I thought I might share a couple of Rare Japanese Norah Wellings Girls that I have in my collection. They were both made before 1936 and appear to have been discontinued by the 1936 catalogue.
The top doll is a Norene Model 848. She is the smallest size 12 inches and they were made in various sizes. This little girl has a wonderful felt face with painted Asian features. She has the usual zig zag stitching at the back of her head with separate ears. She is completely made of felt including her body. Her head and legs are jointed but her arms are sewn on. Her hands are sewn mitt style This appears to be a feature of the smaller model. ( On page 115 of my book you can see the face of a larger 18 inch Norene Japanese Girl, her body is cotton, fully jointed and her middle two fingers were joined together).This smaller girl has a black mohair wig in a bun at the back.
She is wearing her original floral pink cotton teddy underwear. Her Kimono is felt with felt applique shapes and a felt tie around her waist. Her orignal felt strap shoes have quilted soles. In her hair she has lovely felt flowers on on both sides
The next girl is a Novelty Doll Model 230. Once again this is the smallest size 12 inches and they were also made in 15",19" and 37 inches. She has a velveteen Head, separate ears and painted features. Lovely black mohair wig in a bun at the back. Her body, legs and upper arms are cotton with velveteen mitt hands. Only her head is jointed, arms and legs sewn on.
She is wears a white cotton Teddy as underwear. Lovely original velveteen Kimono with applique felt shapes sewn on and a felt tie around her waist. She also has original socks and felt shoes. Felt Flowers adorn her hair on either side.
It is interesting to note that these models can be found with either mohair or wool strand wigs. There can also be variations on material used for clothing. I have added a photograph of a Japanese Nightdress Case at the side which shows the wool wig. I hope you enjoy seeing these lovely Rarer Norah Wellings Dolls
Dear Gillian ,
ReplyDeleteYour site is an absolute treat . Every sperate article ,beautifully presented and a delight to view . I do hope it continues to give you pleasure to present and for us lucky readers also for ages to come.
Best wishes
Mark R (Devon)
Great to hear from you Mark,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments. I seem to be a bit behind in adding more articles, I have broken my foot and so it's slowing me down a bit. Once I get a full plaster on tomorrow( only have a half one at the moment), I will be grounded so I will have no exuse then to add more. I really am enjoying looking at all my resarch and writing the articles. I have heard from so many collectors which is great.I Hope all is well with you?Thank you once again.
Love
Gill
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have a Norah Wellings doll
ReplyDeleteI don't see it here in your photos
it looks to be a black or african boy
with brown hat and suspender pants
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to add more on my blog page soon, your Norah Wellings sounds like model 109 but he doesn't normally wear a hat. If you would like to send a photo I will let you know. Photo's can be sent to norahwellingsjournal@gmail
Thank You
Gill
I am not sure why the comment on the 19th of May has been removed and I can't even find out what it was about so I am sorry it has been removed, I certainly didn't do it myself ....at least I didn't think I did!
ReplyDeletei would like some info on a norah wellings doll i have. from what i know of her age, she would have to from the 1940's or earlier. she is a brown velvet type of material. wearing a grass skirt. she has a ring on each shoulder and one on her right leg. she has short black hair and her head has been stuffed to make it hard. if anyone has any info on her would you please contact me at debbieduffy6969@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have a Norah Wellings doll. It is a red Indian,he is bright green and has an axe in his hand. Can you tell me anything about the doll (Date etc). I must buy your book as I would like to know more about Norah. Thanks for reading this message. Wendy Higgs
ReplyDeleteHello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. The American Indian you have is called 'Hawkeye' and he is model K23. He was made from the early 1930's to 1940's. I think he has a great character face. Hopefully I will write more on The American Indians Norah Wellings made soon. My book is out of print but you can sometimes find them on ebay or Amazon. I do have a few for sale on my website www.theoptimists.net
Thank you once again
Kind Regards
Gill
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI have written to you at your email address, if you can send me a photo of your Norah Wellings Islander Girl I will try to identify her for you. Thank You.
Kind Regards
Gill
Can you tell me anything about two Norah Wellings hand puppets I have had for many years. They are different, but both are little monkeys. I would love to know more about them.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Duncan
Hello Duncan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Norah Wellings Monkey Hand Puppets were made from the mid 1930's right through to the last catalogue produced in 1959. The earlier hand puppets had glass eyes and then the eyes were painted after 1940. Both types were model K62. If you would like to share a photo of them to add to the blog please email me at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com
Thank You
Kind Regards
Gill
Hi! My name is Val. I am sitting here with my 5yr old son, Oscar. He is doing a project at school about toys from the olden days.
ReplyDeleteHe came home from school and told me if we found a toy from the olden days and took it in to school the next day then he would win a prize! I was really pleased that Oscar had come home with this request as Oscar often tells me that he doesn't do anything in school all day long!!
We phoned our friend Gail. We knew that she would have something from her childhood as she is so wonderful at looking after her belongings.
