R. John Wright Dolls

R. John Wright Dolls

Company type	Private
Industry	Art dolls, collectibles
Founded	1976
Founder	R. John Wright
Headquarters	Bennington, Vermont , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	R. John Wright, Susan Wright
Products	Limited edition molded felt dolls and plush animals

R. John Wright Dolls operates as a privately owned American studio specializing in art dolls, headquartered in Bennington, Vermont. Established in 1976 by R. John Wright, the company creates, manufactures, and distributes limited edition molded felt dolls and plush animals worldwide. Its catalog features licensed collections showcasing renowned characters such as Winnie-the-Pooh, Raggedy Ann, figures from Beatrix Potter, various Disney icons, Paddington Bear, and The Wizard of Oz. The designs originate from R. John Wright and Susan Wright and are crafted in carefully numbered limited series at their Vermont workshop.

History

Raised in Michigan, R. John Wright pursued Liberal Arts studies at Wayne State University. Upon moving to New England, he met Susan Wright, who earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire. In 1976, while based in Brattleboro, Vermont, they began producing their inaugural felt doll, initially distributing mainly through juried craft fairs along the Eastern Seaboard, including events in Rhinebeck, New York. Their early creations drew inspiration from felt dolls by the Steiff Company as well as molded cloth dolls crafted by Kathe Kruse and Lenci. By 1978, they pioneered innovative methods that transformed the process of manufacturing molded felt dolls.

In 1978, R. John Wright became a member of the United Federation of Doll Clubs and took on the role of standards chairman for the National Institute of American Doll Artists, demonstrating his influential position within the doll-making community.

The business moved its base to Cambridge, New York in 1981. Beginning in 1987, each item was marked with an 8 mm brass identification button engraved with 'RJW' to authenticate the brand.

In 2005, operations were relocated to Bennington, Vermont, where all design and production activities continue under the close oversight of the Wrights to ensure consistent quality control integral to their brand ethos.

Disney Editions

Starting in 1984, R. John Wright Inc. entered a 13-year collaboration with the Walt Disney Company to create dolls inspired by E. H. Shepard's original illustrations from A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories. This partnership initiated Disney’s “Classic Winnie-the-Pooh” licensing division, marking a significant strategic move for marketing these characters within the United States. Numerous editions featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and other characters from the Hundred Acre Wood were produced during this period.

Under Disney's licensing agreement, R. John Wright broadened its range to include art dolls representing characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Geppetto, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Snow White collection earned recognition with the Award of Excellence from DOLLS Magazine in 1998.

Licensed items

• From 1984 to 1999: Under license from the Walt Disney Company, RJW produced collectible dolls and plush toys; notably winning the inaugural Doll of the Year Award from Doll Reader magazine in 1985 for Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh.
• In 1999: Licensed to manufacture Rose O'Neill's Kewpie dolls crafted from felt; coinciding with an exhibition tour at Japan's prestigious Takashimaya department store.
• Between 2000 and 2008: Secured rights for the Beatrix Potter Collection, launching with iconic characters like Peter Rabbit.
• From 2000 to 2002: Produced three editions of The Little Prince under authorization from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's estate; including a special figure auctioned for $35,000 benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
• During 2000-2002: Created several editions of Paddington Bear under license granted by the Copyrights Group.
• In 2002: Crafted the Clifford Berryman Bear commemorating one hundred years since the teddy bear’s creation.
• From 2004 through 2008: Licensed by Copyrights Group to produce dolls based on Raggedy Ann and related characters by Johnny Gruelle.
• In 2006: Produced dolls representing French comic character Becassine with permission from Gautier-Languereau/Hachette Jeunesse.
• In 2007-2008: Partnered with Germany’s Steiff Company on a series of felt child dolls called 'Steiff Kinder.'
• In 2007: Issued a limited edition reproduction of Edith The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright modeled after the original Lenci doll for its fiftieth anniversary.
• Between 2009 and 2015: Manufactured felt dolls inspired by Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairy books under license from Frederick Warne & Co.
• From 2010 to 2018: Authorized by Warner Bros to produce felt art dolls and mohair mice based on The Wizard of Oz film.
• In 2012: Developed vintage Patsy and Skippy dolls designed by Bernard Lipfert with approval from copyright holders.
• Starting in 2013: Began producing felt dolls based on original Hummel designs under license from M.I. Hummel; including reissuing Celestial Musician Christmas Angel originally distributed by Goebel in 1992.
• In 2016: Marked its fortieth anniversary with collaborations including Steiff partnerships, expanded licensed product offerings, and new collections featuring mice, bears, cats, dogs, and lambs.

Collector's Club

Established in 1996, the R. John Wright Collector's Club has expanded to include more than 4,000 members globally, significantly strengthening brand loyalty and customer interaction.

Awards

• 1985: Doll Reader magazine's Doll of the Year Award – Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh
• 1986: Doll of the Year Award from Doll Reader magazine – Little Brother, Little Sister
• 1988: Award of Excellence from DOLLS Magazine – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• 1994: Jumeau Trophy for the Most Outstanding Male Artist of Child Dolls worldwide
• 1994: Golden Teddy Award presented by Teddy Bear Review magazine – Pocket Pooh
• 1995: DOLLS Magazine Award of Excellence – Geppetto & Pinocchio
• 2000: Der Goldene George Award at Teddybar Total – Paddington Bear
• 2005: Lifetime Achievement Award from Jones Publishing

Quotes

"R. John Wright and his imaginative felt dolls represent the exceptional craftsmanship currently seen among doll artists."

"I feel fortunate to have been granted the resilience—and perhaps an unlikely optimism—to start creating dolls. I’m unsure where that motivation originated; it felt like standing on a cliff’s edge with no choice but to leap. I’m thankful I took that step. Even if I had not succeeded, it would have been better than never trying at all."