The Painted Cloth Doll, 1853

     ©  Kathy Duncan, 2024

In 1874, E.W. Billings published an advertisement promoting Izannah F. Walker's dolls, stating that he had been her agent for "so many years." That suggests that she had been wholesaling her dolls for a least a few years before she took out her patent. How long is "so many years"? It seems longer than a "couple of years," a "few years," and "several years." The phrase "so many years" is the sort of epic number that is frustrating in its lack of specificity.  

Dredging through newspaper records prior to the 1873 patent date for Izannah's dolls, does not turn up much. Before that, there does not seem to be much reason to link Walker's name with doll production. Her dolls are not yet "celebrated." She was likely unknown as a doll maker beyond the immediate region.

However, in 1853, E.W. Billings, her agent, ran an advertisement to announce that he had received a shipment of merchandise. Among his new stock were "Dolls of every description, including the painted Cloth Doll." 

The phrase "the painted Cloth Doll" leaps off the page. It suggests the possibility that this is a reference to the Walker dolls - made by Izannah, her sister Jane H. Walker, and her aunt Jane H. Hintz. It suggests that his readers are familiar with a painted Cloth Doll. More importantly, it suggests painted Cloth Dolls being produced in large numbers. 

Of course, 1853 is during the time frame that Izannah made her move to the Providence, Rhode Island area permanent. In 1853, Jane H. (Swasey) Hintz was 57 years old, Jane Hintz Walker was 39 years old, and Izannah Frankford Walker was 36 years old. Together, they were likely producing a great many dolls. Izannah's move to the Providence area may have been so that she could act as their representative to E.W. Billings and oversee the delivery of dolls to him. She may have also enlisted a number of women in the Providence area who could help with the finishing work for the dolls - making and stuffing bodies, applying ears, covering the bodies, and making clothes. An unskilled painter could have applied the flesh tone paint to heads, arms, and legs - leaving the painting of the faces and hair to more skilled painters.