I have enjoyed doing a few storybook dolls through the years from both modern and classic literature; the Little Prince, Secret Garden characters, Jerusha Abbott from Daddy Long Legs, Amy Dorrit from "Little Dorrit", the children from The Family Under The Bridge and Alice in Wonderland are all dolls I have created that have found their way into collectors homes. Meet my latest girl "The Little Match Girl"!
The Little Match Girl was a Danish Christmas story written in 1845 by Hans Christian Andersen. His story brought child abuse and neglect to life in a real way. In Victorian times, homeless street children were a nuisance and very little was done to help them. His Little Match Girl goes unnamed in the story, most likely to bring awareness to the universal problem of child poverty and neglect. But I have given this girl a Danish name, Katrine, meaning "pure".
My Katrine Sasha began as a 1970's brunette girl with falling hair. Like the real Little Match Girl, she had some bumps and bruises. She has a small scar on her upper lip that I was able to smooth over somewhat but I decided to leave the rest of it there. She had some neck caving which was fixed and she has been cleaned and restrung.
Her outfit was made by artist Tim Purk and special thanks goes to him for taking such care in is creation. Sasha Morgenthaler loved to dress her dolls in "recycled" materials. A scrap of a friend's dress, pieces of an old coat, vintage fabric all found their way into becoming part of Sasha's dolls ensembles when she created her studio dolls. This wonderful outfit consists of a cotton dress, and a coat, scarf and red leggings of used material. The buttons on her dress are antique. I added some pieces to her ensemble -- in order to protect from any dye transfer to the vinyl for long term contact with the doll, I had an old original Sasha Pintucks dress with stains and some damage that I adapted as under clothes. She has a long, high pair of brown socks and on her feet are rags. According to the story, all the Little Match Girl had were some old slippers belonging to her mother. I also added to her a small bundle and some miniature match sticks tied with a cord.
I have repainted and sealed her features and I used as a model, one of Sasha's round eyed studio dolls from 1965, adding touches of my own. Her wig is a Monique Gold synthetic mohair wig that I have trimmed around the face and adapted for her.
Katrine has a detachable apron; made by her dearly loved grandmother.....
(SALE PENDING) Katrine will be signed with a certificate. She is $475; a bit more than my usual custom dolls, but simply because I love so much how she came out, and it is very, very difficult to part with her! I hope you enjoy her photos and story! Also, $50 from the sale of this doll will to go Compassion International; an reputable organization that seeks to eliminate child poverty worldwide. Email me at wenarskys@embarqmail.com (Her little book is also available for purchase separately - it dates from 1962 and uses a doll to tell the story. It is $10.)
" No one had the slightest suspicion of what beautiful things she had seen; no one even dreamed of the splendor in which, with her grandmother she had entered on the joys of a new year" -Hans Christian Andersen "The Little Match Girl"
" No one had the slightest suspicion of what beautiful things she had seen; no one even dreamed of the splendor in which, with her grandmother she had entered on the joys of a new year" -Hans Christian Andersen "The Little Match Girl"
"...her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now no more, had told her, that when a star falls, a soul ascends to God."
When you're done visiting here, be sure to visit my Etsy store for "all things vintage" from toys to home decor to jewelry!
