The "Queen Anne Doll Project" was launched in October, 2002 by our guest speaker, Tess Parrish, an American lace maker, collector and reseacher, but by her own admission, not really a doll person! Guild president at the time, Pam Glew had met Tess at meetings of the "Liberty Lacers" Guild while living in Pennsylvania, but it was a chance remark by Tess, when they were reunited after their respective moves to Ottawa and Falmouth, Maine, that revealed they had a common interest in dolls as well as lace. Pam was so impressed by Tess's description and pictures of her reproduction "Queen Anne" type doll that she persuaded Tess to visit Ottawa and present the doll, her history and everything needed to make our own version of her, to the (then) Ottawa Dollcraft Guild.

Tess is a descendent of the eighteenth century American portrait painter Charles Willson Peale, and while researching his life and work, for her family, in his home town of Annapolis, Tess came upon Peale's portrait of young Ann Proctor, holding her "Queen Anne" type wooden doll. (Both portrait and doll can still be seen at the Hammond-Harwood House, Annapolis.) Some years later, while waiting to give a talk on antique lace to a ladies club at a Boston mansion, Tess noticed a similar doll on display and passed the time in making detailed notes and sketches of it. These, together with Tess's extensive knowledge of textiles, lace and historical costume, enabled her to create an accurate reproduction of a "Queen Anne" doll and all its clothing, although the research, collecting of appropriate materials and acquiring the necessary skills to do so took several more years. During this time, Tess had become a volunteer at the historic Tate House in Maine and thought that her doll could be a hands-on learning aid for young visitors to the house, especially since she had also dreamed up a story linking the doll's fictional history with facts about the childhood of Charles Willson Peale and his siblings.

Tess presented to our guild her completed doll, her "History", an account of how she came to be made and a folder with all the instructions and patterns needed to reproduce her. Inspired by all this, several members formed themselves into a working group to share skills, materials and support while creating their own "Queen Annes".

Over the last five years the "Queen Anne Project" has expanded in the number of participants, the scope of research, the range of materials, tools and techniques and the seeking out of expert craft people willing to help. Tess herself maintains her interest in our project and is both amazed and thrilled at our progress and the pleasure we have gained from what she considers her "modest" starting point!

Queen Anne Dolls Photo Gallery:

Continue on to our gallery: Queen Anne Dolls Photo Gallery