Jamalea Corre born in 1925 created her own heirloom figure little lady dolls. She was well established in the Southern California Community by 1970 when she wrote a guide booklet for Craft Course Publishers in 1970, titled "Draping Heirloonm Figures" by Jonnie Corre. While the figures in the booklet are quite remarkable, her work improved over time, and the dolls produced in the 1990s are truly exquisite and beautiful. With great care given to minute detail.
She worked by herself on all of her heirloom creations, making about 150 of each design, then moving onto a new design. Most figures were of Victorian or Western ladies. She caputured the collector with her attention to detail from the gentle curls hanging into their forheads to the detail in a lace glove. All her figures are signed CORRE on the bottom with a stock number dash and series number.
The figures were highly sought by Hollywood decorators and Southern California figurine and doll collectors. Since Ms Corre created her own without assistance, they were not mass produced and are still very hard to find. They were sold only in exclusive gift stores in Southern California, such as, Solvang's Monogram Shop, Virginias Gift Shop in Knott's Berry Farm, and the landmark Madonna Inn gift shop in San Luis Obispo California.
how the heirloom figures were made
She began with a bisque body and attached porcleain arms and a porcelain head. After collecting the various fabric, laces, and jewerly, a mixture of glue and starch was prepared and the items to be applied were saturated with the mixture. The clothing and accessories were then "draped" place. Next began the draping of the hair, a cotton crochet yarn, tinted and dyed to the desired color. Each stand carefully positioned. The face was painted with great detail with acrylics. Finally dry brush painting finished off details desired in the finished figures. Most figures are approx 10½ inches to 11" in height
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