Children of Japan

Children of Japan
Courtesy, R. John Wright

Hinges and Hearts

Hinges and Hearts
An Exhibit of our Metal Dolls

Tuxedo and Bangles

Tuxedo and Bangles

A History of Metal Dolls

A History of Metal Dolls
Now on Alibris.com and In Print! The First Book of its Kind

Alice, Commemorative Edition

Alice, Commemorative Edition
Courtesy, R. John Wright

Translate


Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory

Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory
Her Grace wishes us all a Merry Christmas!

Annabelle

Annabelle

Emma Emmeline

Emma Emmeline
Our New Addition/fond of stuffed toys

Cloth Clown

Cloth Clown

Native American Art

Native American Art

the triplets

the triplets

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby
Bought Athens on the street

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Sand Baby Swirls!

Sand Baby Swirls!
By Glenda Rolle, courtesy, the Artist

Glenda's Logo

Glenda's Logo
Also, a link to her site

Sand Baby Castaway

Sand Baby Castaway
By Glenda Rolle, Courtesy the Artist

A French Friend

A French Friend

Mickey

Mickey
From our friends at The Fennimore Museum

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll
British Museum, Child's Tomb

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll
Among first "Toys?"

ushabti

ushabti
Egyptian Tomb Doll 18th Dynasty

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

Popular Posts

Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase

Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase
Courtesy, Antique Daughter

Judge Peep

Judge Peep

Hakata Doll Artist at Work

Hakata Doll Artist at Work
From the Museum Collection

Japanese Costume Barbies

Japanese Costume Barbies
Samurai Ken

Etienne

Etienne
A Little Girl

Happy Heart Day

Happy Heart Day

From "Dolls"

From "Dolls"
A Favorite Doll Book

Popular Posts

Jenny Wren

Jenny Wren
Ultimate Doll Restorer

Our Friends at The Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum

Our Friends at The Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum

Baby Boo 1960s

Baby Boo 1960s
Reclaimed and Restored as a childhood Sabrina the Witch with Meow Meow

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum
L to R: K*R /celluloid head, all bisque Artist Googly, 14 in. vinyl inuit sixties, early celluloid Skookum type.

Two More Rescued Dolls

Two More Rescued Dolls
Late Sixties Vinyl: L to R: Probably Horseman, all vinyl, jointed. New wig. R: Effanbee, probably Muffy, mid sixties. New wig and new clothing on both. About 12 inches high.

Restored Italian Baby Doll

Restored Italian Baby Doll
One of Dr. E's Rescued Residents

Dolls on Display

Dolls on Display
L to R: Nutcrackers, Danish Troll, HItty and her book, Patent Washable, Mechanical Minstrel, Creche figure, M. Alexander Swiss. Center is a German mechanical bear on the piano. Background is a bisque German costume doll.

A Few Friends

A Few Friends
These dolls are Old German and Nutcrackers from Dr. E's Museum. They are on loan to another local museum for the holidays.

Vintage Collage

Vintage Collage
Public Domain Art

The Merry Wanderer

The Merry Wanderer
Courtesy R. John Wright, The Hummel Collection

The Fennimore Doll Museum

The Fennimore Doll Museum

Robert

Robert
A Haunted Doll with a Story

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

The Cody Jumeau

The Cody Jumeau
Long-faced or Jumeau Triste

German Princesses

German Princesses
GAHC 2005

A Little PowerRanger

A Little PowerRanger
Halloween 2004

The Island of the Dolls

The Island of the Dolls
Shrine to Dolls in Mexico

Based on the Nutshell Series of Death

Based on the Nutshell Series of Death
Doll House murder

Popular Posts

Total Pageviews

A lovely dress

A lovely dress

Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann
A few friends in cloth!

Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum, WI

Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum, WI
Pixar Animator's Collection

Little PM sisters

Little PM sisters
Recent eBay finds

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Really old Dolls!

Really old Dolls!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Literary Doll II

Here we are again. It is cool and a little overcast, but I see buds on my daffodils. I love to plant, and am eager to get my pots out. We've survived another hard week, and I'm looking forward to another blog. Remember, though; if I could spell, I'd be dangerous.

Here are a few more favorite books chosen from the 150+ pages of bibliography I compiled. I would like to do another blog with artists who used dolls, especially, Jarvis Rockwell, David Levinthal, Hans Belmer, and my favorite, Joseph Cornell. Here goes the list:

1. Any book by Lesley Gorden. She was an art student who wrote about dolls and doll collecting and who illustrated her books with her own watercolors and sketches. My friend Mary H. knew her, and visited her later in life when Lesley was living in a rest home. Even in later years, she occupied herself creating beautiful pictures from collages of dried flowers. The dolls described in her book were a veritable feast of variety for any doll lover. She talked about ancient dolls in museums, and many foreign dolls. It was in her books that I first read about the dressed Mexican fleas I'm trying so hard to find, and about the relationship between dolls and doll related objects like Cigar Store statues, ships' figureheads, scarecrows, even the old Little Midshipman that was the mascot for Holiday Inn. She is easy to read, and a good place for children interested in collecting to start. [With kid in mind, I recommend Shari Lewis' Things Kids Collect and any vintage issues of her magazine Doll Stars, published for children collectors in the late 80s].

2. Dolls, or Dolls and Puppets, by Max von Boehn, Dover. Orignally published 1927. For historians, there is simply no other book. Von Boehn, who like Carl Fox, was apparently a museum curator, leaves no stone unturned. There are chapters on ancient dolls, prehistoric figures, ritual and religious figures, doll shaped utensils, figurines, porcelains, toys, art objects, miniatures, etc. He talks of Santos, and even of a doll or human shaped bee hive! His section on mechanical dolls and automatons is excellent, as are his discussions of toy soldiers. In his book I first learned of The Venus of Willendorf, allegedly the first "doll" and oldest representation of the human figure and human artifact. Artists, doll lovers, teachers, collectors, and historians love his book. He has also written on 19th century manners and fashions. I would recommmend him to anyone interested in the subject.

3. Kay Desmonde, All Color Book of Dolls. This is a very pleasing book from a very knowledgeable dealer and collector with an enviable collection. The dolls are arranged skillfully in appropriate tableau with appropriate furniture. Again, young collectors would really enjoy the beautiful photographs, but so would an experienced collector. I used to like to Xerox the photos or sketch them, and make my own elaborate dolls and paper dolls from the pictures.

4. All books by Clara Hallard Fawcett. Fawcett, like Gordon, was an artist. She used her own sketches to illustrate her reference and pattern books. She knew the great collectors of the 40s, 50s, and 60s well, and reading books by her, Eleanor St. George, and Janet Pagter Johl is like reading the minutes of a happy neighborhood coffe klatch. Fawcett is knowledgeable about costume and dolls. Her patterns and designs work very well. I tried many when I was still in junior high and high school, yet they turned out well and were easy to follow. Her book Dolls: A New Guide for Collectors, features many rare dolls including a live sized Bru mannikin standing next to her owner's son. Fascinating stuff and a glimpse into a post-War, Utopia like world, that no longer exists in either innocence or experience.

That's all for today. I must run, but will continue with more books and materials tomorrow. As time progresses, I will include a few links and some book lists without so much commentary! I also have my own compiled guide for buying books which I will copy and paste in excerpts. Till we write again! A good day to all!

No comments:

Post a Comment