The Enduring Charm of Sunbonnet Babies
Written by Sally Thompson
One of my favorite collectibles is anything featuring the charming Sunbonnet Babies. This beloved series, created by artist Bertha Corbett Melcher in the early 1900s, has captivated generations with its unique, faceless characters full of personality and charm.
How It All Began
Bertha Corbett Melcher’s inspiration for the Sunbonnet Babies came from an artistic challenge. A friend dared her to draw children expressing emotion without showing their faces. Rising to the challenge, Melcher adorned her little characters with oversized sunbonnets, capturing their playful innocence through body language alone. Her illustrations were so delightful that they soon graced storybooks, children’s primers, postcards, and various household items.
The Sunbonnet Babies first appeared in Melcher’s 1900 publication, The Sunbonnet Babies Primer, where Molly and May—two charming, bonnet-wearing girls—became instant hits. Later, two little boys known as the Overall Boys joined them, adding more whimsy to this quaint world. Their everyday adventures included washing, ironing, sewing, shopping, gardening, and other tasks of domestic life. Melcher’s work was an immediate success, making her one of the most recognized entrepreneurial women artists of her time.
Collecting Sunbonnet Babies
My personal collection includes a delightful range of Sunbonnet Babies memorabilia. Among my favorite pieces are:
- China Sets: I treasure my vintage china adorned with Sunbonnet Baby illustrations. The set is beautifully hand-painted, depicting scenes of Molly, May, and the Overall Boys engaged in quaint household activities. The playful charm of these dishes makes them a nostalgic addition to my antique displays.
- Postcards: The Sunbonnet Babies were frequently featured on postcards during their peak of popularity between 1900 and 1930. These colorful cards depicted the girls in seasonal, holiday, and humorous themes.
- Quilts and Textiles: Quilters also embraced the Sunbonnet Babies, with their image becoming a popular pattern for hand-sewn designs. It’s a joy to own pieces of such heartfelt craftsmanship.
- Framed Pictures: One of my framed prints shows a serene, storybook-like scene of a Sunbonnet girl rocking a cradle, a perfect illustration of the simple, innocent joys of early 20th-century life.
Why Do We Love Them?
The appeal of the Sunbonnet Babies endures for many reasons. Their timeless simplicity, wholesome charm, and nostalgic representation of childhood evoke feelings of warmth and innocence. They also represent a significant part of women’s history in art and entrepreneurship, as Bertha Corbett Melcher built a lasting legacy with her creative ingenuity.
Collectors, decorators, and nostalgia-seekers alike find themselves enchanted by these faceless children who tell a story without words. If you’ve ever found yourself captivated by the world of Sunbonnet Babies, I’d love to hear about your favorite piece or memory—feel free to share.
Sally has a passion for collecting and organizing Antique and Vintage shows. To become a vendor contact Sally Thompson at Granitemom@aol.com or call 913-488-3306
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Written by Sally Thompson
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Thank you for sharing the history of these charming characters. They are adorable.
My mom had two little teacups and saucers from The Dolls Tea Parties at Emery Bird Thayer. I always remember these adorable little teacups my grandma work take out and fix us tea and biscuits at home. Such a sweet me
Key of her. I love the ones I have and hold them very dear.
I have always kept watch for more of them- very hard to find. Recently I found a set of them (child’s te set of 12) along with a teapot, sugar, and creamer.
The set was actually missing the teapot I believe, so I found another set and bought it. One set and complete set I bought are all stamped on the bottom but the 2nd set is not. One also has small gold designers along the top of the sugar bowl, creamer and teapot. Do you know if this set May be a copy? Looks exactly like sunbonnet babies.
I find all of this extremely interesting.
I enjoyed your article.
Thank you so much for sharing!