A SOUGHT AFTER BARTHOLOMINO DOLL "CONSTANCE" --SIGNED BY ARTIST

   A number of these dolls are on display in the Montagu museum Western Cape

 Rare and highly sort after South African doll. Read below for the history of this doll. In excellent condition except for a repair to the wrist. See all images.Carolyn Metcalfe grew up in the Klein Karoo town of Montagu where she attended high school. She and her sisters all loved to play with dolls and they all had a great love of dogs. After leaving school, she studied ceramics, completing a 3 year Diploma at Johannesburg College of Art in 1969. Whilst struggling to survive in London, she paid a visit to a few antique shops where she was drawn to the Victorian Bartholomina dolls. She was fortunate enough to have someone show her how to make the dolls and through her focus and dedication, taught herself how to make modern versions of the dolls.

She remained in England for 4 years, then returned to South Africa in 1976 where she became the pioneer in the home crafting industry by supplying the dolls in kit form to this burgeoning cottage industry. The kits were limited editions of 300 at which point the moulds were destroyed. These kits were extremely popular with ladies groups at the time and Carolyn, to this day, still receives enquiries. A few examples of her dolls can be seen at the Montagu Museum. After having 3 children, the production of the dolls in kit form stopped.

In Carolyn’s own words: “I had had enough of dolls and perhaps I made them because I was longing for children.” There is a note of regret that she did not keep at least a few of the original moulds of this period in her life.