Boudoir Dolls are elaborately and fashionably dressed, long limbed dolls designed as ornaments for adults bedrooms, rather than as a child’s toy. They were popular from around 1915-1930, but continued to be made in the 1940s. Most have cloth bodies, although there are also some composition, wax and ceramic examples. Reference: Antique Marks
Below are some examples of antique / vintage boudoir dolls including a French gypsy doll with hand painted cloth over molded composition head and a Lenci doll in the form of a maid.
Victorian French Gypsy boudoir bed doll, hand painted cloth over molded composition head, cloth body, original silk & linen pants outfit with vest, leather high heeled shoes, smoking cigarette, 29″ tall
Sold for $200 at William Bunch Auctions & Appraisals in 2019
Advertising Doll, Boudoir Doll
Moulded composition flange neck head, hands and feet, with body and limbs of pink velvet and coarse pink cotton, the limbs very elongated; the feet painted with gold-coloured high-heeled strap shoes; painted facial features and side glancing blue eyes; pale blond mohair curls. The doll is dressed as a Flapper in ‘Folly’ fancy dress costume: a black velvet sleeveless bodice with white buttons and 4 pointed ends from the waist down over the skirt, each end with a white pompom at the point; a skirt of grey, yellow and white printed cotton; a neck collar ruff of white gauze with black thread trim; a black ribbon hair band; a black ribbon garter around the upper left leg The doll’s box is of card covered with yellow paper printed in an alligator-skin pattern, lined in blue and edge with paper lace; label on lid. Circa 1925-1930 (made) about 1928
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
A Lenci felt boudoir doll of a maid Italian, circa 1930, the pressed felt swivel head with painted facial features, brown mohair wig, blue side-glancing eyes, accented nostrils, an open/closed mouth with painted upper teeth, elongated limbs, and feet posed for high-heeled shoes; wearing a black dress with white collar and sleeve cuffs, a white organdy apron and matching cap, lacy stockings and high-heeled shoes; with Lenci cloth label.
Sold for US$ 6,250 (£ 4,855) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2013
