Posted 12 years ago
Woman34
(39 items)
I bought this doll a few years ago on an online auction (not ebay) and had it posted on another photo sharing account. About a year ago, a lady saw this doll on my photo stream and this is what she told me about it:
What you have is an Ethel Washington doll. They are very valueable, and highly collectible. I've heard of them selling for as high as $27,000. I am a doll maker from the same town, and she was my inspiration. As for the condition of your doll, I don't know what it would be worth, but I have been offered similar when I wasn't in a good situation to buy,and they were quite spendy also.
So, I researched, and it looks a lot like her dolls. If it is one, then I am happy to own it.
Stunning workmanship ! Love her thanks for sharing her and the history :-)
Thank you Manikin for your comment; I've had this guy now since about 2002. I sadly don't know how to care for him and I keep him in a plastic bag in my closet. He is drying out. Any tips you can provide on the best way to store or display him would be appreciated.
Not in a plastic bag . It needs air . If you choose not to display in a glass cabinet I would store in a chest that some air can get to . I am not sure if your in Alaska my son lives there and I know it is cold . You want to keep it in a in area that does not freeze or get to hot as you know wood ex panda and contracts by temperature . The leather may get dry but at this point I would not put anything on it but let is gather a little steam maybe in a bathroom that you have run hot water in . Is the clothes fur ? since she normally used fur ? You may want to keep in a cedar chest . If mine I would prefer her in a glass dome out of sunlight to stop any further drying . Hope that helps . But get it out of plastic bag that is worse place to store a doll of any kind . You have a real treasure to be guardian of :-) We have Queen Ann wooden dolls that are 200 years old and they wood is still good but hard to keep clothes safe if not caught in time .
Oh I would store standing up on a stand with no pressure on her feet ot legs or laying completely flat so you don't stress fabric by bending her .
Thanks Mani so much for the information! I will do these things as soon as I can:).
Hi,
I'm the one from Flickr who told you that you have an Ethel Washington doll :)
I'm always happy to see one of her dolls, and any others from Kotzebue. I've made it my lifes work to study Eskimo doll making, and I consider Ethels dolls to be among the very best. I'm constantly on the lookout for them, and sometimes I just happen to find them by chance- like yours! I'm glad I was able to be of assistance.
Kathy Ward
Kotzebue, Alaska
Thanks Ms. Ward for the information you gave me and good to hear from you again:).
It is so sad that this wonderful doll was allowed to deteriorate so much. I own a pair of Ethel Washington dolls in excellent condition and many other Inuit and Eskimo dolls, but at age 73 the time to downsize my collection of thousands of international dolls is fast approaching.
Gail Enid Zimmer
Fair Lawn, NJ