Vigo County Historical Society

Sailor dolls were souvenirs

"Bon Voyage" was a greeting heard often during the early part of the 20th century when hundreds of ocean liners carried thousands of passengers to and from the United States and Europe.

The passengers were traveling for many reasons and came from all walks of life. Some went for business, some for pleasure, and many went because that was the smart thing for the wealthy families to do at that time. No matter what the reason for traveling, the trip was not complete until a souvenir was purchased aboard the ship. Gift shops were stocked with many unusual items but the most popular purchase was a little sailor boy like the one pictured at right.

Who could resist the expressive eyes, the dimples, the oversize ears and the magical smile of the little sailor dolls. It seems that not many people could, and thousands were sold in ships all around the world.

The sailor dolls were the creations of English soft toy and doll designer Norah Wellings of Shropshire, England. Norah and her bother Leonard owned the Victoria Toy Works, which was sometimes referred to as the Charm Factory. Norah Wellings is considered the most talented, most prolific and most loved English soft doll designer. She created many dolls in the years from 1926 to 1960, but the sailor dolls brought her the earliest fame and fortune.

The dolls are made of flesh colored brushed cotton and velvet. The molded hand-painted head, and the hands and feet were made of the cotton and the velvet was used for the suit, which also formed the body. The cap was made of several different materials but it always had the name of the ship embroidered or stenciled on the band. Small round cord in gold or white was added for the nautical touch. Most of the sailors were barefoot. The label of identification was found under the collar or on the bottom of the foot. It simply read: Made in England by Norah Wellings.

Today the little sailor is found in the far corners of the earth. From remote fishing villages to small towns and big cities they appear. It is not unusual to find several in an estate sale of a once wealthy family. The dolls are truly a part of an exciting era in history.

As we view the doll, still smiling and happy, we get the feeling that he is waiting to hear "Bon Voyage" one more time. This doll can be seen on the second floor of the museum.