A Look Back at Some of Izannah Walker’s Boy Dolls and Their Auction Results

April 19, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

One of the extremely nice things about writing for magazines is the very interesting emails that people send me after they have read my articles. I recently received several inquiries asking me for information about how much boy Izannah Walker dolls are worth. Some of these correspondents were kind enough to share photos of their own Izannah boys with me and ask me my opinion about their dolls, which I was happy to give. If you have also been curious about what Izannah’s boy dolls have sold for, then this post is for you!

The first thing I do if I am trying to determine an approximate value for a particular doll is to look back at previous auction results where similar dolls were sold. In this case boy Izannah Walker dolls. Naturally if you are trying to compare prior prices realized at auction, with a doll you are trying to buy or sell, you will want to look for dolls with similar characteristics such as, pre-patent vs. post-patent, condition, clothing and or other accessories, etc. Because I received emails asking me about both pre-patent and post-patent boys I did get to refamiliarize myself with auction results for both. Below you will find links to the auctions I reviewed. When looking at auction results, remember that you will need to add any buyer’s premium to the hammer price to determine what the doll actually sold for. You could also try searching Ebay and Ruby Lane for past sales, though I don’t believe any of Izannah’s boys have been sold on those sites.

A close up of the very sweet faces of two later post- patent Izannah Walker dolls. I was shown these two wonderful dolls at the 2014 UFDC Convention.

If you would like to look back at my original blog post about the day I met the dolls pictured above, and their very nice owner click here https://izannahwalker.com/2014/07/25/izzybelles-travel-journal-part-3-the-2014-united-federation-of-doll-clubs-convention/

Below you will find links to auctions of Izannah Walker boy dolls:

https://www.proxibid.com/Art-Antiques-Collectibles/Toys-Hobbies/American-Patent-Model-Cloth-Doll-by-Izannah-Walker-12-000-15-000/lotInformation/44605387

https://www.theriaults.com/extremely-rare-small-size-american-cloth-folk-doll-izannah-walker

(This is the post patent doll that also sold in the same auction: https://www.theriaults.com/wonderful-american-cloth-doll-izannah-walker-original-paper-patent-label)

This is an example of an 18 inch post patent Izannah Walker boy: https://www.theriaults.com/two-rare-american-pressed-cloth-dolls-izannah-walkerpatent-models

John Thayer is the most well known and most original example of an Izannah Walker boy. He is 15 inches tall and recently sold at the Withington auction of Carol Corson’s collection. You can see some wonderful images of him here: https://www.izannahwalkerchronicles.com/2022/08/john-thayer-antique-izannah-walker-boy.html

This is the Withington’s catalog from the auction, John Thayer was item number 100. : https://withingtonauction.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/October-20-2022-Doll-Catalog.pdf

There was a 17 inch Izannah Walker boy that sold at an Apple Tree Auction for $37,500, but the auction catalog is no longer available online. I’m attaching a photo of him.

The image above is a screen shot of the auction results for this particular Izannah Walker boy. I spent quite a long time searching for the original links to this auction, but unfortunately I could no longer find them available online, so I can’t provide a link to them.

15 inch Izannah Walker Boy Doll with paper label The Maurine Popp Collection of Dolls April 12, 2003 lot 207 $11,750: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/auction.php?start=2&limit=90&op=lots&view=90&sort_lot=1&saleno=2196&display=list&noredir=1

and: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2196/lots/207

I hope you have enjoyed looking back at some of these memorable auctions!

For those of you who may be wondering, sweet James the doll who was featured in my three part article in the February, March, and April issues of Antique Doll Collector, did find an extremely wonderful new home ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Clothing · Information · Izannah Walker Project Ideas · See Me in Print

Using My Patterns for Select Pieces of James’ Clothing, Published in the April 2023 Issue of Antique Doll Collector Magazine ~ How to Enlarge the Pattern Pieces

April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

The April issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine is out, which means my final installment of James’ story and the accompanying patterns are now available for you to use. ❤

Emma Blue and Sarah Jane were quite excited when this envelope arrived in yesterday’s mail from the subscription department of Antique Doll Collector magazine! The pretty quilt block stamps made it feel like the magazine had been giftwrapped!

