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VALENTINE'S LADIES DOLLS
Valentine's Ladies are the creation of Pamella and Noel Valentine, originally of southern California in the United States. As near as can be determined Pamella started producing Valentine's Ladies some time in the late 1970's on inexpensive hard plastic dolls. These dolls have sleep eyes, but lovely costumes, as is Pamella's trademark. Only two examples of these dolls have surfaced. This lovely lady is only 8 inches tall with a lovely lavender dress circa 1870-80 and a spectacular bonnet of flowers.
Although the costuming is lovely, the doll is quite ordinary.
Later, the Valentine's would begin producing the dolls as all porcelain manequins for their detailed costumes. The 10.5 inch dolls were made in additions of 50-100. The original price was around $200
A small paper catalog was produced for marketing purposes and these early dolls were able to be mail ordered directly from the Valentine's. In addition, the couple sold profusely at doll shows in their area of California for a period of about 10 years.
In recent months a new type of Valentine's Lady has surfaced. These dolls are large at about 14-15 inches, still all porcelain, but with a more flowing costume. The face is lovely and serene.
These dolls were made in editions of only 3 each. The original price was between $350-400.
In an agreement with Gorham Dolls in the late 1980's, the Valentine's agreed to the reproduction and manufacture of fifteen of their original designed Valentine's Ladies. Gorham was slated to be produce, over a 4 year period, two or more dolls each year. These mass produced dolls were made in editions of 2500. The detailing and construction were true to the originals.
They are clothed in period costumes with charming accessories like parasols, hand bags, and beaded jewelry. They are miniature works of art disguised as fashion dolls.
Felicia Dolly Rose
These lovely ladies have their maribou finery in common. Rose was my first purchase of a Gorham Valentine Lady, although she was #14 in the series. She is very "Billie Holiday", isn't she? Felicia was the second purchase because she was the perfect compliment to Rose and she had the same name of my aunt's sister. Dolly came to me via Ebay auctions, without a name. She reminded me of Barbra Streisand's Dolly Levi in that lovely lavender dress from the movie Hello Dolly. She is one of the artist's original, one of 100.
Dolly
Valentine's Ladies Links
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