Dewees Cochran, Doll Artist

Dewees Cochran (1892-1991) enjoyed the financial support of indulgent parents until the age of 42 when she found herself with "no money, no income, no job, no prospects." Inspired by Rose O'Neil, inventor of the kewpie doll, she embarked on a career of toymaking that spanned almost 50 years. A pioneer in bringing a fine arts approach to doll making, she was most famous for her portrait and "look alike" dolls (one was immortalized on a 1997 postage stamp). A founder of NAIDA (National Institute of American Doll Artists), she and her dolls remain icons of the art to this day. The story of her life and the evolution of her art are documented here with meticulous detail, and examples of almost every one of her dolls are presented, along with dimensions and other technical aspects of their construction. Dolls are one of America's most popular collectibles, and collectors and doll artists will not only find this an important source of information and inspiration, but also enjoy the entertaining life story of a groundbreaking artist. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Reed)