English Cloth Dolls-Chad Valley
Chad Valley Dolls, begun in 1894 under the name of Johnson Brothers Limited, a printing company, became Chad Valley when
the company moved to Harbonne England in 1897. The first dolls were made in 1917. The quality of the dolls varied widely
with some dolls made of stockinette, some with painted eyes. others with glass eyes while still others had combable wigs.
There were 12 designs in 1919. Better dolls in the early twenties came with a patented Chad Valley wrist watch. While the
dolls ranged from 9 inches to 13 inches, the better dolls were 12-13 inches. Aerolite was the trademark granted in 1923 for the
stockinette dolls.
The next year, dolls with pressed felt faces were produced on cotton, velveteen or velvet bodies. The dolls were protected
under a British patent for the insertion of glass eyes into a cloth head. A hexagonal hang tag was used to identify the dolls.
The dolls were exported to South Africa, Canada and Australia. In the late 1920s, Louis Wolf distributed the dolls to the U.S.
Throughou tthe 20s Chad Valley incorporated multiple designers including Mabel Lucie Atwell (for the Bambina line), Norah
Wellings and Hilda Cowham.
In the 1930s, the two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, were in the spotlight. Capitalizing on this Chad Valley
marketed a dour year old child depicting Princess Elizabeth and two dolls depicting the princesses as older children.
The company made dolls stuffed primarily with kapok. Most of the dolls were girls with very few boys made. The exceptions to
this were the Atwell dolls (50% boys) and the character dolls. Clothing, like the dolls, varied widely in quality. Some dolls had
extensive accessories including coats, hats and muffs while others were very simply dressed.
the company moved to Harbonne England in 1897. The first dolls were made in 1917. The quality of the dolls varied widely
with some dolls made of stockinette, some with painted eyes. others with glass eyes while still others had combable wigs.
There were 12 designs in 1919. Better dolls in the early twenties came with a patented Chad Valley wrist watch. While the
dolls ranged from 9 inches to 13 inches, the better dolls were 12-13 inches. Aerolite was the trademark granted in 1923 for the
stockinette dolls.
The next year, dolls with pressed felt faces were produced on cotton, velveteen or velvet bodies. The dolls were protected
under a British patent for the insertion of glass eyes into a cloth head. A hexagonal hang tag was used to identify the dolls.
The dolls were exported to South Africa, Canada and Australia. In the late 1920s, Louis Wolf distributed the dolls to the U.S.
Throughou tthe 20s Chad Valley incorporated multiple designers including Mabel Lucie Atwell (for the Bambina line), Norah
Wellings and Hilda Cowham.
In the 1930s, the two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, were in the spotlight. Capitalizing on this Chad Valley
marketed a dour year old child depicting Princess Elizabeth and two dolls depicting the princesses as older children.
The company made dolls stuffed primarily with kapok. Most of the dolls were girls with very few boys made. The exceptions to
this were the Atwell dolls (50% boys) and the character dolls. Clothing, like the dolls, varied widely in quality. Some dolls had
extensive accessories including coats, hats and muffs while others were very simply dressed.
