D-265
Schoenhut Wedding Party consisting of 6 dolls. This wedding party by Schoenhut appears to be unique. Five of the six characters are completely original and dressed by the factory. There is also a family resemblance in several of the dolls adding to the assumption that this collection was made to commemorate a specific wedding. The bride is the unique figure. She is 19 in. (48cm.) tall. Her head is Graziano`s model 300 painted in the style and colors of the Classic period. Her intaglio eyes are a bright light blue. Her skin tone is the peachier color of the post 1911 dolls with the oranger cheek blush, but she has single stroke eyebrows typical of the Graziano models. Her hair is a thick fine tosca mohair parted in the middle and pulled down and back into a smooth chignon with a braid around it. By mounting her older looking Graziano head on the Manikin body, she has the appearance of a young woman rather than a child. Her original china silk dress melted completely and has been carefully copied in antique silk pongee. She came with black manikin stockings and no shoes as her long dress covered her feet. She now has white stockings and Schoenhut factory white slippers. Her bouquet of wax orange blossoms is original.
The groom is model 21/407 with brown intaglio eyes and feathered brown eyebrows and a tosca (light brown) side part wig used on that model in 1912 and probably 1913. He is dressed in a black wool felt tuxedo, with silk lined lapels and covered buttons. He has a white shirt, ties, and vest. He also has black Schoenhut oxfords and stocking.
The minister is a manikin model with brown painted hair and blue eyes. His vibrant color is original. He is dressed in a long black robe. Under his robe is a white shirt front with a padded cloth wrapped around his chest and tacked to the back of his torso. He has black felt trousers, he carries a tiny black leather-bound book titled The Baby`s Bible and Prayer Book in. by Cecil C. Carpenter.
The flower girl is doll 16/301/538 in a lace trimmed white dress and that worn by the trainbearer were not offered after that year. Her short blonde bob is the standard style worn by that model before 1917. She has white stockings and slippers.
The ring bearer is doll 16/403/812 with pink trim rather than the standard blue. He carries a small pink pillow to hold the ring. After 1914 suit 812 is in the factory catalog with a choice of blue or pink trim. It was offered through 1918 with white braid striped on the shield rather than a white star. His shoes and stockings are factory white originals. He also has a light blond bob and blue eyes like the flower girl. Their round faces and coloring make them appear to be related to the bride.
The little trainbearer appears related to the groom. Her left side part with her brunette bob swept to the right side, as well as her brown eyes, fit with the groom. They both have slimmer faces and strong chins. She is model 14/311, the wigged version of the “bonnet head” (106). Her dress is another top of the line from the 1914 Doll Catalog, number 539. She came without the silk ribbon sash shown in the catalog. Because her shoes and stockings were pale blue, which have faded to white, I added a pale blue silk ribbon sash. Both girls have matching edge trimmed white silk hair ribbons, which may be why their dresses do not have the bright colorful ribbons, which are shown in the catalog.
A special feature of this set is that each character has a different face, unlike other Wedding party manufacturers that used the same model doll, only varying the wigs and costumes to indicate the different members of the party. Unfortunately, the history of why the set was made and the wedding it commemorates has been lost, but fortunately the set has been carefully preserved together in almost entirely original condition.