Jerri McCloud 1983 Snow White Porcelain Doll Set

A series of ten Snow White dolls were produced by artist Jerri McCloud in 1983. The Princess, the Evil Queen, and Prince are hand painted and made of all porcelain bisque heads and five-piece jointed bisque bodies, arms, and legs. They also have glass eyes and human hair wigs. The dolls are fairly heavy, about five pounds. Each measures approximately 20" tall, is hand-numbered, and signed by the artist. Marketed by the Dolls by Jerri / Walt Disney Collection line.

Each doll contains both Jerri and Disney imprints. Lifting the hat off of this Grumpy head, we see the artist signature, plus the copyright markings and a date of 1983.

Snow White (WD2-1). Iconic dress with taffeta ornamentation, satin collar, velvet cloak with crimson taffeta lining, ribbon and simulated diamond, leather shoes with bows. Original wooden stand.

The dolls would be produced for several years. This one is signed and dated from 1984.

Another example from 1985.

The Evil Queen (WD2-2). She wears a satin purple gown with a black cape. The collar contains bendable metal stiffeners. A heavy gold plated necklace hangs around her neck, and a jeweled crown sits upon her head. [The magic mirror pictured below was not a part of this doll series.]

The Prince (WD2-10). Costumed in fitted tights, shirt, velour tunic with leather belt, velour cape and suede boots.

The Seven Dwarfs round out the collection with porcelain bisque heads, hands, and feet, but they have cloth bodies for easy posing. Each is about 12" high. Their eyes are painted and the beards are fashioned from fine wool. Hoods, clothing, and shoes are of velvet or velour with leather belts.

Two different tags have been seen on the dolls. The oval-shaped design may be the earliest releases. It was attached to a Sneezy, a number two out of 1,000. Many of the later dolls have rectangular tags.

Bashful (WD2-3).

Doc (WD2-4) + Dopey (WD2-5).

Grumpy (WD2-6) + Happy (WD2-7).

Sleepy (WD2-8) + Sneezy (WD2-9).

Included with the dolls was a booklet with images and information on each, plus a B+W glossy photo (4.5" x 6.5")

It appears that the first group of dolls to be released were limited to 1000, as noted in the Certificate of Authenticity below. Yet, that number may have been increased as other dolls are said to have been limited to 1500.

The box measures 21" in length. Egg crate foam protected the dolls.

Film Pictorial Magazine - September 17, 1938

Snow White and the "Tenggren" dwarfs are shown on the cover of the UK movie magazine, Film Pictorial, dated September 17, 1938. Original retail price twopence. (The same artwork was also used in two 1938 Australian periodicals, New Screen News and Photoplayer and Talkies.)

During the movie's initial run, the voice actors for Snow White were hardly ever mentioned. Walt Disney claimed that he didn't want the realism of the animated characters lessened by revealing who the actors were. However, there were those periodicals that not only revealed their names but also included photos, as seen below. (In earlier Archive entries, we saw these same photos in the 1937 Photo Parade and 1938 Screen Pictorial.)

Snow White is reviewed by the magazine's critic, John Milford. He gave it a positive appraisal and even said that he was moved by the picture. Yet, he still writes, "The qualities of this film are not outweighed by its defects...it could have been so much better, but as it is, it is extraordinarily good."

Special thanks to Greg Philip of A Lost Film for sharing image scans from his collection.

1938 New Screen News Magazine

A Tenggren-style Snow White and Seven Dwarfs were pictured on the cover of the August 27, 1938 edition of New Screen News magazine in Australia.

The "Our Cover" description lists Hoyts Plaza Theatre as the location of the Melbourne premiere.

Other movie listings playing in late August/early September.

Image scans courtesy of Greg Philip of A Lost Film.

1938 Photoplayer and Talkies Magazine

Tenggren's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are pictured on the cover of the April 16, 1938 edition of the film fan magazine, The Photoplayer and Talkies. Published in Sydney, Australia. Original price 3 pence.

No mention is made of the Disney animated film inside the periodical.

Images via gosfordmoo.

Special thanks to William Stillman for letting us know about this one.