Erika Catellani's hand carved wooden dolls
Erika , like many of us, enjoyed sewing and knitting
clothes for her dolls as a child and, when she grew up, studied at a Swiss Fashion
and Arts School. Later in life, a friend encouraged her to go to a doll making seminar
and from that time onwards she has never stopped!.
At first she made lovely antique reproduction porcelain dolls, then moved on to
clowns and harlequins which proved very popular.
Soon she was being asked to teach her skills to all sorts of groups in schools,
women's clubs and craft venues. She herself continued learning and advancing her
skills, attending seminars and workshops, and was gradually drawn towards working in
wood. Working with a wood carving friend and experimenting all the time she decided
that the best wood for her purposes would be maple. This wood is neither too hard nor
too soft and lacks very definite graining. As it ages it also develops a wonderful,
warm, natural glow.
After the first perfect doll was created, Erika developed many more beautiful
little faces with charming expressions. She has three times been awarded the Eurodoll
Trophy and plans to go on making little wooden treasures to
delight us all for the rest of her life.
Her dolls range in size from 14cm. (5.5in.) to 42cm. (16.5in.). Click on the
names to the right for more details about each doll.
Or click here for pictures of ready-dressed dolls
based on Erika's wooden parts.
Erika Catellani Doll Kits
All kits contain a head, fists/hands and feet carved from maple wood plus material for
the body, filling, patterns for the body and clothes and full instructions in English.
The kits come either in the natural wood or sealed and painted (with either blue
or brown eyes). Fists/hands have the arm ending halfway up the lower arm between wrist
and elbow. They can be replaced (at a slight extra cost) by arms which end halfway
between elbow and shoulder and can be either straight or curved and with the hands open
or closed. Feet have the leg ending halfway between the ankle and the knee. They can
be replaced (at a slight extra cost) by legs which end halfway between knee and hip
and can be either straight or bent at the knee.
ANNA
Anna has well-defined features and a mischievous smile.
Kits come in four sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
15cm(6in)
|
20cm(8in)
|
29cm(12in)
|
39cm(16in)
|
| Natural
|
£86
|
£101
|
£109
|
£117
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£99
|
£118
|
£127
|
£135
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£112
|
£129
|
£138
|
£146
|
BIANCA
Biana's large-eyed pensive expression just asks you to take her home with you.
Kits come in three sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
18cm(7in)
|
20cm(8in)
|
34cm(14in)
|
| Natural
|
£86
|
£105
|
£112
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£114
|
£123
|
£129
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£125
|
£134
|
£141
|
EVA
Eva has well-defined features with a gentle smile and tip-tilted nose.
Kits come in three sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
20cm(8in)
|
34cm(14in)
|
40cm(16in)
|
| Natural
|
£101
|
£112
|
£119
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£118
|
£129
|
£137
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£129
|
£141
|
£148
|
KATJA
Katja has a well rounded (almost chubby) face very suitable for dressing as
a baby or toddler.
Kits come in two sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
20cm(8in)
|
40cm(16in)
|
| Natural
|
£101
|
£117
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£118
|
£135
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£129
|
£146
|
LISA
Lisa has a softly rounded face and a gentle expression.
Kits come in four sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
14cm(6in)
|
19cm(8in)
|
24cm(10in)
|
38cm(15in)
|
| Natural
|
£86
|
£99
|
£116
|
£127
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£99
|
£116
|
£126
|
£135
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£112
|
£127
|
£137
|
£146
|
MINIBABY
Minibaby is really beautifully carved with a very expressive face for such a
small doll.
Kits are only available in one size, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
16cm(6.5in)
|
| Natural
|
£86
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£99
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£112
|
SONJA
Sonja has a solemn little face, reminiscent of the work of Lynne and Michael Roche or
Sylvia Natterer.
Kits come in two sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
15cm(6in)
|
30cm(12in)
|
| Natural
|
£86
|
£109
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£99
|
£127
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£112
|
£138
|
WENDY
Wendy has very sharply defined features and a wistful expression.
Kits come in two sizes, priced as follows:
| Style/size
|
20cm(8in)
|
40cm(16in)
|
| Natural
|
£101
|
£117
|
| Painted, eyes closed
|
£118
|
£135
|
| Painted, eyes open
|
£129
|
£146
|
