The Flagg and Company Doll Company was originally located in Brookline, Mass. and produced a line of dolls made of flexible vinyl resin. These dollhouse sized dolls were designed by Sheila Flagg and were sold from 1947 to the mid 1980′s. The dolls faces were hand painted and they were dressed in real cloth clothing. They had a wire inside that made them poseable. The original dolls (2″-4″) consisted of family members (father, mother, brother, sister and baby) so were very suited for dollhouse play. Later the company added different lines of character dolls and were a larger size (8″). The dolls could be in pairs or dressed in clothing from different countries. The last address for the company was Jamaica Plain, Mass. Today, MIB dolls have become very collectible. The very rare black dolls command higher prices.
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Over 50 years ago, my mom bought three of these for me as a child in Florida where we spent the winters. I believe they are one of the most durable, unusual, practical & beautiful dolls anyone ever came up with. I played with them a lot & redressed 2 of them. After I was married I used them as decorations for baby shower cakes etc. I had 2 very rubbery soft baby dolls just the right size for them & would sit the bendy dolls on doll house furniture on top of the shower cake with their babies. Used the doll whose hair matched the mom’s hair. After her baby had grown up, I gave one of these dolls + baby to a friend for whom I’d thrown a baby shower. Was looking at the 2 remaining recently & they still bend & look brand new after being played with a lot for their first few years & used for more dignified occasions years later.
I noticed on eBay the only ones which sold were not billed as Flagg, but as bendy plastic dolls. These were truly ingenious dolls & apparently never recognized for the brilliant toy & decoration they really are.
Would love to have known the designers as people! Their delightful work says a lot about them!
Thanks for your very nice comments. The eBay seller probably wasn’t aware of the Flagg dolls. As we know, it is impossible to know everything about all dolls. That is what makes it so much fun to “find” something at a reasonable price!!
I recently acquired 34 of these addorable Flagg dolls from an elderly uncle.He and his wife actually got them many years ago .apparently their bank was giving them out as some sort of promotion and when they were done with them they THREW THE REMAINING ONES AWAY!!!!! My aunt happened to be there on that day and retreived them,there were 52 all together. Over the years she would give them out as gifts to neighborhood children,All have boxes,however 7 boxes have no bottom, and I have no way of knowing of the boxes which doll goes where as there is no way to identify. I cannot seem to find a sight that catalogs them. I am interested in selling them as I am not a collector. Would appreciate any help anyone might have to help me identify them!!Thanks and have a blessed day!
Hello, I have been collecting Flagg dolls for about 12 years now and have well over 200 of these wonderful dolls as well as several brochures. I used to live down the street from the Flagg doll factory in Jamaica Plain, MA which is now a subway station. Even with all the dolls I have there is always a new one popping up I didn’t know existed and then theirs the elusive rare ones I always have my eye out for. If you ever need any help in identifying these dolls I do have some good reference material and would be happy to assist. Also, should you ever come across these dolls to sell please do keep me mind.
Warm Regards,
Eddi
I was asked to sell a group of vintage dolls and upon doing internet research I believe I have a pair of Flagg dolls. The woman is about 6.75″ tall while the man is about 7″ in size. Both are all rubber, hair painted, dressed in cloth clothes, which look to be possibly acrobats from a circus??? Is there a way to verify these are, in fact Flagg dolls? I plan to list them on ebay, but would love to be sure I am identifying them correctly. I would be happy to provide pictures if interested. I would guess that these were from the 1950s, but noticed they were still being made in the 80s. Any/all help would truly be appreciated.
Hi, I believe I might have a Flagg doll only he is 7 1/2″ tall and wearing an old baseball uniform with legs painted red. Does anybody know if the flagg co. created a baseball doll?
Happy Holidays!
I am looking for a dealer that will sell me a Deluxe Reading Nancy Nurse Doll from the 1960′s addition. My mother is currently ill and this is the doll that made her go into Nursing that saved so many great lives. I would like to give it to her for Christmas if possible.
Thank you very much!
Melaney A. Scott