A very lovable little boy, this cloth doll was handmade in the 1920's by a woman named Lou Potts. According to the handwritten note included, "Grandma" Lou Potts made the doll from "comfort material" samples she sent for {possibly comforter material}. He has brown button eyes, nose and three buttons down his front, sewn endearingly slightly crooked. He's wearing a machine stitched muslin sailor's cap that's a bit too large for him and tends to slip down over his eyes. He's 10 inches tall, 3 inches across the chest and weighs 3 ounces with his hat on. He has some stains and darkened areas, and his left arm and leg are separating from the body (on his back only), revealing the wool stuffing (shown),
He's nestled in a dark-stained pine cradle that, according to the other note included, was purchased in Washington, D.C. in 1953 to use as a planter. There is no evidence that it was ever used that way, since it's very clean, with no water stains or odors. The cradle is ink-stamped on the bottom with the logo of Tidewater Crafts of Virginia. The company made Colonial-style home accessories for the Early American Revival of the 1950's. The cradle measures 11 inches long, 6 1/2 inches across each rocker and 5 1/2 inches across the top. It's a bit taller at the head (6 1/2 inches) than at the foot (6 inches) and weighs 1 1/2 pounds.
The doll and cradle are accompanied by a mini pillow with a top of pink and white woven coverlet material and cream-colored linen on the underside. It measures 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches and is clean and quite new-looking.
We'll be sure to send the handwritten notes to you for this charming group.
