This article is about the wonderful character dolls Norah Wellings made, The Old Man and the Old Woman. I am going to show you the actual dolls that belonged to Norah Wellings and also one that Norah Wellings made for her Mother. The same modelling was also used for her Dutch Man and Woman and I will cover those as well in this article
They were first shown at the 1935 British Industry Fair and appeared in the 1935 catalogue. Although I am calling them The Old Man and Old Woman they came under the category of Norene Dolls, therefore they were not given a name just the model number. As previously written all Norene Dolls only had a model number and were not named. The Novelty Series were named. It is interesting to note a writer for the British Industry Fair called them Darby and Joan in their review but this was their interpretation.
They are amazing characters and the Old Woman was model 893 and the Old Man 894. They are 24 inches tall ( give or take an inch ). The head is felt with zig zag stitching on the back seam. Their features are painted by hand, with either brown or blue eyes. Both have mohair wigs and the man has mohair sideburns. The body is cotton and the arms and legs felt with two middle fingers sewn together. They are fully jointed. The Man wears all felt clothes with mother of pearl buttons and a cotton neck tie. He has a wooden stick (often missing). The Lady wears silk underwear with lace trim and silk stockings. She has a felt skirt and felt jacket and scarf with cotton gingham apron and matching bonnet, She also has a basket with felt flowers (often missing). Their outfits are sometimes found with different colour contrasts. They were only made for a few years and in 1938 another Old Man and Old Woman dressed in Dutch Costume were introduced .
Picture Above , Catalogue Photo 1935
These were the dolls produced for the catalogue and not painted by Norah Wellings .You can see a difference in the painting when you look at her dolls painted by her.
This is an interesting Pair of Old Man and Old Woman Dolls they belonged to Norah Wellings Niece. They are only 9 inches tall. The man has plastic shoes and these were used in the 1950's but I have not found them in any of my catalogues and may have been made as special orders. They would have been made for the Norah Wellings Character Dolls Range ( Formally Novelty Dolls pre 1950 )
Norah Wellings, made this doll for her Mother in the late 1930's. She painted the face and made the clothes for her.. The doll is not unlike Norah Wellings Mother at the time.
From 1938 the Old Man and Woman are not listed in any catalogue , however in 1938 a new couple appear. They seem to be the same dolls but dressed in Dutch Costume and were made in the same size 24 inches and the man has a beard as well as his long sideburns. The Lady is model 3167 and the Man 3166. She is wearing a felt outfit with lace hat, cotton apron, knitted scarf and carries a basket. The Man wears all felt with a knitted scarf. I expect some have had one of these dolls and thought the scarf was not original! They might be wearing a Dutch Costume but they were still referred to as Norene Dolls. They were made until the early 1940's.
Picture Above, taken from the Norah Wellings 1938 Catalogue
Picture Above, Norah Wellings Model 3167 , He is all original
I hope you enjoyed this article . Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions