Vigo County Historical Society

Pincushion dolls pretty and useful

Through the years, this column has featured several of the interesting little decorative items which were so popular during the latter part of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century.

Most homes had several of the in every room. They pretended to be useful, but more than that, they added color and interest to otherwise dull rooms. The pincushion or half-dolls made their appearance during this time, and according to some researchers, there was hardly a home without at least one. They usually were found in bedrooms or powder rooms, where they were attached to some item necessary to good grooming, thus justifying their presence.

Buying purely ornamental figurines was viewed by most working people as somewhat of an extravagance, if not actually sinful, but a delightful little doll which was useful as well as pretty was bound to have sales potential.

The pincushion, or half-doll as it is sometimes called, is really not a doll. It was never intended for a toy and it does not have movable parts as the definition for doll would imply. It is a half-figure of a human, usually, although there are also birds and animal half-dolls. The figure sometimes is only a head or a head and shoulders, and sometimes the complete figure.

The majority of the dolls, however, are half figures and have sew holes at the base for ease in attaching to an article. Some of the dolls which are attached to a brush have a flange in place of the holes.

The half dolls were fastened to pincushions, brushes, trinket boxes, powder boxes, powder puffs, perfume bottles, pajama and handkerchief cases, sachet cushions, parasol handles, lamps, tape measures and tea cosies. They were about the most versatile unnecessary item ever designed and produced.

Most of the dolls were women, but there also were men, children, babies, birds and animals. They ranged in size from about 1 inch to 7 or 8 inches with most of them in the 3- to 4-inch category. They were sold attached to an item or separate for the seamstress to use as she chose. They were sold in gift shops and in the notions of department stores.

We do not know just when the pincushion dolls first made their appearance, but a clue as to the date of popularity was found in a 1913 "Woman’s Home Companion" in an article by Martha Cobb Sandford. Her comment was: "There never was a time when the fancy-work department in the stores carried so many fascinating little heads and figures for the delight of the needlewoman who loves to fashion them into novelties with a purpose."

Eight years later, the "Delineator" carried an article titled, "Every Doll Has Her Place," in which a number of dolls were shown fastened to such objects as a powder puff, a night light, a bonbon dish and a lampshade.

Until about 20 years ago, it was very difficult to find much information concerning these interesting little figures. The books and articles today are due mainly to three or four women who are collectors and who were curious and wanted to know more about them.

Briefly, their findings show that the German porcelain factories made the most beautiful dolls and the Japanese copied the German dolls but usually with less artistic ability in the painting of the faces.

There also were dolls made of clay, celluloid, wood, and a chalk like material. The ones sought by most collectors, however, are the beautiful porcelain dolls from Germany. The most interesting doll in this writer’s collection is a baby holding a stork on its back and measuring a mere 1 1/2 inches. It was made in German and is of bisque.

Collecting these little figures is interesting as they are scarce enough to present a challenge but not so scarce as to cause frustration. They do not require much space and very little care, and provide a background for interesting conversation. The dolls pictured here are in the doll room on the main floor of the museum.