You’ll find my article on pages 38-44 of the April issue. The patterns themselves are on pages 43 and 44. To use the patterns the first thing you will need to do is to enlarge the pattern back to 100%. The short answer to “How much do I enlarge them?” is 14.3%, which is a pretty awkward percentage that you may not be able to program into your printer. If you enlarge the patterns by 15% they will be fairly close to my original size. “Why do I have to go to the trouble of enlarging them?” Good question! I provided the patterns to ADC at full size, but due to the space considerations, and the physical size of the magazine, the graphic designer needed to shrink the patterns down to fit into the allotted space.

When you enlarge the pattern to 100% of it’s original size it should fit perfectly on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper. It’s very important to remember that I made these patterns to specifically fit a 17 inch Izannah Walker boy. If you would like to use the patterns to dress a different size Izannah Walker doll, or another type of mid-nineteenth century doll, such as a papier-mache, china, parian, or rag doll you will need to completely alter the size and fit of the patterns. Always, always, always make a muslin to check the fit of any pattern you are making from antique fabric!

Now that I have given you the short answer “how much do I enlarge the pattern?” let me walk you through how to get that answer:

Measure the 1 inch key that is shown on pages 43 and 44 along with the pattern. The key measures 7/8th of an inch.
7/8 x 8/7 = 1
8/7 = 1.1428571429 so the pattern needs to be 114.3% (rounded up to the nearest tenth of a percent) of the size it was printed in the magazine, another way to say that is enlarge the pattern by 14.3%
To double check your work 0.875 x 1.1428571429 = 1

I’ll be posting some more tips for using these patterns in the near future. ❤

A fun tidbit. Looking through the open doorway of the main floor “Bedroom”* can you spy the stenciled walls that inspired the stenciling in the second floor chamber, that the doll’s use as their bedroom, in their own very tall house? I painted both the full size walls, and the miniature versions, using historic stencil patterns.

*(The only chamber actually called a “bedroom” in the 18th century because these tiny rooms adjoining kitchens, next to the cooking hearths, were just large enough to hold a bed and little else.)

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Clothing · See Me in Print

The Final Installment of James’ Story… Including Patterns for Select Pieces of his Wardrobe will be in the April Issue of Antique Doll Collector Magazine

March 27, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

Read the final chapter of sweet James’ story in the April issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine. This article will tell you how I researched appropriate little boy’s fashions for him, plus give you ideas on where to look for antique fabrics and notions. Also included are patterns and instructions for some of the clothing I made him ❤ To subscribe to Antique Doll Collector, or order this single issue go to https://www.antiquedollcollector.com/subscribe.html For just this issue scroll down to US 2022-23 Single Issue Purchase for Antique Doll Collector, you may choose the month you are wish to purchase and complete your order online. ❤

Once you have the April issue you are invited to come back here to my Izannah Walker Journal for additional instructions including on how to size the pattern up to scale before printing it, and extra sewing tips. ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Clothing · Doll for Sale · See Me in Print

James’ Story Continues in the March 2023 Issue of Antique Doll Collector Magazine ~ Stitching History into his Wardrobe

March 9, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

Read more about sweet, sweet James and his wardrobe in this month’s issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine. The subscriptions department at Antique Doll Collector has informed me that they do have a limited number of extra copies of the March issue, if you have been searching for one go to https://www.antiquedollcollector.com/subscribe.html and scroll down to US 2022-23 Single Issue Purchase for Antique Doll Collector, you may choose the month you are wish to purchase and complete your order online. ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Doll for Sale · Holidays · Pop-Up Shop · See Me in Print · Where to Shop

