Doll News Summer 2019 - 65

as a pedlar doll project." Purchasers of more
than six dolls received a discount.
The Laughon's book collection contains
copies of doll texts that many of us possess;
the books will also be auctioned. They are
peppered with notes and slips of paper
marking pages, which relate to particular dolls.
A marked page in The Dolls of Yesterday by
Eleanor St George, shows a photograph of an
"English Wooden pedlar doll." Called "Notion
Nanny," and part of Eleanor's own collection,
this doll's image graces the book's cover (see
page 78 of Doll News Spring 2019 Issue). Her
costume echoes that of the display "Pedlar"
doll. She may be familiar to visitors to the
Laughon's sales table at fairs and conventions.
Tom remembers his mother Helen was
an avid reader of antique publications
and magazines, and the family was very
active in national, state and local historical
preservation organisations. In 1973 they
literally moved house. They bought a
Colonial-era dwelling, built around 1796,
and transplanted it piece-by-piece to the site
on Three Chopt Road, Richmond, Virginia.
Helen "grew up on the very same road,"
as Nel wrote to Billie Aye, in March 2001.
They restored and decorated their home,
"Cheswick," so beautifully that it was
regularly featured in historical magazines. A
Fall/Winter 1986/87 issue of Traditional Home
Magazine described its "elegant contents".

"FROM PASTORATE TO DOLL WORLD:"
In 1979 Fred was commissioned under the
Williamsburg Toy Reproduction Program to
create a replica of "Ida McKinley" a historic
doll in their collection. The original doll is
named after President McKinley's tragic
wife, Ida, to whom she once belonged. The
prototype "Ida" doll was among the treasure
trove, and can be seen in the bench portrait,
seated on the far left. We can be certain
that she is the prototype because her back
is inscribed "#1 Fred Laughon Abby Aldrich
Rockflr Museum - Xmas 1978". "Ida" is the
earliest dated Fred Laughon doll, pre-dating
his retirement in 1979. It is clear from this
that when the Laughons started to sell at
local craft fairs following Fred's retirement
their new doll-making adventure was
already up and running.
The "#1 Ida McKinley" doll is a highly
accurate copy of the original, and one of
the few dolls dressed by Helen. The level of
detail had to be simplified for the version
that was sold under the imprint of the Abby
Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Centre, boxed,
with a clothing kit. The commercial "Ida"
This early 19th century
Grodnertal doll was part
displays the more developed Laughon
of the Laughon's small
'house style'. It is wonderful to note that
collection of vintage
the family has kindly donated "#1 Ida
and antique dolls. She
is 7½-inches tall and
McKinley" to Colonial Williamsburg, to join
while her features show
her big sister in their collection.
her age, she is very
"Ida's" close cousin, "Jane the Cook"
charming. Photograph by
kind permission of Brunk
is also a replica doll. The Laughon's 1990
Auctions, Inc.
"SMALL FURNITURE WINTERTHUR
Price List states that "F Warne & Company,
DOLLS FOR COLONIAL
England, has approved the making of
WILLIAMSBURG:" Fred made much of the furniture
"Jane the Cook," the peg-wooden doll in Beatrix Potter's
for their home, replicating antique and historic pieces to
illustration in the book Two Bad Mice. It will be ready for sale
a high degree of accuracy, including a cherry highboy,
in 1991. Orders will be accepted now." The prototype of this
Chippendale-style mirror and Hepplewhite-style sideboards. doll was in the treasure trove, together with a mahogany
He crafted a number of these same pieces in miniature for
peg wooden dressed in a copy of "Jane's" pink floral dress,
sale. Family members remember visiting museums, some of
also sold separately. This resolves a question: the idea for
which Fred was already working with such as Winterthur,
this replica doll came from the Laughons rather than the
Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello, where sketches were
publisher, and they sought permission to replicate her.
made, and measurements taken. The family would travel
Another 'Jane' in this little family group of dolls is the
four to six weeks each summer, combining Fred's ministry
very sweet "Jane Austin" (or Austen), she appears to be the
work with vacation, and visiting museums in the United
only doll of her type so titled, with her name inked onto
States and Europe to study their collections.
her back. She is a 10-inch peg wooden, with more detailed

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Doll News Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Summer 2019