Among the many types of dolls that have passed through my workshop to be repaired are the sultry vamps of the 1920’s, known as boudoir or bed dolls. These popular dolls represented a new era of a more liberated woman. Bed dolls were – shall we say, the cat’s pajamas or bee’s knees. The popularity of the bed doll lasted from the 1920’s into the 1940’s, by the 1950’s these dolls faded away from the doll market.
Bed dolls were made for adults and used as décor mainly in the bedroom, thus the name, bed doll. These dolls were made long and lank so that they could be posed in a wide variety of ways.
Bed dolls were first produced in the 1920’s; the makeup and clothing they wore reflected the fashions of the time. The bed dolls have highly arched brows, they eyes are heavily shadowed; the lashes are thick and luxurious. The full pouty, bee stung lips are usually painted bright red and the cheeks are heavily rouged. Some bed dolls even have a cigarette in their mouth. Often you will find bed dolls with painted fingernails in daring shades of color like cherry red. Like other dolls of the 20’s the dolls wig was usually made of mohair. The hairstyles could be long or short in marcelled style or they may flaunt the bob style that was so very popular in the 20’s. The bed dolls body was unusually long with long limbs and flat chested, most often it was made of cloth stuffed with either straw or sawdust. The head and hands were made of composition or molded cloth. Most bed dolls had molded high heeled shoes or boots that were made of composition.
The costumes vary on bed dolls. Some were sold with out clothing, to be dressed by the owner. Other bed dolls came dressed in elaborate dresses or silk smoking pajamas. The exquisite dresses on many of the dolls had full circular skirts that could be spread out around the doll as decoration when she was posed on a bed.
The bed dolls often resemble movie stars such as Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish or Clara Bow. In the 30’s and 40’s these dolls took on the look of Joan Crawford with fuller eyebrows and an increased chest size.
Because the bed dolls were so popular a cheaper version can be found that was given away as carnival prizes. These dolls lack the quality of the store bought bed dolls. Their paint is not as lovely and their clothing is stapled to the body.
It is rare to find a bed doll that is marked by the manufacturer or one with a signed wrist tag, however there are a few such as those made by the Standard Doll Co., Sterling, or Lenci.
Over the last few years I have observed that the prices collectors pay for bed dolls are on the rise. What you could pick up for pennies on the dollar 10 years ago is now going for a much higher rate. Yes, the bed dolls of the roaring 20’s, these naughty alluring babes are gaining in popularity among collectors and taking their rightful place in doll collections around the world.
