Spun Cotton Ornaments are currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
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Gallery of Past Works
All of the items shown here are of my own design; they are not exact copies of any particular antique. They are however, based on numerous similar antiques. They have been made using the methods and materials that would have been used to create these types of decorations in their original time periods. These are new ornaments, which I have signed and dated. Each ornament is made one at a time, without the use of a pattern, so every one is unique. Sizes listed are approximate.
The heyday of spun cotton ornaments, which were generally Christmas tree decorations, was from 1880- to the early 1900’s. Spun cotton ornaments were most typically made with either lithographed paper scrap, bisque, or spun cotton faces. Lithographed paper scraps were being imported from Germany to the United States as early as the 1840’s. I adhere to very traditional construction techniques when making my ornaments, meticulously hand spinning loose bleached cotton fibers over wire armatures and dressing figures in intricate, detailed costumes. When using clay faces, I make molds from antique doll heads in my personal collection, then carefully hand cast and paint each head.
Red Santa in Batting Coat Spun Cotton Ornament
5 ½ inch tall hanging ornament. A red spun cotton Santa with a scrap face and batting coat. He is carrying a real feather tree that is topped with a tiny wax candle.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
This ornament is made of cotton, which has been spun over wire and hand dyed. He has a “scrap” paper face (which will vary), antique buttons and a tiny bottle brush tree. Around 5-1/2 inches tall. Choice of red or blue.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Father Christmas and Two Children Ornament Set
6 inch Father Christmas, 5 inch girl, 4 inch boy and two 2-¼ inch dolls. Father Christmas carries a bag of vintage glass ornaments. Scrap faces may vary.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Merry Christmas
This pair of spun cotton figures are 6 ¾ and 7 inches high, respectively. Each is made of spun cotton over a wire armature, with a clay face. They are dressed in crepe paper costumes that are accented with tiny “snow” covered fabric holly leaves and faux red berries. They have red glass glitter shoes and they are mounted on stands that have been covered in moss.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Happy Holly Days
6 ¼ inch hanging Christmas ornament made of spun cotton with a wire armature and clay face. He is wearing a crepe paper costume and has red glass glitter shoes. His clothing accents and “hair” are tiny fabric holly leaves and red berries.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Winter Wonderland
5-¾ inch tall hanging Christmas ornament with lithographed scrap face. Coat, hood, muff and leggings made from vintage cotton batting sprinkled with mica flakes. Skirt made from vintage crepe paper. Hand painted shoes. Embellished with antique buttons and dried holly.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Girl with Red Shoes Spun Cotton Ornament
8-½ in. spun cotton ornament with 2-¼ in. doll. Scrap faces may vary.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Swinging Girl
A 5-inch tall swinging girl Christmas ornament with a wire armature, which allows her to be posed in a sitting position on a glitter covered swing with tinsel roping. She has a free form spun cotton face. Her hair is made from hand dyed kid mohair, tied with a pink silk ribbon. She is wearing layered crepe paper petticoats and a skirt, topped with a scalloped trimmed jacket made of vintage cotton Christmas drape. Sparkly pink glitter shoes cover her feet.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
$79.00
Child in White Lace Gown
7 inches tall. A charming young child with a spun cotton body and clay head and shoulders. She has hand dyed mohair curls tied with a silk ribbon. Her gown is made of white crepe paper and antique lace in the style of early 1800’s children’s chemise dresses.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Small Girl in Red and Green Dress
At 6 inches high. Dressed in a green and red crepe paper dress.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Boy in Red and Blue
6 inches. A young black gentleman, dressed in red and blue crepe paper, a newspaper hat, cotton batting collar and glass glitter boots. He is delivering a Christmas post card that is a small version of an antique card in my collection. Available with your choice of two different faces. Top photo face A, bottom photo face B.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Snow White, Rose Red and Little Sister Spun Cotton Ornament Set
This set of Christmas sisters is comprised of three spun cotton figures on plaster “snowball” bases. The total heights of the girls including the bases are 11 1/2 inches, 10 1/2 inches and 9 1/2 inches. All three have lithographed paper faces which may vary, wire armatures, crepe paper skirts, cotton batting coats and hoods, and ruby red glass glitter shoes. The off-white batting is vintage and the red batting is hand-dyed. They are carrying four 2 3/4 inch and 2 inch spun cotton dolls, which have been made in the same manner as the larger spun cotton figures. The tiny glass ball ornaments are vintage. $110 each or $300 for the set of three.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Girl with Red Sash and Blue Shoes Spun Cotton Ornament
6 ½ inches tall. A charming young miss wearing a white crepe paper dress with a red sash and blue glitter shoes. She has an imported scrap paper face.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Tempus Fugit Spun Cotton Ornament
