2006.5.67

A: Is the Storybook Doll, porcelain, with movable arms, painted peach colored with blue eyes and dark brown wavy hair wig. She's dressed in a red and white floral print dress, whitenylon apron, trimmed with a red and green floral printed tape; dress is pinned on . Tied around her head is a ruffled red rayon "cap," held in place with a red satin ribbon.Tied to her right arm is a toy broom (a few copper wires wraped around the sweeping part). Her black, skimmer-style shoes are painted on. B: Bottom of the box (in which the doll came); glossy white paper, printed with red dots. A metallic silver label is at one end reading: "Saturday's Child Must Work for a Living, 185." C: Lid to the box, also glossy white paper, printed with red dots.

Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls were very popular during the 1940s. There was a factory in Berkely where the ceramic dolls were manufactured (poured into molds). The commercial address for the business was usually given as San Francisco. The dolls were popular with girls between the ages of 5 and 15; there were special cases built for them (hanging on walls, or standing on the floor) where one's collection could be stored and seen. To see the "Nancy Ann Storybook Doll" dotted box through tissuepaper was always a special thrill. The dolls were dressed to represent various stories, fairytales, rhymes (Like Monday's Child is Fair of Face, Tuesday's Child is Full of Grace, Wednesday's child is Full of Woe, Thursday's Child Has Far to Go, Friday's Child is Loving and Giving, Saturday's Child Must Work for a Living; but, the Child that's born on the Sabbath Day is Bonnie, and Blythe and Good and Gay." Most dolls were the size of this doll, but some were made in an infant form, and others were made slightly taller than this doll. Although some had moving heads, and moving legs, most were made the rigid heads and legs.

Used: childhood | Playing | Collecting