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Doll’s House

February 14, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

*Sarah Alice and James spent the afternoon cutting out Valentine’s for all of their dearest friends* ❤

This afternoon James, Emma Blue, Isabeau and Sarah Alice gathered in the parlor to make Valentine’s for all of their friends ❤

The rest of the little cloth girls were down in the kitchen, with the door firmly shut, though occasional giggles could be heard, along with the delicious smells of sugar and chocolate…

SWEET JAMES is A RARE 17 INCH IZANNAH WALKER BOY WHO IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE. HE IS IN ALL ORIGINAL CONDITION & COMES WITH A LARGE HANDMADE WARDROBE. SEE THE FIRST PART OF HIS STORY ON PAGE 18 OF THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR. THE CONTINUING TALE OF JAMES’ AND HIS WARDROBE WILL BE IN THE MARCH & APRIL ISSUES. $46,000. I AM HELPING JAMES FIND A NEW HOME ❤ INQURIES AT PAULA@ASWEETREMEMBRANCE.COM 203-313-5973

The dolls and I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day ❤

antique dolls · Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Clothing · Doll for Sale · See Me in Print · Where to Shop

I’d like to introduce you to James ~ He is a very rare and wonderful Izannah Walker boy!

January 26, 2023January 27, 2023 paulawaltonLeave a comment

You may read my article all about James in the February issue of *Antique Doll Collector* magazine ❤

I’d like to introduce you to sweet, sweet James. He is a very rare, early 17 inch Izannah Walker doll. I’ve written an article all about James’ story for Antique Doll Collector magazine, that is just now on it’s way to subscribers. In March the second part of my adventures with James will continue. In part two I will relate how James’ came to be named James, how I researched clothing styles for the large handmade wardrobe I am making him, where I hunt for antique fabrics, and how I draft patterns. I’ll also be sharing patterns and instructions for select garments in James’ wardrobe. The patterns are suitable for Izannah Walker dolls, and can also be resized to fit papier-mache, china, parian, and other types of cloth dolls from the mid- 19th century.

I’m sure you will fall in love with James. ❤ (It is a bit of a family secret, so please don’t mention it… James the little painted cloth girls favorite brother!)

If you don’t already have a subscription to Antique Doll Collector, and would like to buy either the February or March issues that my articles will be in, you may order them directly by calling 631-261-4100 or emailing adcsubs@gmail.com.

THIS RARE 17 INCH IZANNAH WALKER BOY IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE. HE IS IN ALL ORIGINAL CONDITION & COMES WITH A LARGE HANDMADE WARDROBE. SEE HIS STORY ON PAGE 18 OF THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR. $46,000. INQURIES AT PAULA@ASWEETREMEMBRANCE.COM 203-313-5973

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Izannah Walker birthday · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Unboxing

Happy 205th Birthday Izannah Walker ~ The After Party

September 26, 2022October 9, 2022 paulawaltonLeave a comment

All the little cloth girls and I were so glad that you could join us yesterday, as we celebrated the 205th anniversary of Izannah Walker’s birth! It was a joyful day in the doll’s very tall house! Today is much quieter, since there were plenty of English muffins left over for breakfast and quite a bit of cake for dessert too. The doll’s also received another birthday delivery from Mr. Twigg and his faithful horse and wagon. Thankfully this parcel was much easier to bring inside.

This evening’s after party is a chance to sit back, relax with friends and chat about all the tea party particulars. ❤

The Little Christening Pincushions Shown Throughout the Doll’s House

If you have been curious about the small decorative pincushions that Sarah Alice and Isabeau were making you will be able to read more abut them in my upcoming article about the history of infant pincushions, titled Welcome Little Stranger which will be in the December 2022 issue of Early American. The article also include instructions for making some of your own. The all three versions pictured, as well as other larger pincushions are included in the article.

