Vintage Historical Portrait Compo & Cloth Dolls 1930s-on

These 8 character dolls are 12 1/2"-13" composition and cloth historical portrait dolls that are attached to wooden bases with wooden dowels. Their composition or clay-like heads are modeled and painted in an expressive manner, and their distinctive hairstyles are intricately detailed with painted waves, locks, and curls . The dolls' shoulder heads are attached to firmly stuffed cloth torsos and legs, while their composition arms are attached to their torsos via floppy cloth tabs. All are dressed in elaborate period costuming sewn from fine fabrics, while their "well-cobbled" shoes are constructed from leather or leatherette. The dolls remain in sturdy condition with minimal flaking to their molded faces (noses), well-coiffed painted hair, and more simply modeled arms and hands. Their outfits sustain light fading, dust, wear, and spotting from age and storage. More notably foxed are the ladies' undergarments, while lace is unraveling from a few of the costumes. The dolls remain in sturdy condition for their age. I believe that they were handcrafted in the USA circa the 1930s Depression era. Included with them is a tag that reads "Handicraft Dolls// Made In// North Platte, NEBR." (Originally found on Pinkie.) I cannot locate any other maker's marks. Recently a similar grouping of dolls were offered at auction and one doll in that group, George Washington, was tagged "Kimcraft." One of the dolls in that grouping also represented the Duchess of Windsor. She was painted and costumed in the same manner as the Duchess of Windsor doll commissioned by Elsie Krug that was most likely sculpted by Marion Branning, an instructor at the Maryland Institute. Elsie Krug sold the Duke and Duchess dolls at her International Doll House in Baltimore, Maryland. Speculation arises that Marion Branning sculpted other portrait dolls for Elsie Krug. It is very possible that some of the historical figures in this lot were sculpted by Marion Branning and sold by Elsie Krug. As a side note, these dolls were purchased from Connecticut. I was able to identify most of the portraits in this grouping. Included are George Washington, Queen Elizabeth (?), Theodore Roosevelt, Pinkie, Blue Boy, Mary Todd Lincoln (labeled), and Martha Jefferson Randolph (labeled). The Lady in a white gown and wearing a black shawl remains a mystery. Engaging, these dolls are important American works of art in portraiture.