Handmade 19th C. Paper Dolls with Wonderful Faces and Crepe Paper Dresses

These two I found yesterday at the "Papertown" show in Boxborough, MA - total love at first sight. The dealer I purchased them from referred to them as "the twins," and indeed they were definitely born of the same mother, but I'd say sisters as the one in blue is a bit taller (and I might venture to say a bit homelier--of course making her my favorite!) Hand-drawn faces in a mix of graphite and what looks like colored pencil, both with heads of this wonderful wavy hair, front and back, crosses for earrings and more crosses around their necks. Their bodies were cut from tan colored card, and their fantastic dresses composed of layers of cut crepe paper, complete with flounces and pleats and bows at their necks. I think handmade paper dolls have really not gotten their full due; to me these are just a fabulous meld of folk art dolls and naive drawings and fashion plates and paper craft, and the level of time and care invested in making them singular and special makes me very very happy.