Baking for the Tea Party

Sourdough English Muffins

Yes, I did make really tiny sourdough English muffins from scratch, then cut and toasted them in a hot skillet! The jelly and jams that the dolls served at the tea party were also homemade, wild violet jelly made from the violets that I picked from my farmyard this spring, black currant jam made with currants from my garden, and peach jam made with peaches from a local farm. I added a generous pinch of cinnamon to the peach jam to make it taste like peach pie. If you’d like to make your own English muffins I suggest the King Arthur recipe, which is the one I use. I made my own sourdough starter using wholewheat flour. When I bake these sourdough English muffins I use at least 50% wholewheat flour. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-english-muffins-recipe

Prairie Stack Cake

Tillie Lamb’s Gingerbread Layers

This is the recipe that I used for the gingerbread layers of the doll’s latest birthday cake.

Rum Gingerbread

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 egg

2- 1/2 cups flour

1- 3/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup molasses

3/4 cup hot water

1/4 cup rum

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

Combine butter, sugar and egg. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with the molasses, water and rum. Pour into a buttered 9 x 12- inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. You may substitute buttermilk for the water and rum.

2nd side ~1 teaspoon nutmeg – 2 cups nuts ~ which I never add – 1 tsp. vanilla

Pumpkin Cake and Spice Cake

Here is the hand written recipe card that I copied from my mom’s recipe for Pumpkin Cake 40 years ago. The recipe for the spice cake came from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book that she gave me in 1975. I substituted raisins for nuts in the spice cake because the dolls and I like it much better that way.

Cake Frosting

Use your favorite cream cheese buttercream frosting ❤

Alphabet Cookies

Fun Fact

I had to open eleven out of twelve individual packs of Mini Alphabet Cookies to be able to spell Izannah! Surprisingly there were abundant “I”s and “Z”s. The letter that took the longest to find was “N” followed by “A”. I purchased the cookies at Aldi.

The Mysterious Delivery of the Large Wooden Settle

At the end of the birthday celebration the unseen Mr. Twigg leaves a large wooden settle at the front of the doll’s house. Mister Twigg is the little cloth sister’s neighbor who runs a delivery service along with his trusty horse and large wagon. Mister Twigg delivered my birthday present to the dolls. The settle was lovingly made by Seth Tudor, Tasha Tudor’s son. It is 1/3 scale and is a miniature version of a settle that was in Tasha’s house. He makes them in three different scales. This particular size will also work for American Girl’s dolls. The three drawers on the bottom are functional. I’m fairly sure that you can reach him through https://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/ , though I contacted him through the Take Peace Facebook group that I am a member of.

The little cloth girls and I will be painting their settle a custom color once the girls stop squabbling over exactly what that color should be!

Flowers

All of the flowers came from my gardens ❤

One Final Surprise!

The dolls were quite thrilled when Mister Twigg came again today to deliver a parcel. It was a lovely birthday present from their dear friend Kay, who often spoils them with holiday gifts ❤ Thank you Kay!

Thank You for being a part of our twelfth annual Izannah Walker Birthday Celebration ❤ ❤ ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Izannah Walker birthday

Happy 205th Birthday Izannah Walker! “Welcome! The dolls and I are so happy that you could come to this year’s party…”

September 25, 2022September 25, 2022 paulawalton4 Comments

Welcome! The dolls and I are so happy that you could come to this year’s party! They’ve assigned me the task of being the official greeter, since they are all rather busy at the moment. Just between the two of us, they are running a bit behind. It all started when Sarah Alice decided they should make something special for Izannah’s birthday…

Earlier this month…

“Isabeau you are so good at sewing! Would you be willing to help me make a special surprise for Izannah’s birthday party?” asked Sarah Alice. “Something pretty to decorate the parlor, that we could keep out all year long to remind us of our very own dear Izannah?” “I might be able to.” hedged Isabeau. “Is it really something we will have time for? The party isn’t all that far away” Sarah Alice assured Isabeau that she had the perfect project in mind and that if they worked together she was positive that they could have it finished in time for the birthday tea. “I don’t know if Izannah’s mother was given a christening pincushion when Izannah was born or not, but I think we should make her one now.” “Two hundred and five years later?” asked Isabeau very gently. “Yes” said Sarah Alice “It will be a wonderful way for us to show that we remember her and still love her.” “That is a lovely idea” agreed Isabeau. So the two sisters snuck away to the parlor, whenever they thought their other sisters were busy, to work on their birthday surprise.

