A WAIF FINDS A HOME
I spotted a little cloth doll sitting alone on the shelf at an auction preview. His condition was so poor it was difficult to tell who or what he was. Not surprisingly, there seemed to be little interest shown by the browsers. Out of curiosity (or pity) I bought him. He sat in a cabinet for weeks, waiting for me to find a few moments to really look him over. Once I took him into my hands, it did not take long before his origin began to emerge. Even though his facial features had almost been obliterated, a pair of bright blue eyes with multi-stroked lashes stood out. There was also the tell-tale” baseball like” seaming at the back of the head as well as applied ears and thumbs. The soiled sateen body, painted and fully stitch jointed arms and legs, gave further evidence the little boy was a Chase doll. Having survived either too much love or too much neglect, this doll is a testament to the durability and never ending appeal the Chase Dolls came to be known for. Any Chase collection would be greatly enhanced by the addition of even one of these remarkable dolls that represent the zenith of the artist, Martha Chase’s creativity.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHASE DOLLS
The dolls could be purchased dressed or undressed. Clothing for these dolls could be bought directly from the factory. Outfits available for girls, boys and babies consisted of suits, bloomer suits, rompers, dresses and underwear as well as shoes and stockings. The shoes were commercially made. In 1903, F.A.O. Schwarz advertised two Chase dolls, a 16” at $ 3.75 and 20” at $ 4.50. In 1913, the dolls were available in sizes from 9” to 30” from $3.00 to $10.00. The 16th Blue Book of Dolls and Values by Jan Foulke (2003) gives a range for the more rare and unusual character dolls to be from $1,200.00 for a molded hair child up to $67,000.00 for a complete set of Alice in Wonderland. The Chase factory offered “Seconds” (dolls not meeting the criteria of the Chase standards) for a reduced price (Readers can see an example of a “second” in The Art of the Doll by Madeline Osborne Merrill on page 422.) The eyes were always painted blue or brown. In most instances, heavy, curly lashes accented the dolls’ eyes. The hair was always painted with a textured quality and except for special orders, always in a shade of blond. Two or three specialized painters were employed and closely supervised by Martha Chase to paint the detailed facial features. Chase dolls were distributed throughout the United States in some of the most prestigious department stores. The dolls were also sold in many other countries throughout the world. The purchaser was told the dolls could be returned to the factory for refurbishing. This is verified by reading the Chase pamphlet with the preamble that declares: “When old and worn they can be repaired and repainted at small cost by sending to the makers directly or through your dealer.” This claim makes a fine case for accepting a nicely repainted Chase into your collection. Chances are it was sent back to the factory for “a redo”.
A well-loved little Chase has found a home with the author.
BIBLIOGRAPHY American Rag Dolls Straight From the Heart by Estelle Patino Cloth Dolls A Collectors Guide by Phillis A. Rustam Cloth Dolls From Ancient to Modern by Linda Edwards The Collectors Encyclopedia of Dolls by Dorothy S., Elizabeth A., and Evelyn J. Coleman Dolls and Duty: Martha Chase and the Progressive Agenda 1889-1925 by Paul G. Bourcier and Miriam FormanekBrunell Ph. D. 15th and 16th Blue Book Dolls and Values by Jan Foulke The Collectors Encyclopedia of Cloth Dolls by Johanna Gast Anderton The Doll House Story of the Chase Doll by Marjorie A. Bradshaw The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, Rochester, New York The Richard Wright Collection Session 1, Rare and Important Dolls, Skinner, Inc. Thanks for assistance by the following: Skinner Inc., Boston and Marlborough, Mass. The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, Rochester, New York Barbara Bailey Julie Blewis Libby Dorman Linda Edwards Karen Hesse Donna Kaonis Sheri Kaplan Jeff Millman Nancy Smith Tore Scelso 45