Rollinson Cloth Doll
From 1916 to 1929, Gertrude Rollinson of Holyoke, Massachusetts designed and made dolls for "crippled" children which she
delivered to the hospitals at Christmas. The Utley Company (later the New England Doll Co.) produced the dolls commercially
from 1916 to 1922 when it went out of business. The dolls, 14-22 inches tall, had molded faces and were made as boys or
girls. Features were painted. Hair was painted or wigged. Features included closed mouths as well as open closed mouths
with teeth showing as the above doll. Nostrils may or may not be pierced. According to Edwards, the dolls had twenty coats of
paint that were then sun dried and sanded to produce a washable doll. It also produced an amazingly smooth finish that
completely belies the fact that the doll is made of cloth. Bodies were kapok stuffed. Dolls were sold dressed and undressed.
The dolls were marked iwth a stamp in a diamond shape.
Kiddiekins, appearing in 1921, ranged in size from 14-22 inches. It was distributed by several companies including George
Borgfeldt, Strobel-Wilkins Co, Louis Wolf and Co. and Bailey and Bailey. It is not known who manufactured these dolls or if
Gertrude Rollinson made them herself as The New England Doll Co. went out of business the next year. In 1929, a new doll by
Rollinson appeared, the Bobby Lou doll. It was described as being from a "large family of Rollinson's Bed Time Buddies"
according to Edwards.
Edwards, Linda. Cloth Dolls Ancient to Modern. Atglen: Pa Schiffer Publishing. 1997.
delivered to the hospitals at Christmas. The Utley Company (later the New England Doll Co.) produced the dolls commercially
from 1916 to 1922 when it went out of business. The dolls, 14-22 inches tall, had molded faces and were made as boys or
girls. Features were painted. Hair was painted or wigged. Features included closed mouths as well as open closed mouths
with teeth showing as the above doll. Nostrils may or may not be pierced. According to Edwards, the dolls had twenty coats of
paint that were then sun dried and sanded to produce a washable doll. It also produced an amazingly smooth finish that
completely belies the fact that the doll is made of cloth. Bodies were kapok stuffed. Dolls were sold dressed and undressed.
The dolls were marked iwth a stamp in a diamond shape.
Kiddiekins, appearing in 1921, ranged in size from 14-22 inches. It was distributed by several companies including George
Borgfeldt, Strobel-Wilkins Co, Louis Wolf and Co. and Bailey and Bailey. It is not known who manufactured these dolls or if
Gertrude Rollinson made them herself as The New England Doll Co. went out of business the next year. In 1929, a new doll by
Rollinson appeared, the Bobby Lou doll. It was described as being from a "large family of Rollinson's Bed Time Buddies"
according to Edwards.
Edwards, Linda. Cloth Dolls Ancient to Modern. Atglen: Pa Schiffer Publishing. 1997.
