Thursday, August 25, 2022

Phoebe, an Izannah Walker Doll from Carol Corson's Collection



UPDATE: Phoebe sold for a hammer price of $21,000 to Bidder 508. 
A 15-18% buyer's premium would be added, depending on method of payment. 

Today's pictures are of Phoebe, an Izannah Walker doll with a flatter formed face. This doll is featured in an article written by Carol Corson for Antique Doll Collector's August 2011 issue. The article Carol wrote catalogued the Doll Collector's of America's Izannah Walker Doll Reunion to celebrate DCA's 75th reunion.  That issue is worth purchasing to view the wonderful variety of Izannah Walker dolls featured.  

In the article linked above, Carol Corson offers this description of Phoebe:  

"Phoebe, the 17-3/4” standing doll is pre-patent, but just. She has many of the features of the patent dolls but her head is not separate as is Jeremiah’s and she does not have the patent label. Her paint is original and she has the plainest face imaginable. This is a perky doll, but no one could call her beautiful. In contrast to her face is her extraordinarily beautiful curls. Private Collection. The 18” tall doll seated on her own Brittany Bench is one of two dolls with blue eyes. Her repainted hair has long tendrils brushed back to her ears. Her brown boots have peach accented buttons." 

This article by Antique Doll Collector is a must have for anyone who studies Izannah Walker dolls. It is available in digital format here:  https://issuu.com/store/publishers/antique-doll-collector/issues/08-2011

In the image below you can see an overlap where the front and back parts of the head are joined together.  While Phoebe is not a post-patent doll, this joining at the center of the head rather than a seamline toward the forehead is more like post-patent dolls. 

Stay tuned for more posts of the Izannah Walker Dolls to be auctioned at Withington's on October 20, 2022. 













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