rare antique black Joel Ellis doll,period clothes NR 1873 made for only 2 years in Springfield VT - RARE Start Price USD 25.00 Current Price USD 678.33 Time Left - Bid Count 20 Buy It Now Price USD 585.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, May 15, 2008 End Time Sunday, May 25, 2008 Location Waban, Massachusetts See more about 'rare antique black Joel Ellis doll,period clothes NR' Description We are cleaning out 40 years of accumulated collecting clutter.   This is a very rare Joel Ellis doll, American made in Springfield Vt. c 1873. (these were made for just 2 years).  There are many pictures to show you the elaborately jointed construction (jointed at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees) which makes it pose-able) and the beautifully turned wood. Unlike the similar Mason and Taylor dolls the head is carved wood (not composition) and the feet are wood, not metal,  and the elaborately painted and carved heeled boots look like they are heeled and soled with metal.  there is all the usual wear and paint losses that attest to its age and character but there is no damage-  other than chips to the paint surface, no missing limbs or breakage.   The back of the head and especially the sides of the neck has wear to the corkscrew curls and you can actually see the original carving marks, visable due to the paint losses, fascinating!      There are wooden spoon hands with deatiled fingers, very graceful.  I believe the body to be made of turned maple,  it has a very rich patina. This is a very rare example of early American doll making by a well known maker who made a very limited number of dolls.   It is a fabulous example of American folk art at its finest!      The clothing is of the period consisting mainly of whitewear ( full slip, camisole top, to which somene added snap fasteners in the back, and slip, overlayed with a calico cotton apron with elaborate ties.  With no reserve and a low opening big you can just have fun with this! .......................................... I will be listing more lots such as doll and doll house items, a trunk lot and several other items of interest to doll, art and folk art collectors . Please check my other listings, you will always find an interesting bargain, as everything must go. (BTW I am happy to combine for shipping whenever possible, if items are light weight enough to ship together without bumping up the weight or size of the box significantly, and can all fit in the box.)  On May-17-08 at 13:01:21 PDT, seller added the following information:here is the info I had received from the expert on wooden dolls. ........................."Co-operative Manufacturing Co.", (on page 176 in mine). Also, there is a photo and listing in the 16th Blue Book Dolls and Values by Jan Foulke under "Wood, American ".  Your doll is a Joel Ellis and I keep looking at the hands as best I can, and they sure look like the fingers are the original metal ones in the photo. That is why I was questioning you about them. Can you see any metal showing where there may be chipping?  It really hurts her value if they are wood. One of mine has the same shaped hands in lead..............................the lower arms, hands and feet are definetely metal, solid not hollow,  they just look like wood!  (the calves are wood, jointed to the metal feet at the ankle).   These limbs are original to the doll.   The doll on page 176 of the 1st Coleman Enclyclopedia looks just like mine except the head and torso are painted white, not black!    Mine has touch up painting to the face.   The one in the book has a very worn face (as most of them are).  If you do not like the touch up painting you can always remove it.  I hope this helps!!    I'm very appreciative of this additional information, thanks. Ellen    On May-23-08 at 19:37:46 PDT, seller added the following information:p.s.  I used Google again, a search on Joel Ellis doll, and came across various entries with pictures.  Here is info from one of the websites:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Joel Ellis - Vermont Novelty CoJoel Addison Hartley Ellis (1858-1925) patented the jointing of a wooden doll. The hands and feet are cast lead. The bodies, arms and legs were lathe turned rock maple. The heads were moistened end grain maple steam, pressure molded like the Schoenhut dolls. The bodies are unique with metal hands and feet. The joints are mortise and "split tendons". I suspect that the split tendon was slightly squeezed into the mortise for a tight fit, creating the tension needed to hold a pose. There are several business names associated with Ellis: Vermont Novelty CoEllis, Britton & EatonThe Cooperative Manufacturing Co.The heads and faces of these dolls are generally in bad shape. Steam pressed wood will try to expand when exposed to moisture, thus popping off any paint. Also they were likely given a lot of use. Ellis gave up making dolls in 1873. ..........Another website stated: ....................   A man by the name Joel Ellis formed The Vermont Novelty Works in the 1850s in Springfield, Vermont. The company invented and patented jointed dolls and doll carriages. This African American, or "Negro," example, created in 1873, was a special order..................two things occurred to me after reading this:1. since this states that the paint on the faces has generally worn off it seems fairly clear that the face on this doll has been touced up.   I will not remove it to get back to a more original state but rather would leave that to you.2. since the black Joel Ellis doll was not made until 1873, as a special order, and Vermont Novelty Works stopped doing business in 1873, I would surmise that a black version of the Joel Ellis doll is extremely rare.I hope this helps. Ellen Place a Bid!