Comments on: Reproduction or Antique? How Best to Enhance a Doll Collection

By: Jan Lee

Jan Lee — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:33:33 +0000

Jeannette,
I found two those wonderful articles in a stack of magazines I already had and enjoyed them immensely. Thank you so much for telling me what issues to look for! I had the June/July and October. Now I just need to find the August/September. I have several two Bru s made in 1967, one signed Clarmade and one Calli Lou. They look almost identical, just lovely girls. It was interesting to read about the challenges and struggles, including carpel tunnel syndrome, surgery, and recovery time involved that Neva experienced. This makes me appreciate my dolls so much that she and her mother created. Of course, I’ve read Neva’s book about painting French dolls, but these articles really offer a more personal insight into these remarkable women’s lives. I would love to find a doll signed by the granddaughter mentioned in the articles, and have all 3 generations represented in my collection! Does anyone know how she signed her dolls–article said her name was Donna Garnett Kizziar..maybe DGK? It would be fun to discover more. Thanks for the info!

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:48:40 +0000

Hello, do you happen to know what year is the Neva Wade Garnett original Tess Doll? I have a french fashion doll that is marked “Original Tess Copywrite 1984 Neva W Garnett #14″. Do you know if this is an actual original made by Garnett, and how many in this series? Thank you for any help you can give me.
-Mary

By: Jeanette Niblett

Jeanette Niblett — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:17:38 +0000

So nice to get all this info. I’d like to clear up one thing though. In an article that Neva Wade Garnett wrote for Doll Reader Magazine, June/July 1982, entitled “Three Generations of Doll Artist, Part I”, she says that “Shortly after I married and moved to New England, my mother, Clara Wade, went to work for the Humpty-Dumpty Doll Hospital in Redondo Beach, within walking distance of her home” So you can see that the myth that keeps on circulating about Neva being at her mother’s feet while Mrs. Wade trained with Emma Clear is not correct. However, Neva did learn doll making skills from her mother much later, after Clara Wade moved to Paradise, California. If you’re interested in the complete story, get your hands on Doll Reader, 1982, June/July, Aug/Sep and Oct.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:26:40 +0000

Neva Wade signed most of her dolls Calli Lou after the imaginary friend in the book The Dollmaker (which was her favorite book – she felt she connected with having an imaginay friend of her own)
Clarmade dolls are made by Neva’s mother (Clara Wade) she signed them Clarmade (Clara made)
She was trained and worked with Emma Clear with little Neva at her feet.

Calli Lou was not just the name of a doll, I have 4 Neva dolls of different molds all marked Callie Lou and 2 have dates which were after Clara Wade was finished dollmaking.

The black Leo Moss “looking” dolls were also made by Clara when Neva was beginnng her apprenticship.

By: Jeanette Niblett

Jeanette Niblett — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:26:42 +0000

How exciting to find this information. I was working on the doll collection at the Gold Nugget Museum in Paradise today and found a doll marked Clarmaid. I remembered reading something about them in connection with Emma Clear so started an internet search as soon as I returned home. The one in the Museum collection is dated 1959, and is beautifully dressed, including the underclothing. I had the good fortune of meeting Neva Wade Garnett, but it was after she had stopped making dolls. Her husband was in poor health, and she said she had no desire left to make any more dolls. I wish that I had been living in Paradise during the heyday of doll making activities here. It’s difficult to dig out the history, and I’d love to know more. If you are from this area, and have the history, I’d love to meet and talk with you so I can put some of the info in my doll blog.

By: Sheila Miller

Sheila Miller — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:45:02 +0000

I have a 1965 Clarmaid doll. Does she have any value?

By: Sheila Miller

Sheila Miller — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:14:23 +0000

Hello,

I have a 1965 clarmaid doll. Does she have any value?

Thanks,

Sheila

By: Lorita Anderson

Lorita Anderson — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 03:19:02 +0000

I took a seminar from Neva Wade Garnett in Paradise, Ca in the mid 1980′s. She, in my opinion, was the best reproduction doll artist ever-also a great teacher. I have a Bru that I bought from her. She also signed dolls: Neva, then the date.

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:41:11 +0000

Neva wade has out several books she was a skilled artisan in antique reproduction dolls, she signed them Callie Lou, some have said that was her first doll and her imaginary play mate while growing up in the Kitchen of Emma Clear (mama clear as they all called her) Her mother Clara (Wade (Clarmade dolls) worked with and for Emma clear, they did the doll constructing in the kitchen where little Neva played as they didnt hire outside babysitters. Clara also put out some of her own reproduction dolls and some more contemporary “antique style” molds like the charming black dolls which are a tribute to Leo Moss.
Neva grew up in the same line doing fine antique reproductions , I have 3 of them all signed Callie Lou
I also have 2 of her books. These beloved dolls are of the finest workmanship and materials of the time. Two of the dolls have real antique doll eyes and one is in a silk dress with antique silk trim. Neva was doing in the 60-70s what the finest reproductists today do usng real human hair and antique fabrics on some of her state of the art dolls. Her dolls are few and far between they do come up for resaonable prices on auction sites but in my mind they are the Bru of tomorrow because they are quite rare in actuality. never being a mass marketed doll each one hand made individually.

