Judy’s Dolls
by Judy Hunter, photos by Reina Lopez
I loved dolls as a child. I was an only child so spent a lot of time playing with them. After my husband and I married, my mother-in-law gave me a box of doll parts which I was able to have restored. There were four dolls, each one very different. One had my mother-in-law’s hair, and her name was Corrine. The smallest doll had a very sweet face, and I really liked her.
As we traveled we would find dolls in antique stores that we purchased, and with gifts of dolls my husband gave me, and some given to me by others, I now have a large doll collection which stands in my front hall as well as all around the cottage.
In the picture of three dolls above, the porcelain-head doll on the left was my mother-in-law’s and was given to me along with the box of doll parts which got me started collecting dolls. The one in the middle is also porcelain and was given to me when I was a child. She is a “Godey” doll. The doll on the right is another porcelain doll I purchased from my friend when she was moving.
The single doll on the left is a German porcelain doll given to me by my husband, probably at Christmas one year. She is an old doll, and I need to find more information on her cost, etc.
This is one of my favorite dolls. It belonged to my father-in-law when he was little. It is 116 years old, made of sawdust with composite head. His name is Baby Bumps.
The big girl and baby doll on the left are made in porcelain, a gift from a friend. The middle doll is one of the Dionne quintuplets. My friend Cynthia restored it in the doll hospital where she worked as an artist repairing and restoring dolls. It was a gift from my husband. On the right is a porcelain kewpie doll made by my friend’s mother and given to me for a birthday.
I found these three porcelain dolls in antique shops.
These three are all Madame Alexander dolls made with composition. The middle one I received from my parents when I was 11 years old. I could say it is my favorite. I made the dress for the one in the left, and the one on the right is wearing a ballerina outfit made by one of my mother’s friends. I also have other outfits for her.
My husband and I purchased the doll on the left because of her beautiful face. She is of either Czech or Russian background, and dressed in her native costume. I believe she is composition made.
The wooden doll on the right I purchased quite awhile ago, as my husband and I liked the delicate work on her face.
“Bella” is like a newborn baby in weight and size. She is a vinyl doll made by Ashton Drake.
The kissing couple were interesting set of dolls with sweet faces. I purchased them from a friend who was moving out of Medford.
The doll on the left is the last one I purchased. He keeps me happy when I see his adorable face.
My husband and I “built” the doll on the right when we went to a doll show. We were able to choose the body type, face hair, eye color, hair and color of skin. He is sitting in his little red wagon in front of the fireplace.
[ Editor’s Note: When I asked Judy if she had Barbie dolls, she said “NO!!” ]
