a doctor, and we have seen a number of medical-related items in this estate.

Our consigner is also the granddaughter of Ella Watson Haggard, who was raised by HER grandparents, Whitfield Moody (born 1810, died 1891) of Kingston, Kentucky and Lucinda Clements Moody. He was a "drinking buddy of Cassius Clay". Ella was a great friend of Wallace Nutting, and they exchanged antiques. Ella's daughter was Pearl Haggard Browne, also an antiques dealer.

Ella had a millinery store at the turn of the century; many of the items in her estate date from the early Victorian through the Edwardian period.

I'll be happy to provide more photos.

We are opening the group of antique fashion dolls with this treasure. She has a beautifully painted papier-mache head, with fixed glass eyes, center part and sausage curls. From the dimensions of the classic Grenier dolls, she is exactly the type - but lacks a label. Features such as jointed cotton body with wide hips, kid arms, and separately sewn fingers say Grenier to us - but you have to decide.

She is a milliner's dream - perfectly fitting pantalets, gorgeous half-slip, and off-the-shoulder blue cotton classic dress. Original stockings, and the remnants of leather shoes with a label from Philadelphia.

A collectible classic, with great clothing.  In very good condition - see condition notes.

Designer: Possibly Grenier papier mache head.

Size:  30" long. Head 13.5" circumference, 8.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches across shoulders

Materials: Head: Hand-painted papier mache, neck and shoulders. Hands: Sewn kid.  Eyes: Fixed glass black eyes. Body: Sewn cotton joints, wide hips, bends at hips and knees. Body, feet and legs full and strong.

Clothing: Antique: Soft cotton pantalets, trimmed with 6 rows of bobbin lace lace. Cotton batiste half slip with bobbin lace edging, lace insets. Off-the-shoulder dark blue calico gown. Knit stockings, beautifully fitted. Little shoes once some genre of leather, now deteriorated, but with the original label: "W.C. Parker, Maker, 91 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia"

Wear:  Head: Painted details lovely: eyelashes, brows, pink bow mouth, hairline with delicate tendrils. Finish very good, some cracks to finish at eyes, ears, deep cracks to neck edges. Dark smudges to shoulders. Has been cleaned with soft cloth and mild soap. Paint on hair wearing, flaking in sections; rubs to nose and chin. Eyes: Dark glass, beautiful.  Hands: Fair. All fingers present, kid arms severely deteriorated. *We do have all the original cotton ball arm stuffing.*. Body: All material intact, terrific condition, clean and whole. Sewn joints very good. 

Clothing: All clothing hand-laundered, line-dried in Kentucky sunshine and pressed, clean and soft. We did not use Oxi-clean, as we prefer the antique ecru whenever possible - all lightening of the cotton underclothing material is done by repeated exposure to sunshine! (We did not remove or launder the lace underwrap next to the body on her bodice- it is original and never removed.) A few darker areas remain on the slip and the stockings, but all is clean. Seam of pantalets slightly separated - can easily be tacked together again.

The antiquity of this charming lady is delightful;  ready for display or collection.

 Keep an eye on this spot!

 Cherish and Enjoy!

We are pleased to make these great antiques available at a very low starting bid. They are wonderful historic relics, part of a real little girl's collection. We have a significant collection of dolls, in similar designs and condition, and will be posting them over the next weeks.

 Visit our store!  

Please keep an eye on our eBay store, Barn Swallow Antiques. We feature treasures of all kinds from historic attics! Watch our other auctions for more from this wonderful collection! !

 Thanks for visiting, and good luck!