By: Laura McGuire

Laura McGuire — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:57:13 +0000

I have listed a 22″ Callie Lou French Fashion Doll with the 1973 mark on Ebay (Item #230452576642)… It only has a few days left. You might want to watch and see what it goes for! Thanks again for the stories!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:07:38 +0000

Hi Jan: I finally found someone who has knowledge on The Humpty Dumpty Hospital, Clara Wade and Neva Wade Garnett. I purchased my 1st doll off ebay 13 years ago, she is a reproduction Tete Jumeau marked Calli Lou, finally found information on this doll looking through old Doll Readers. The information that was listed was Dolls of Distinction by Calli Lou, Paradise California. This past summer was back in Minnesota and found a N1123 (believe thats the mold #)on a body marked Humpty Dumpty Doll Hospital, also, a couple of weeks ago I found a reproduction french or german fashion doll marked Clairmaid. I guess things come in 3′s. I am so glad to find this site and people willing to share this information. I will continue to check back often. Elaine

By: Jan Lee

Jan Lee — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:57:16 +0000

Hello Laura,
I noticed that a marked Clairmaid doll–an FG with a leather body is for sale on ebay right now. she’s very nicely dressed with a starting bid of $399. So that could give you an idea of value. But you may want to watch that particular auction and see if anyone bids and buys it. Sometimes you have to watch over time to get an idea of value. The item number is #140393207674 If it doesn’t sell, that may indicate the price was too high.
You’ll need to watch over a period of months to see several dolls sell to get an idea what yours are worth. Ebay is a good source of that kind of information but you’ll need to spend some time to do the research. If you don’t have complete dolls or your dolls are not nicely dressed, that has an impact on value.

By: Laura McGuire

Laura McGuire — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:36:27 +0000

Any additional info on the 1970′s Callie Lou dolls would be most appreciated!

By: Laura McGuire

Laura McGuire — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:51:45 +0000

I’m so happy to have found your comments about the Callie Lou dolls… I’ve only found 4 references on the internet. I have recently acquired 3 Callie Lou Reproductions – 2 with dates of 1973. Do you know if Neva or here daughter made more dolls than you mention here? Thanks!

By: Laura Bercea

Laura Bercea — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:28:32 +0000

Hello,

My grandmother was a neighbor and employee of Clara Wade in Paradise CA. Clara’s daughter Neva Wade Garnett was a friend of my grandmother’s as well. I remember my grandmother going to work at the “doll factory” and have several dolls that she made the bodies for. Neva was a frequent guest in my grandmother’s home. I also as a small child attended doll guild meetings with my grandmother Sarah Bush in Sacramento. Between my Mother, Aunt, and myself we own several dozen dolls, doll heads, arms, legs etc. produced under the Clarmaid mark. While we do not wish to sell them at this point we would like to insure them. Could you help us with an unofficiall valuation?

Thanks!

By: Jan Lee

Jan Lee — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:43 +0000

Thamks Laurie! Will see what I can learn and post more if I come across more info.

By: Laurie Morrison

Laurie Morrison — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:15:13 +0000

Hi Jan,

To answer your questions about Clarmaid (Clara Wade),and Neva dolls (Neva Wade Garnett).

1. Clarmaid did some originals dolls. The only one I could get information on, was an original doll called Jane Erye.
2. Clarmaid did make the black doll you have, but her grand-daughter didn’t know if it was an original too.
There’s a doll like your’s listed on Rubylane.com
3. Neva Garnett did make two original dolls. One was called
Calli-Lou, she was made as a little girl, and the other original was called Tess, which was like a french fashion doll.
4. There’s a person that studied under Neva Garnett, her name is Jan Garnett, though no relation to Neva. I hope this helps. Possibly Jubliee Mold Co. could be Jan’s business. If you can track her down, she may have more information for you.
I hope this helps you.

By: Jan Lee

Jan Lee — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:47:03 +0000

I have a question for Laurie about the Clairmaid and Neva dolls… I have one that is black or mulatto and a smiling mouth with teeth. Is this an original creation or a reproduction? Did Clara or Neva ever do doll artist original creations? Or just reproductions? By the way I have a Clarmaid Bye-lo baby that is prettier than the real ones. Thanks for your information.

By: Laurie Morrison

Laurie Morrison — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:40:58 +0000

You are right. Clara Wade’s daughter was Neva Wade Garnett.
I knew both of them personally. Neva was my mom’s best friend, from teen years through the golden years. They have all passed on. My mom left me some of Neva’s beautiful dolls. Neva, was a very talented and gifted artist.

I may be interested in selling the dolls, if there’s a market. In fact Neva’s daughter, Dona is my sister-in-law.
She will need to help me with the information on the dolls
I have aquired.

Thanks for your information.

By: Susan Lawson

Susan Lawson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:27:17 +0000

Enjoyed the article very much. Wanted to clarify a point you made. If I understand what I have read and people I have talked to, Emma Clear had an employee, Clara Wade, who also made dolls and signed them Clarmaid. The C has a small w in the curve of the letter C, then the remainder of the word, Clarmaid. Clara Wade had a daughter (?) named Neva Wade Garnett, who made many wonderful reproductions also, and signed her dolls Neva. She also was a published author about painting reproduction dolls. I believe she was the daughter of Clara Wade, but am not sure. I have a Clear, a Clarmaid and a signed Neva doll.