An Interesting Question About A Little Old Doll...

Although I was a dollmaker for many years I've always loved old small and dolls house dolls.  Last week I was looking at a delightful tiny old 'granny' doll - but was she actually what she really appeared to be??

My great mate Celia Thomas of KT Miniatures, partner in crime and workshops for a good few years, recently acquired an important collection of dolls and furniture and asked if I'd like to take a look. OH yes!!
I completely fell in love with a tiny 'granny doll' clearly old, beautifully dressed and full of character. Anyway she generously gave her to me as a gift...or was it a bribe to feed her cats when she is away???

We both poured over her trying to determine her age.  Something, but we didn't know what didn't look quite right.
Porcelain, jointed - clearly of some age. Super distressed and tatty clothing - wonderful hat.

Take a look at the pictures and see if you agree with our final conclusion.  I'll give you some clues:
The small amount of wigging could be modern. The scarf which was knitted not woven fabric seemed to have more 'pull' than cotton or wool. The 'knitted' jacket did not look like any 'old' fabric we recognised..

But the final conclusion was that she was a baby - just take a close look at the face - given a makeover.  Take an even closer look at the legs and their 'baby' appearance and that was the clincher!
What can I say? Full marks to the collector who saw the potential to turn a baby into a little old lady and did it quite brilliantly!! I love her to bits - thank you Celia! It rather backs up the comment sometimes heard that a new born looks like a little old man or lady.

Celia has some delightful and very special items just listed on her website including three early dolls by the late Jill Bennett who was a hero to many of us handcrafting makers in the miniature doll community and her many collectors. I've been lucky enough to see them for real and they are just beautiful, and of course sadly there will never be any more.
To see them go to her website: https://ktminiatures.com

It's pouring with rain again today and my heart goes out to the hundreds of people in U.K. whose homes and lives have been devastated by the floods.  In Thame our homes are dry because the town is surrounded by ancient flood plains that take the overspill from flooded rivers and streams - in fact the 'lakes' are very picturesque and a flock of swans has taken up temporary residence. If there is one message for our planners and politicians it is to please not build on our flood plains any more.  Enough!!

Anyway here's a beautiful Dendrobium Orchid to cheer us all up.

Thank you for looking
Robin