Rare dolls go under the hammer

RARE dolls by Shropshire toymaker Norah Wellings go under the hammer at Moore Allen & Innocent’s general and antique sale on Friday, September 12.

Wellings designed and produced dolls from her Victoria Toy Works between 1926 and 1959. Each of her dolls comes with a label of authenticity stitched onto the bottom of the left foot.

Unusually, her dolls were constructed entirely of soft materials, including the heads. The examples going to auction in Cirencester are made of velvet.

What makes the larger of the two dolls unusual is its size. Most Wellings dolls were around twelve inches in length. The African tribal doll, complete with original grass skirt and jewellery and painted lips and teeth, comes in at an impressive 36 inches. Her smaller friend is 17 inches in length.

Auctioneer Chris Surfleet said: “Norah Wellings’ dolls are very collectable, not least because when she closed the factory in 1959 she burned the designs and the doll-making tools, despite offers from large toy manufacturers to buy the brand.”

The pair of dolls carries an estimate of £100 to £150.

A limited edition goblet celebrating the thirteenth centenary of Gloucester Cathedral was produced in a run of 681. That might seem an odd number in which to produce a limited edition of anything, but refers to the year in which King Ethelred of Mercia gave the go-ahead for construction.

Crafted in 1981, this silver and silver gilt goblet was designed by the renowned silversmith Hector Miller, who created the winner’s trophy for the first London Marathon and whose Millennium Pen Stand for the Goldsmiths Company was the first piece of silver to be stamped with the 2000 hallmark.

Bearing the London hallmark of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths this six-and-a-half inch piece weighs over 11 ounces and is number 150/681. It carries an estimate of £100 to £150.

Finally, a clock decorated with scenes from the Cotswold market town of Witney is just the kind of thing that makes collectors and dealers tick.

Produced by a member of the Harris family in the early 1800s – confusingly John, Joshua and James all signed off their clocks ‘J Harris’ – this thirty hour long clock has a hand-painted face and vignette painted spandrels depicting scenes of Witney in the early 19th century.

Crafted in oak and mahogany, the clock is expected to achieve between £500 and £700.

Rare dolls by Norah Wellings	A goblet commemorating the thirteenth centenary of Gloucester Cathedral
The face of a long case clock depicting scenes of Witney