This is the first time these beauties have been available and I'm very proud to present them to you - one of the original artist proofs that all of the other dolls were made from!

Lovingly crafted by Yvonne Richardson, she is finally ready to release her "first of the line" artist proofs to the world.  

Every detail of Montgomery's prose has been captured in these exquisitely designed dolls, right down to the seven freckles on Anne's nose, as is described in the books.

The very first porcelain Anne of Green Gables doll to be produced, entitled "Arriving At The Station," has Anne dressed in her orphan outfit, eagerly clutching her carpet bag which contained "all of her worldly possessions".   

Certificate of Authenticity included for Anne of Green Gables Porcelain Doll # AP15/25 - "Arriving At The Station" - produced Spring 1990

 

Clothing was designed by Martha Mann (1938-2019), costume designer for the TV series Anne of Green Gables (1985), Anne of Avonlea (1987) and Avonlea (1990), as well as many other credits to her success. 

This artist proof "Anne of Green Gables" doll has several distinctive identifying marks. Inscribed on the back of the porcelain head is the following information:

- the stylized Anne of Green Gables wordmark 

- 1989, D & R MacDonald, Yvonne Richardson.  David MacDonald is the grandson of Lucy Maud Montgomery and Ruth MacDonald is the widow of Stuart MacDonald, L.M. Montgomery's son. Yvonne Richardson is the artist who designed the head and hands.

- Head and Hands designed by Yvonne Richardson 1989 is inscribed around the porcelain crown of the head.  This is permanently covered by the wig.

- A unique Serial Number appears on the back of the neck of each doll. The dolls were numbered sequentially as they were produced. 

- The initials YR, for Yvonne Richardson, who designed them, is inscribed at the upper edge of the hands. 

Yvonne Richardson, who designed the head and hands for the doll, studied Fine Art at the University of Toronto and earned her Art Supervisor's Certificate at the Ontario College of Art.  Most of her skills as a painter and sculptor have been developed by experimenting with materials as different as acrylic paint, cement and porcelain.  She has shared her knowledge in art classes for children and adults, in television programs and in articles for the "Doll and Toy Collector" magazine.  Her varied skills ended up being channeled into creating original dolls.  She feels there is no more appealing subject than Anne Shirley, a young orphan girl who dares to believe in herself in spite of extremely rough beginnings, and her kindred Spirit, Diana Barry.  Also available for the first time - Diana Barry artist proof doll!  Yvonne's home base is in Scarborough Ontario.