Dolls, Dolls, Dolls

American Heritage Dolls

"Carmen Fortier Santiago"

1864 - 1929 

A Creole Lady of Spanish Decent

  Marie-Antoinette Langlais, a customer who has become a dear friend started our friendship by purchasing the Gabrielle, A New Orleans Quadroon.  Through our emails I learned about her ancestor Arthemisa, a New Orleans Quadroon.  I surprised Marie-Antoinette by naming the doll for her ancestor Arthemisa's and wrote a story based on the information she had given me.  Since then she has commissioned Marie Constance another relative of New Orleans, who happen to live during the Tignon Law period, hence the Tignon Law Doll.   And now we continue her family saga with Carmen Fortier Santiago.  Marie-Antoinette has graciously allowed me to use her family history as part of my doll collection, and I give special thanks to her.   Click the story booklet and read Carmen's story written by Toni Langlais.  Carmen Fortier Santiago stands on a hand-crafted wooden stand designed by Brian Bernard. This doll is 18 inches in height and is dressed in a mauve and lace dress designed by JoAnn Bernard.  She wears a feathered straw hat, gloved hands and holds an umbrella in her right hand.  (Note: jewelry and dress fabric/print may vary depending upon availability). The wig is handmade from brown mohair strands.   JoAnn's unique doll body design allows Carmen to be positioned in various ways by bending her arms at the elbow joints and by bending her legs at the knee joints. This feature adds to the lifelike quality of the piece. Accompanying the character doll is a booklet and display card designed by JoAnn to include; the number of the piece, the inspirational sketch, a short bio, and a story about the character. All clay pieces are limited editions of 500. A numbered and signed Certificate of Authenticity is also provided with the character doll.   

Louisiana Heritage Doll Collection

Original Dolls recreating Louisiana Life in the 1800's.  Learn about Louisiana Culture through this American Heritage Doll collection inspired by sketches, photographs and stories of the 1800's.  These lifelike handmade dolls have attached booklets and display cards with short historical essays about the character.  All dolls are reproduced in clay using JoAnn Bernard's plaster molds developed from her original doll designs. Doll wigs, clothing, dress designs, and props are all handmade by the artist.

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For more information  email:   jo_ann_bernard@southernelegance.net