Gorgeous Vintage Sleepy Eyed * Harriet Flanders 1937 Compo 17" LITTLE CHERUB Baby
All ORIGINAL dressed in PINK w/pink trim~ This purchase is for the doll dressed in PINK only.
See my other listing for her TWIN dressed in YELLOW available separately.
BONUS: I will include a beautiful reproduction COPY of the book Harriet Flanders wrote with your order (ship date for the book is mid-December and will ship separately).
What an ADORABLE and RARE little doll baby... this is a 1937 all composition LITTLE CHERUB doll in exemplary lovely HIGH COLOR all original CONDITION... and she is absolutely gorgeous. She stands just 17" -- a prize for any collector of composition dolls.
Manufactured by the Averill Doll Company which was started by Georgene Averill of the 'Madame Hendren' line of dolls, this exceptionally darling baby was designed by an employee of Averill... Harriet Flanders. Harriet originally wrote a book entitled "Little Cherub" and the doll was subsequently designed to accompany the book.
Very few of these little ones were made, and fewer still have survived well over the years. She is the largest of the two sizes made (smaller one just 12") and is a lovely example of the 17" Cherub. Her coloring is exquisite, however there is a moderate amount of crazing to her head, and minor light crazing to her limbs. This can be seen more or less in the photos I provide here. The composition is smooth and even in color and tone with no apparent paint loss. She still has blush to her knees and elbows. Her joints are strung nicely for fun posing her to stand or sit. She is appropriately marked on the nape of her neck "Harriet Flanders / 1937".
The true GEM here is her complete and nearly perfect pink cotton lawn all original outfit -- dress, bonnet, slip, panties, socks and shoes.
She wears her pink cotton lawn dress and bonnet, and matching trim slip, and panties tied with ribbons at the hips, and BIG Pink FLOPPY "Flower" Hat.
I have always loved this little doll, because of her story, and her impish flirty glance is endearing to the heart, wouldn't you say? Doll herself is ALL ORIGINAL, with NO repaints, NO restorations of any kind but for replaced irises. She has striking clear blue eyes; however, one eye has loss to much of her natural brush lashes. It is like she is straight out of a time machine... gorgeous!
Cherub's head rotates on the neck flange easily, allowing you to place her in an 'infinite' variety of poses... really makes her little personality shine. Her body has bent arms and toddler legs -- Beautiful coloring and pink flesh tone lend this little sweetie pie all the desirable characteristics of a highly collectible doll... truly a fabulous find for those who love composition dolls.
I have included many photos for your assessment of this sweetest of baby girls... simply superb! Adorable face!
Beautiful blonde molded and painted hair is near perfection, with just one small lift in the surface that has been sealed and barely noticeable upon scrutiny. Darling little 'clumps' of sunny yellow color array in a burst around her little head... like a halo for the little angel she is!
If you reference Ursala R. Mertz book, Vol. I "Collector's Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls", you will find a dress variation to this original factory outfit on Little Cherub on page 119.
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