Unbeknownst to Izabeau and Sarah Alice, Izzybelle had been peeking in the parlor window and listening at the door as the two sisters worked on their birthday surprise… I’m sure you must know just how little sisters are, they always want to do the very same things that their older sisters do. So you won’t be at all surprised to learn that Izzybelle started thinking about something special that she could do for the party.

Yesterday…

“Charlcie what kind of cake are you baking for the tea party?” asked Izzybelle in a very innocent voice. “Ismay and I have decided that it would be nice to make a pumpkin cake this year.” replied Charlcie. “Your pumpkin cake is very good, but do you think that it is special enough for a Grand Birthday Tea Party?” replied Izzybelle “Birthday cakes should be very special!” “Don’t you think it would be much nicer if we each baked a layer of cake and put them all together, just like we talked about for Izannah’s 199th birthday party?” “Oh Izzybelle, I really don’t think we have time to do that now, since the party is tomorrow. You know that we are all very busy getting ready. Hannah and Eliza Jane are dusting everything, Zanna is trying to catch all the dogs and give them a bath, Sarah Alice and Isabeau are busy in the parlor and Emma Blue and Tilly Lamb are out in the garden trying to find enough flowers to decorate the house.” said Charlcie. Upon hearing this little Izzybelle looked so sad and disappointed that Charlcie began to relent. “You might go out to the garden and ask Tillie Lamb if she would have time to come bake a layer or two of her famous gingerbread. If, and only if, she is willing to add baking onto her chores, we might try to make a stack cake…” “Shouldn’t we all bake a layer? It would be so much more special if everyone made one!” wailed Izzybelle. “Absolutely not, that is completely out of the question! There is simply not enough time for that. Be happy that Ismay and I will each bake layers and that Tilly Lamb might.” said Charlcie quite firmly.

(The story, which I am very fond of, goes like this; each family invited to a wedding would bring one layer of cake, all of the layers were stacked together to form the wedding cake. I’ve also heard this cake called a prairie wedding cake and have seen reference to each family bringing a different flavored cake layer.

https://izannahwalker.com/2016/09/25/happy-199th-birthday-izannah-walker-part-4-blow-out-the-candles/ )

“Oh my goodness! We have layers of cake everywhere!” “It’s getting very late, I’m so glad we only have one more layer to bake!”

“Oh no!” “What on earth is that bunny doing in the kitchen?”

Eventually very late last night after Izzybelle helped clean up the kitchen floor and was firmly tucked into bed, all the layers of pumpkin, gingerbread and apple spice cake were baked and stacked one on top of another …and if the stack seemed to artistically lean to one side everyone was much too tired to care.

It looks like all of the English muffins are almost toasted.

After such an eventful day, and an extremely late bedtime, I’m sure you can understand why the little cloth sisters are still putting the finishing touches on the tea party preparations. Oh! It sounds as if Charlcie has just finished toasting all of the English muffins and that Izzybelle is headed up to the parlor with the jam! They have finally gotten everything just the way they want it and are ready for guests. Let’s go join them in the parlor.

“What a wonderful party!” “I’m not sure if we’ve ever had a better one!” “I ate far too much cake…” “Zanna, would you please pass me another toasted muffin and the wild violet jelly?” “Does anyone else hear a horse and wagon coming up to the house?” “What?” “Are you sure?” “Well it certainly sounds like Mister Twigg and his delivery wagon.” “Are we expecting him?” “Maybe he’s come for the party!” “Yoo-hoo Mister Twigg!” “I think he is leaving.” “Zanna let’s go see if he left anything.”

