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, May 24, 2012

My Life in Antiques

When I have a little time, I sit and muse. I go through old albums and notes to get ideas, especially on days like today when I know I have to up late, and work till 10 pm. I thought of all the antique stores I've been to, the flea markets, the malls, the antique shows, the exclusive yard sale here and there, and I'm overwhelmed by how much I learned, and of the wonderful dealers and owners who were willing to pause and teach a little girl with her mother about the different types of dolls available. There were ladies in Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, Mr. Mott himself of Mott's miniatures, Vera Kramer and her husband, who over the years, took the time to tell me about doll artists, premium foreign dolls like Peggy Nisbet and Charlotte Weibull, how to spot a repair or reproduction [Jim Fernando], how to put an antique doll head under Ultraviolet light or X-ray to determine if it had cracks [Michael Canadas] how to make doll dresses witout patterns [also Michael, once a theater major]; so many others whose names I can' remember, since I was six years old. When I was 8 and we wnt to see Mrs. Wellman's doll collection, my brownie leader told her I was a collector who already had a lot of good dolls, Mrs. Wellman took me up front and center and treated me as a colleague, even as she handed me penny dolls and explained their origins. Miss Bolin often showed us her dolls at school, and let me come up close to see them. I was promised some fo er dolls one time, but they have all disappaeared. There were dealers who stopped to explain to me the differences among Native American peoples and their doll-making techniques. Others told me the stories of the costumes and materials used. Some would show me their own old dolls, treasures for generations, even if we couldn't buy anything. Some kept their shops open when we pulled in near closing time. A few gave me little dolls, including a tiny peanut cowboy from a great store in Rock Springs, WY. My dear friend Violet taught me to make them and sew antique doll bodies. Some were only intrested in selling their junk; they would divert me from the antiques and show me their "cheap" dolls. I think in their own way, they didn't want to disappoint a little girl who had come so far, but few people were rude. Once once or twice was someone nasty with us, or tried to buy something out from under me, and these were people I knew. We didn't argue, just didn't go to those shops again. Well, we all have our days. As one of my dealer friends keeps saying, I grew up with them. My dad seldom went in, and he is known universally as "The Man in the Car." Dad is responsible for carrying two nearly lifesized dolls on the plane from Rome, and he bought the porclelain Suzanne Gibson and the Lady Anne Mary Todd Lincocln. He also carried dolls home from South Africa and Japan, especially when a business colleauge found out out my doll collection; they were eager to add to it then. So, mine is a life defined by old things, by antique dolls. I saw my first German bisque dolls in Fantasyland in Gettysburg, and I was about 5. I was hooked. My first "old doll" was a bisque Nancy Ann from my babysitter Mrs. Gianakes. My first antique was a Frozen Charlotte from the Women's Club antique show, at our Masonic Temple, now a fantastic banquet center and haunted house [with haunted doll room and animatrons!]. My first china heads were 40s Xmas angels and a handmade china head from my Aunt Rose. Mom bought me the second; a fanstastic Repro, that looks autentic even now, from Disneyland. Mom sewed them a wardrobe. I'll never part with my China Head Twins. My first old compo was Arranbee's Littlest Angel, and an old Mexican china poblana from Albuquerque. My first German bisque a small A and M dressed as a dutch boy, but she soon became "Melinda." My first antique china head was 5" and named Miss Charlotte. She as a cloth body and hands, and is from another old local antique show, no longer held. So, this is a syopsis of my life in antiques. When I'm "dolling," I m not sick don't feel stressed, and feel my mom walking beside me once again.

No comments:

Post a Comment