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This lovely china head doll has a secret. She is 13" tall, circa 1850's with a pressed in the mold thick china head with slight pink tint and rare hairstyle we equate to a modified Alice. Her hair is combed back away from her face, exposing her ears and leaving many tiny brush strokes along her forehead and temples. She has a molded hair band that crosses the back of her head horizontally from ear to ear, with long ringlet curls hanging below. A lovely head with excellent artistry in the painted facial features.
Her body is sawdust stuffed and has four different china limbs, at least two of which have been replaced over the years with the closest match her owner could find at the time. One leg is cracked and one hand has chipped fingers, but her costume is said to be original to the doll, made by Anna James, and has had it's share of mending over the years.
One can see this doll was cherished by the James family over the years and the doll brings her secret in the form of tangible provenance from the famous family, which includes a handwritten note from the niece of Mae and Robert Frank James, and pictures of the family.
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The first photo below shows Anna James, who was the mother of Frank and Jesse James. Anna James made the doll's clothing. The second photo shows Robert Frank James and his wife, Mae James, on their farm in Kearney, Missouri.
The Story: "This doll was given to Robert Frank James, son of Frank and Anna James, about the year of 1879. The clothes, which are original, were made by his mother, and it has been in the family ever since 1879. My Aunt, Mae James, wife of Robert, gave it to me when he died in 1959 at age 82. (Margaret Bade)
Robert James was the newphew of Jesse James and the son of Frank James. He lived with his wife, Mae in the farm at Kearney, MO until his death."
 
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