Name: Carved Wooden Boy and Girl
Made by and When: H. O., circa 1950s or later
Material: Wood, wig fibers, paint and/or stain, fabric
Marks: Each doll’s right foot is initialed H. O.
Height: 23 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouths: What remains of the hair is sparse possibly black mohair or synthetic mohair. The girl’s hair is styled in several plaits with a fabric ribbon tied around the top plait. Both have carved and painted black eyes with white sclerae. The carved mouths, designed to open and close like ventriloquist dolls, are open with individually carved and painted teeth. Some of the paint on all surfaces has faded/chipped.
Clothes: Both dolls wear handmade clothing. The girl wears a red and white print dress trimmed in white lace. The fabric of the boy’s shirt matches the girl’s dress fabric. The boy wears faded blue denim overalls. Both dolls’ feet are bare.
Other: This pair of circa 1950s carved wooden dolls appear to be predecessors of the more contemporary carved dolls by Kor January. See examples of Kor’s dolls here, here, and here.
Gallery (Images courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Slotin Auction Fun Folk Art Sale.)
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