This practical figure was inspired by instructions for a Work Table Companion printed in the January 1865 issue of Peterson's magazine for women.

The silk skirt is trimmed with silk braid and steel beads and is worn over cotton hoops. Beneath the sheer cotton blouse is a vintage cotton chemise, pantalets and corset cover. Painted white stockings and black shoes.

A silk ribbon holds a ball of thread and pockets on the skirt hold needles and a thimble. Scissors hang in a leather case from the silk belt.

A lace snood covers the black mohair wig. Painted black shoes and white stockings. Brown hand-blown glass eyes. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

Inspiration: Original instructions for a Work Table Companion, Peterson's magazine, January 1865.

The silk taffeta Brunswick traveling gown with matching cloth buttons, self trim and petticoat was inspired by a recreated gown worn by the Mistress of the Trades of Millinery and Mantua-making, Department of Historic Trades, Colonial Williamsburg. Underneath, there is a vintage lace shift and gold silk taffeta pocket.

The blue kid shoes, bound with silk, are trimmed with silk ribbon and worn over painted clocked stockings. The unique hood attached to the gown covers a flax wig and brass earrings. Brown hand-blown glass eyes. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

Silk taffeta French court gown and matching petticoat trimmed with rouched silk and vintage silver wire. Edges individually cut with reproduction 18th century pinking tool.

Underneath is a striped silk pannier with reed hoop, vintage lace shift and orange silk pocket. Vintage lace flounces. Delicate painted shoes with vintage appliqué and white stockings. Cut steel necklace on black silk ribbon. Brown hand-blown glass eyes. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

Inspiration: Christopher Anstey with his Daughter Mary, c. 1779, by William Hoare, National Portrait Gallery.

Now available from Colonial Williamsburg - Susanna Rose

A very special limited edition, inspired by a portrait in Colonial Williamsburg's permanent collection of Mrs. Gavin Lawson (by John Hesselius, 1770) will be available in one of Colonial Williamsburg's 2008 Christmas catalogs. However, it will be available early this Fall on their internet marketplace.

The changeable silk taffeta sacque back gown and matching petticoat is worn over a mustard colored silk petticoat, white linen shift and stockings, linen panniers, and a silk brocade pocket. Beautiful antique lace engageantes (flounces) and stomacher adorn the elegantly simple trained gown, lined with a striped silk taffeta.

Accessories include hand painted paper roses, antique milk glass bead necklace, antique ribbon slippers with leather soles and red silk garters.

The custom wig was created by the artist with a blend of chocolate and auburn alpaca fibers and dark Lincoln sheep wool fibers.

Contact the artist for additional information prior to its release.

Available now from Colonial Williamsburg's
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
757-229-1000 (ask for the museum gift shop)

The silk taffeta polonaise gown is adorned with silk ruching inspired by a gown and quilted petticoat in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation collection. It is worn over a silk quilted petticoat lined with silk and a vintage lace shift.

The white linen stockings are held in place with silk ribbon garters. The kerchief is silk gauze. Stylish silk brocade shoes are bound with silk, adorned with silk rosettes and finished with leather soles. The black glass eyes are hand-blown antiques.

Vintage pearls were used to make the custom earrings and the intricate custom wig is flax. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

This figure is dressed in a classic silk taffeta sacque back gown with patching petticoat and embroidered red silk taffeta stomacher. A fine gown like this one was considered undress or informal wear in the mid 18th century.

The lawn cap with vintage lace and red silk ribbon covers the flax wig. Silk slippers (mules) with leather soles are worn over white linen stockings held in place with buckled silk garters. Vintage lace mitts. Brown glass eyes. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate

This dapper male figure wears a suit of black wool lined with green silk over a fine brocade waistcoat with black and gold glass buttons. The cuffs and jabot are made of vintage lace. Black leather shoes with brass buckles are worn over white linen stockings.

The handmade wool felt cocked hat is trimmed with vintage metallic braid. His hair is flax top and his eyes are blue glass. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

Available from The Gallery on Merchants Square
Featuring fine antiques and original works of art
Williamsburg, Virginia

This charming figure represents a young girl in her play clothes. The embroidered silk taffeta pannier gown and vintage lace apron are worn over a vintage cotton shift. The delicate vintage cotton cap covers the hand dyed mohair wig. The black slippers and white stockings are painted. Blue hand-blown glass eyes. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box and certificate.

Available from The Toy Shoppe
Richmond, Virginia

No. 30
c. 1660
One-of-a-kind
13" Tall
10" Front to back
7" Wide

This unique figure seductively extends her hand for assistance out of the antique French sedan chair from the late 19th Century. This wonderful antique toy sedan chair is all original and was acquired from well-known antique toy dealer Richard Wright. The exterior is covered in a cut velvet fabric trimmed with braid and it has a decorative paper lined interior. Inspired by contemporary paintings her gown, shoes, hairstyle and accessories are all historically accurate to the mid-17th Century.

The silk taffeta gown is trimmed with antique silver metallic braid and vintage lace. Underneath she wears a white silk taffeta petticoat, linen stockings, silk ribbon garters and vintage lace shift.

The distinctive square-toed slippers have silk uppers with vintage silver braid and leather soles. The ring and matching brooch are silver with malachite stones. Her glass eyes are brown and the intricate wig is mohair.

No. 22-2
c. 1880
One-of-a-kind Figure
Limited Edition Gown: 2
15" High

This figure presents a historically accurate silhouette of the 1880s in a silk taffeta bustle gown with pleated silk taffeta overskirt. Under the gown she wears a cotton petticoat, chemise and pantalets. The blue buttoned high shoes and white stockings are sculpted. Her eyes are brown glass and the French wig is mohair. Walnut wood base. Custom canvas storage box.

Available from All Dolled Up!
Connecticut

This one-of-a-kind figure is designed to remain in a sitting position. The face, hands and shoe lasts were individually hand sculpted then painted and finished with a unique glazing process. The hand-blown glass eyes are brown.

Every detail is historically accurate to 1840. All the garments have been hand sewn utilizing draping and construction techniques found on full size garments of the period. Inspired by extant children's garments, the dress, petticoat and pantalets were constructed from antique cotton that is over 100 years old.

The braided straw bonnet, custom made for this figure by the artist, is trimmed with silk taffeta ribbons; box pleated vintage lace and re-sized pink vintage cloth flowers.

A silk taffeta ribbon sash, vintage milk glass bead bracelet, mohair wig, painted black slippers and white stockings complete this charming representation of a young girl in the 1840s.

Photo by Tom Dellerba