Arnold Print Works made these printed doll fabrics that you cut out, stitch up and stuff to make your own doll. This was in 1892. They made dogs and cats and rabbits and chickens, Little Red Riding Hood, and many other dolls. The cats seem to be the easiest to find, as well as the rabbits. I have never seen a chicken outside of a book. I had a Little Red Riding Hood, purchased for nothing, sold for a bit more than nothing--one of my antique regrets. She was in really good condition and was worth about $200, which I did not know at the time. Anyway, I used to find the kittens occasionally, but had not seen one for about 3 years. One comes for auction on eBay and I won! A week later, I find two more at an antique shop. A week after that, I find another in an antique shop! So many all at once. I also found this:
This little dog had damage to his back, so the antique dealer I bought him from took him apart and carefully stitched him to museum board and put him in an antique frame. I have him hanging over my computer right now.
Now, it is important that you know about the reproductions. I first learned about the printworks cats when I was in high school when all the fun gift shops carried a reproduction of the cat and kittens. Later, they were reproduced with a Toyworks label sewn into the bottom. Some were sold the same way as the originals, a printed fabric to cut and sew, but most were already made. I think it is really easy to tell the repro from the original. They just look darker and newer, the faces aren't as realistic on the new ones. The absolute tell though is to look at the bottom.
an 1892 original has that little white oval that you see on the top left of the base, where the patent date is printed. The dates are often faded, but the little oval is not on the reproduction cats. I thought most dealers knew this, but I have seen many of the newer cats listed as being from the 1890s, which they most certainly are not. A 1970s version used to sell for about $15, now they are more like $50. The real 1892 kitten sells for anywhere from $75 to $200 depending on the condition.
That's it for todays antique tips.
I did get my Christmas tree up a week before Christmas. My house is still a jumble of stuff to be sorted through. Here is a photo of my favorite decoration. My husband gave me the Fitz and Floyd reindeer and Santa, they are blue, Santa has a bunny in his toy bag, perfect!
