Two 1920’s Dennison Paper Dolls with Sixteen Handmade Dresses

The Dennison Manufacturing Company of Framingham Massachusetts, was renown as a manufacturer and purveyor of paper goods such as tags, labels, crepe paper, wrapping paper and greetings cards in the 20th century. The company was founded in 1844 by Aaron L. Dennison and his father Andrew Dennison, jewelry makers in Brunswick, Maine, when Andrew made the first jewelry boxes in the United States on his cobbler’s bench. In 1890 the company moved to Framingham where they made the first American crepe paper in 1894. In 1896 they published a booklet entitled “Art & Decoration in Crepe and Tissue Paper” showcasing their line of crepe paper and tissue and containing instructions for using their paper to create accessories and clothing including paper doll dresses. By 1910, they were producing sets of heavy card paper dolls with sheets of color-printed crepe paper clothing ready to be cut, as well as patterns and paper for making original dresses.

These two embossed and jointed Dennison paper dolls and their outfits date to the 1920’s. They were part of a “Dennison’s Crepe and Tissue Paper Doll Outfit” set. The girl is 7 ½” tall with brown hair. The toddler is 6” tall. The dolls are riveted at the shoulder and hips and printed as if they are wearing their underwear, shoes and socks. Their names, “Eleanor” and “Bob O”, are pencilled on their backs. Four handmade tissue and crepe paper, one hand painted, and two crayoned dresses accompany Eleanor. Five handmade tissue and crepe paper outfits, one hand painted dress, and three crayoned dresses accompany Bob O. There is also a cardboard hat template, a cardboard dress template and a paper dress template.

The dolls have multiple bends from play. The toddler’s arms, legs and neck have been reinforced. Please examine the photos and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

While you are here, do enjoy the other paper doll related items I have available for sale at this time. Thank you for visiting my shop today.