I first discovered Santos dolls watching a session of Antique Roadshow,” where an appraiser told a customer that the doll she had was worth $30,000. That got my attention!

This doll is 36″ tall and is dressed in a combination of fabrics, including tapestry, silk, and even a little polyester. It is enhanced with quilting stitches, ribbon roses, ruched ribbon, beading, and tiny pleated sleeve caps, which are made permanent by using synthetic fabrics and the microwave.

Santos dolls are also known as cage dolls as the bottom half of their body looks like a cage. Original Santos dolls date from the Spanish Colonial era where they were used in churches to represent the church saint. Annually, there would be paraded throughout the town as part of birthdate celebration of the saint. They were also used in small villages that did not have a church as part of in-home altars.