You've seen them at flea markets, estate sales and in antique shops. They are wooden, hand painted and have jointed legs and arms. Some have 'Made in Poland' stickers on their big feet and all of them are cute! My daughter began collecting these little sweeties when her Polish great-grandmother gave her one of these dolls as a gift. The hunt was on to find more of these little character dolls and my daughter's collection grew.
Over the years we managed to gather bits and pieces of information about these dolls but there seemed to be very little of it out there. We discovered they are made by a sort of wooden doll cottage industry in Poland. A sample of them was found in a doll book once but I cannot remember which book. While flipping through a vintage 1970's House and Garden magazine I did find a black and white ad in the classifieds for ordering the Pinocchio dolls:
Stocking stuffer
What child hasn't heard of Pinocchio, the puppet who tried to be good? And what child wouldn't be delighted to find him on Christmas morning? Here he is, handmade by European woodworkers, gaily dressed in a knitted suit. His arms and legs move, and he's a lovable 7" tall. $1 each plus 25 cents post. Victoria Gifts, HG11, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
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| Classified ad in 1970's House and Garden magazine |
We have found some of these Polish dolls taller than 7". Some wear simple outfits while others can be quite elaborate. My impression is the wooden doll was mass produced but then sent to craft people who sewed and glued outfits for them using scraps of fabric, but I could be wrong. My reason for thinking this is due to the quality of the stitching or lack of.
Some of the larger dolls:
Some of the more interesting character dolls include these:
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| Little Red Riding Hood |
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| Little Red Riding Hood |
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| Nurse |
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| Nurse |
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| Hansel |
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| Gretel |
More character dolls:
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| Bellhops |
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| Scottish doll in kilt |
When collecting these vintage cuties look for cleanliness, good joints, paint that is not scratched, peeling or missing and overall appearance. Dolls usually sell in the $10.00 to $15.00 range, even less for well worn or damaged dolls and dolls that are only good for parts or in need repair. Some of the more elaborately clothed dolls or unusual character dolls can be more costly but I wouldn't pay much more than $25.00 for one. These wooden Polish dolls can be found everywhere and in all sorts of condition. Happy collecting!
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| Santa Claus |
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| Some of the Polish dolls on display |
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