“Why on earth would Mister Twigg leave this here?” “Just look at the size of it!” “How are we ever going to move this into the house?” “After we say good-by to all of our guests we’ll have to get the rest of the girls to help”

“You know Eliza, this is really quite a comfortable settle.” “It is indeed Tillie, though I’m still surprised we managed to get it in the house and up all the stairs!” “We never would have managed it if we didn’t have so many sisters…” “Wasn’t this just the nicest tea party?” “Yes, and this having this surprise birthday present delivered at the very end was such a treat!”

The dolls and I hope you have enjoyed celebrating Izannah Walker’s 205th birthday with us! This is out twelfth year for our annual virtual party. If you would like to look back at some of the other celebrations just type Izannah birthday in the search bar. For those of you who have attended before you may remember that I do always make it a point to have dolls available for sale as party of the festivities. This year I only have two, who are sweet wonderful dolls, both dressed in brown. I also have one party dress for sale. Some years I have more, but this has been one of those years. I’m sure you know what I mean, as we all have them! Times when everything seems to happen all at once… The good news is that there are dolls for sale today! Please return here at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time to meet my latest reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. The dolls and the party dress will all be sold on a first come basis.

If you would like to know more about what went into creating today’s party, read the recipes used for the food, and find out more about the infant pincushion that Sarah Alice and Isabeau made then you will definitely want to come back on Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time for the After Party!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Holidays · Izannah Walker History · Reference Materials · See Me in Print · Videos

Welcoming May with Open Arms!

May 2, 2022 paulawalton4 Comments

May is always a favorite month here in the farmyard! All of the flowers and fruit trees are waking up from their long winter naps, the birds are busily building nests, the greenhouse is filled with hundreds of tiny seedlings, and the little cloth girls are venturing out of the doll’s house to help with spring chores.

In addition to all of the normal cheerful activity here at Thyme Forgotten Farm, this May also brings some wonderful news!

I am extremely honored to announce that I have been juried into the Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts for the 43rd time! ❤ The Directory issue will be out later this summer, and I will post more details then.

Another magazine related announcement that I know you will all be very interested in is the May issue of Antique Doll Collector will feature a wonderful article, Waiting for Izannah – One Doll’s Journey written by Laurie W. McGill.

In case this latest article makes you hungry to read more Antique Doll Collector articles about Izannah’s dolls and those of other female cloth dollmakers, here is a list of the ones that have previously appeared in Antique Doll Collector magazine, including the two articles I wrote for ADC. ❤

The last bit of very exciting Izannah Walker news that I have to share is an excellently researched blog post written by Kathy Duncan! She has unearthed some very interesting bits of Izannah Walker history that I found fascinating and that I am sure my fellow Izannahaphiles will absolutely want to read. Here is the link to Kathy Duncan’s blog Flimsies and Frippery. ❤ ❤ ❤

May Day

As some of you may remember, all the little Izannahs and I love May Day and generally try to do something special to celebrate. Yesterday was no exception. The dolls and I decided to enjoy a beautiful day and spend time working outside in the gardens. Sweet little Izzybelle is undoubtedly the most enthusiastic garden helper of all, but to be honest she has had her share of unfortunate garden “occurances”. You might recall the tale of Izzybelle and the Runaway Tomatoes

I’m sad to report that yesterday was unfortunately not one of Izzybelle’s better days in the garden. Let us just say that she is no longer allowed near the sprayer & the vinegar, and leave it at that. In the midst of all the chaos… erm excitement, the other dolls and I quite forgot to photograph our “celebration”.

Once everyone was all clean, tidy and safely back in the very tall house we settled down with our scrapbook and looked back at some of our previous May Days. Afterwards all the little cloth girls drank comforting cups of warm milk and went to bed early, as it had been quite an eventful day!

If you would also like to sit and remember May Days with us click on the links below and imagine that you are turning the pages of our scrap book with us ❤