Gail found us three fabulous Norah Wellington dolls. A police man, a Canadian soldier and a Scottish man in a kilt. Her husband Kev told us they would be about 84 years old.
Oscar was very excited to take them in to school the next day.
The dolls belonged to Gail's ballet teacher and when her teacher suddenly died the teachers sister shared all her toys amongst the ballet students.
Gail has kept them safe for 50 years.
All the children in Oscar's class loved the dolls very much.
Oscar got his prize, a little packet of sweets from his teacher.
Oscar and I have really enjoyed looking at the pictures on your web site. Thank you!
vallywhitehead@tiscali.co.uk
Very nice site :-)
ReplyDeleteI am new to Norah Wellings, and only have 3 dolls (so far) . The only information I know about them is what I see on your site and what little I found on ebay listings.
I have 2 sailors, one black, one white,then just today at a doll show I bought a black "islander" girl doll. She is 15" tall, painted features, earrings, bracelets and ankletsof what looks like copper hoops, her teeth are showing, she is wearing an attached grass skirt and a straw like lei. Her body is brown velvet and her head is a very deep brown flannel material, she has an attached wig that is VERY "nappy" and I believe made of wool. Can you give me any information on her age, value, etc ? she is in very good condition with no rips, tears, etc. She does have some slight fading to the velvet body which I didnt notice till raising her grass skirt, she does not have a tag.
I would appreciate any information.
Thank you
Francie
Hello Francie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments. I would really need to see a photo of your dolls to give a value and condition plays such an important part of the value. If you can sent a photo to norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com I will let you know. Thank you
Kind Regards
Gill
Dear Gillian, I just received the dear little bead leg dolly! I am so thrilled with this rare little doll! I have a very large norah wellings black doll collection. I would love to share some pics with you. I am a penpal of Olga Buttigieg and have been buying up her precious dolls for a few years now. I will send the pics to your email....cheers Leeanne Simpson P.S. LOVE your blog!!
ReplyDeleteLeeanne very kindly sent some photo's of her wonderful dolls and you can see them if you press May on the right hand column under More Articles On Norah Wellings
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteAm currently transcribing a family history book my mother wrote about 10 years ago. She details some history of my Grandmother Lillian Green (Married to Palin). Turns out she worked at Norah Wellings in 1934. When she left (To go to work art Chad Valley painting the dolls faces) her friends at Norah Wellings gave her a gift of two doll. One blue, one pink, described as "Marie Antoinette" style. They were handkerchief holders. Any idea what model number these may have been?
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
How wonderful that your Grandmother worked at the Norah Wellings Factory. I believe the handkerchief cases you are talking about are named 'Old English' in the Norah Wellings catalogue and there were three designs, model 987,996 and 997. If you were able to take a photo of them and email it to me at norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com I would be able to tell you which model numbers you have.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
Gill
Dear gillian I have a N.W. doll described as west Indies doll.She had no clothing but circular earrings. Would West Indies be correct? Jane
ReplyDeleteHello Jane,
ReplyDeleteI would need to see a photo of the doll as many of the black dolls had circular ear rings and there are many different models I would say that the doll is just described as West Indies using that term rather than an Islander. If you can send one I may be of more help.
Kind Regards
Gill
Hello, what a info friendly site!! I have two black Norah dolls, brother and sister apparently! They were given to my 4 year old by my grandads friend who never had children of his own to pass them to! I've wrapped them in paper and placed in a shoe box in the attic, any idea on value and how best to store them. Thanks Gill.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your email and kind words. Your black dolls sound lovely, if you can send me a photo I will try and identify them for you, please send photo's to norahwellingsjournal@gmail.com
Cloth dolls should be wrapped in acid free tissue and you can also buy acid free archive cardboard boxes to store then in. Make sure before you store them that any damage they have is recorded and make sure they are free from bugs. If you use anything to prevent moth or silver fish damage make sure it has no smell as this can get into the cloth and make sure it is not put on the dolls only in the area where the dolls are kept.Your dolls also need to be sored in a dry place with no damp.I hope this helps.
Kind Regards
Gill
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am trying to find out some info on a Welling's doll I recently found in some of my grandmother's old things. He is 7.5 - 8" tall with the hand painted face. He's wearing a black velvet jacket with a simple red tartan sash, plaid kilt and matching stockings, black velvet shoes, there's a white piece of fabric where you'd normally find a sporran in front and at his throat where the jacket closes is a lacy bit of white fabric. He has a plain black felt cap but it's not a beret style but has the pointed ends in front and back. Aside from a tiny bit of fray on the white fabric, he is in excellent condition. He has very red lips and his eyes are either a blue or black colour with brown eyebrows and he appears to be bald.
I appreciate any info you can give me regarding which doll it is and possible value. Thank you!!
Lori
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing your comment but it would be better if you could email me with a photo of your doll to make sure I have the right model. Your doll sounds like it is from one of Norah Wellings Novelty Range, A Scottish Doll but to let you know the model number I would need to see a photo. If you can email me at norahwellingsjoutnal@gmail.com I hope I can be of more help. Thank You.
Kind Regards
Gill