And Now For Something Completely Different

 ...Something you hardly ever see.

An early French sewing basket? Ok, you've probably seen a sewing basket before. Maybe not an early one, though.

But one that includes a 'sewing doll?'

This one's from Kestner. Notice her apron -- you would use it for pins, needles and such.

 

She's bisque with mohair hair; c.1900, I would say. This little darling is less than 4" tall. (The basket is only 5" wide, anyways.)

Go here for more. 

Kestner was a German company famous for its dolls -- particularly the bisque versions, often with composition bodies. but bisque heads, like the sewing doll above.

Here's a Kestner half-sewing bisque doll, for comparison. She has jointed arms -- unusual for a piece of this type. 

I don't think she's quite as old as the first piece, but still early 1900s. Notice the fine detail on her fingers? 

Go here for more on that piece. 

Kestner was known for its care and fine quality in doll designs -- it is thought to have started in the 1820s, but made dolls through the 1930s. (I cannot seem to find when they ended production, but it appears to be 1938.) Their earlier dolls had wooden and papier mache heads; later on, they focused on bisque, like these girls. 

Thus endeth a quick lesson on sewing dolls! 

You're welcome.