6 inches tall. This New Years reveler is dressed in black crepe paper with sparkly silver accents. He has a newspaper hat with a black and silver cockade, plus silver glass glitter shoes and “buttons”.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Stroke of Midnight Spun Cotton Ornament
6 inches tall. Just counting down the minutes until the last stroke of midnight, this young boy is a hanging ornament that will brighten any New Year’s celebration. He is dressed in silver tissue paper with black crepe paper and glass glitter embellishments.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Happy New Year Spun Cotton Ornament
10 inch hanging New Year ornament made of spun cotton over a wire armature with a clay face. The dress she is wearing is made up of layers of black crepe paper, vintage silver crepe paper and silver tissue paper, embellished with black glass glitter and silver tinsel garland. Her hair is hand dyed kid mohair. The shoes and hat on this ornament are coated in silver and black glass glitter.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Ring Out the Old…
10-½ inch tall hanging New Year ornament with hand cast clay face. This ornament has hand-dyed mohair hair and a glass glitter covered paper crown. Her dress is made from tissue paper, with crepe paper trim, glass glitter-coated antique buttons and silk ribbon. Her petticoat is made of crepe paper. She has a glass glitter bracelet and shoes.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Auld Lang Syne Spun Cotton Ornament
This 8 inch ornament is ready to usher out the old year and welcome in the new. She has hand-dyed auburn mohair curls, a sparkly head band, and glass glitter dancing slippers. Her multi-layered dress is made of black crepe paper and silver tissue paper with a black rosette at the back of her silver sash.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Scrap Face Valentine Boy Spun Cotton Ornament
5-1/2 inch tall spun cotton boy with a wire armature, dressed in a red crepe paper sailor suit. Details include lithographed scrap paper face, glass glitter hearts on elbows and hat, glass glitter boots, striped stockings, and miniature version of an antique valentine from my personal collection. He has a vintage rayon cord loop.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Girl with Red Shoes Spun Cotton Ornament
8-½ in. spun cotton ornament with 2-¼ in. doll. Scrap faces may vary.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Izannah Inspired Spun Cotton Ornament 1
This is a 4-inch tall, newly hand made, spun cotton ornament. It was inspired by the wonderful antique cloth dolls made by Izannah Walker in the mid-1800’s. This small Izzy wears a crepe paper dress that is embellished with black satin ribbon. She has painted hair and boots and a wire armature. Her paper face is a photograph of one of my antique Izannah Walker dolls. If you would like to read more about the Izannahs in my collection, please visit my Izannah Walker journal.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
Izannah Inspired Spun Cotton Ornament 2
This is a 4-inch tall, newly hand made, spun cotton ornament. It was inspired by the wonderful antique cloth dolls made by Izannah Walker in the mid-1800’s. This small Izzy wears a crepe paper dress that is embellished with an all over painted design. She has painted hair and boots and a wire armature. Her paper face is a photograph of one of my antique Izannah Walker dolls. If you would like to read more about the Izannahs in my collection, please visit my Izannah Walker journal.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
All Hallows Eve Ball
This figure is a larger sized version of a traditional spun cotton ornament. Her face is made of pressed and molded cotton. Like all spun cotton figures, she has a wire armature, which allows her to be posed in a sitting position. Her hair is made from hand dyed kid mohair. I costumed her in an outfit reminiscent of those shown in early 1900’s crepe paper crafting books published by the Dennison Company. She is wearing a dress and multiple layers of petticoats fashioned from crepe paper, trimmed in black Dresden trims and velvet ribbon. Her hat is made from wool felt, with a velvet band and a glittered hatpin. Sparkly glitter shoes, Dresden paper bracelets, and a ruffled owl mask are the finishing touches on her Halloween ensemble.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
$295.00
Moonstruck
This figure is an elaborate fantasy combination of a spun cotton ornament and a paper doll with crepe paper clothing, such as those produced by the Dennison Company in the early 1900’s. Her body is spun cotton over a wire armature, with a chromolithographed paper scrap face. Standing upon a mica dusted spun cotton moon, she is wearing a party frock comprised of layers of crepe paper – with edges cut with an antique pinking machine and tulle, trimmed with velvet ribbon and luna moths made of embossed Dresden paper. Over her shoulders she wears a crepe paper and tissue paper cape. Her hat is fashioned from wool felt, accented with velvet ribbon and a crepe paper blossom. Other details include Dresden paper bangle bracelets and shoes made of black flocking and glitter. In her hand is a crystal ball, for telling the future, & in her bag are stars to sprinkle amongst the heavens.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
$375.00
Miss Liberty Spun Cotton Ornament
8-½ inch ornament carries American flag and torch. Scrap face may vary.
Approximate Shipping Time: Currently being offered only during a limited number of my occasional Pop-Up Shops.
A Sweet Remembrance 