Journey through the eyes of faceless Victorian dolls:interview with doll artist Linda Walsh-part I

With many fabrics and various mediums used in the productions of dollmaking, a creation is built; a design is put forth; imagery is developed and what materializes is the doll. However, as these steps are carefully followed, there is an essential part of doll making that is added and that is the quest of the dollmaker. Whether it is to capture a specific era in history or it is to illustrate costuming of the modern world, the quest of how the doll artists will portray his or her artistry determines the pivotal core of the doll that will actually captivate collectors from all over.

Linda Walsh is a doll artist that creates this path to such a quest for herself and her work. Indulging in the designs of the Victorian era, Linda Walsh fashions “faceless” dolls that construct an image of ladies with full dresses that are embellished with delicate lace; colorful bonnets, fancy hats and parasols that could be vision on the early afternoons of the 18th and early 19th century. In this interview with Linda, a discovery of how this doll artist presents that pivotal core of her doll making and how it is subsequently unleashed. Take a journey through the eyes of Linda’s “faceless” dolls, which are prepared of wood and other named materials. With all these combined elements, artistry and imagination is reformed.

EA: What historic costuming do you like to create?

LW: My passion is for the fashions of the Victorian Era and I would have to credit my grandmother for that. When I was a very young girl she gave me a very old print of Godey’s Fashions for August 1870 that belonged to my great, great aunt Flossie. I was captivated by the dresses and from that moment on I was hooked. In fact, sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. From that moment I wanted to make beautiful Victorian dolls and create my own Victorian doll patterns.

EA: How many years have you been creating your dolls?

LW: I have been sewing and crafting for close to 45 years now and had been thinking about creating my "faceless" Victorian Lady dolls for quite some time. I finally had a chance to design and create my 1st Victorian "Lady" in the spring of 1996. It was my "Linda" doll and was designed based upon a rough sketch I had drawn from an 1850 street costume that I had seen in a Godey print
Linda is a 16" free standing "faceless" doll. She has a lined 2-tier jacket, 3-tiered lined shawl, lined bonnet, lace trimmed parasol, lace trimmed dress with long lace trimmed and gathered sleeves, lace gloves, lace trimmed slip and long curly hair. Her bonnet and shawl are tied around her neck. Her arms are wire-shaped and covered. She also has a painted wood head and covered round wood base. Her inner body is made from a dowel covered with fabric and eyelet lace. A floral ribbon serves as a clasp for her lined jacket.

EA: How would you describe your visions when creating a doll?

LW: I have such a broad range of interests when it comes to dolls. In fact, I've never seen a doll I haven't loved and haven't wanted to make.  However, my passion is for my Victorians faceless "Ladies." My dolls are faceless because I wanted each of them to have their own distinctive personality. My feeling is that faces overwhelm the dolls personality and, therefore, have a greater impact on her personality. I wanted the clothing, hair, accessories, color scheme, etc. of the period to determine the personality of the doll. My feeling is that "Beauty lies not only in what is seen, but what is imagined. I believe the essence of a dolls faceless beauty should determine her personality."
 

Stay tuned for more on Linda Walsh's  beautiful faceless Victorian dolls. Photos are courtesy of Linda Walsh Original Dolls.  Questions on this article email Elizabeth.