Antique DOLL Collector December 2020 Vol. 23, No. 11
Antique Holiday Decorations A Tree Fairy Doll Plus Pattern Effanbee Boys to Collect Neapolitans– the Original Character Dolls
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Valerie Fogel’s
Beautiful Bébés Fine Dolls & Precious Playthings from our Past
www.beautifulbebes.com
Always Buying! Trades and Consignments Considered Tel: 425.765.4010 Beautifulbebes@outlook.com
18” Incised Depose Jumeau Marked 8 Childlike doll w/ pristine bisque head, delicate painting of pretty features w/ sensitively painted lips having desirable white space. Charming antique challis wool coat dress. Stunning original silk chapeau w/ jauntily upturned brim. Mohair wig is original to doll; still nailed into cork pate. All original undergarments including matching button-attached corset. Jumeau body w/ Medaille d’Or stamp. Excellent! $6350
18” Steiner Bébé Le Parisienne Occasionally, we encounter a doll that steps far beyond the parameters of the usual appearance for a specific model. Such is this phenomenal 18” Le Parisienne by Maison Steiner. Her pale blue eyes are hypnotic in their gaze, and her beautiful features are deeply modeled and exquisitely painted on her perfect pressed bisque head. She wears a fantastic antique original long-tailed wig, & her costume is completely original, from her coral silk faille dress to her triple layers of snowy lace undergarments & Steiner shoes. From a single-family collection until 2014 when she was sold in Chartres, France. $7150 HOLIDAY SPECIAL
15” Poupée Bride - Dreamy bride with glowing bisque and sultry eyes. Gorgeous crème faille silk wedding gown replete with complex silk cord trim, lavish pleats, and delicate ribbons. She is perfectly framed by her lavish floral, crystal headpiece, and flowing veil. A matching crystal beaded necklace graces the throat of this exquisite bride. Layers of undergarments. Her kid leather body is sturdy with minor reinforcement at the knees. Marked 2. We attribute this beauty to the masterful Francoise Gaultier. $3450
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Member UFDC & NADDA
Beautiful 19” Belle Jumeau Fashion Poupée - Jewel from Maison Jumeau. Belle of the Ball w/ serene expression. Huge blue spiral threaded eyes softly framed by graceful sienna brows and generous lashes. Pristine pale bisque tinted w/ hints of rose and coral, complemented by a voluminous ballgown of seashell pink. Gorgeous kid leather body in fine condition. Her dance card is full to overflowing! $3750
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2.5” New Year Baby - Ring in the New Year! Adorable all Bisque Baby struggles to uncork the bubbly! Stamped Germany #6332. Perfect for cake or small vignette! $65
Adorable Bleuette Type Unis Bébé - Darling 11inch doll. A Bleuette type, made in the same era. Her head is without flaws, and she looks darling in her orig. costume. She has her orig. wig, bonnet, dressed in Alsace manner. All fingers /toes present & body is pristine! Don’t let her getaway! $1150
Rare Matching Lenci 300 series w/ Mascotte - What a pair! How unique to find a set of these sought-after Lenci dolls in matching colorful folklore costumes! Both dolls are tagged, and in generally excellent condition. Bright and cheerful, I have always loved the 300 series face. Circa 1927 through the 30s, these girls have been kept in pristine condition. Pictures tell the story here! This is an opportunity to pick up two beautiful examples of these popular Lenci character children! $2650
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21” E11J Bébé - with huge sky-blue spiral threaded eyes, excellent bisque w/ evenly feathered eyebrows, sweeping fringe of lashes, lovely tinted rosy lips w/ artistic outlines framed by a luxuriant honey-blonde mohair wig over orig. cork pate. Her deep winecolored antique velvet ensemble is spectacular. Jacket edged w/ braided silk cord w/ a faux floral organdy blouse inset. Her excellent body marked w/ blue Jumeau stamp. Layers of antique undergarments including a wonderful corset. A special doll w/ deluxe costume & timeless appeal! Don’t let her getaway! $7850
17” Poupee Peau - by Maison Jumeau. This elegant beauty is dressed for the ball in her glowing velvet and silken gown of deep pink and ecru with lavish floral embroidery on the bodice and flowing lace sleeves. This vintage gown is tagged and was created by the much-loved Aida Odenrider, labeled a Portrait in Miniature. Mademoiselle wears stunning “updo”; a DSB authentic creation. Lovely features & perfect swivel head & shoulder plate on sturdy, kid body w/ wire armature for enhanced positioning. $2795
Vist us at:
www.beautifulbebes.com
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Mary Ann Spinelli Nelling, Inc.
FINE ANTIQUE DOLLS AND ACCESSORIES BUYING & SELLING QUALITY DOLLS FOR OVER 27 YEARS
Wishing You a Safe and Joyous Holiday!
15” Jumeau Paris Bebe, orig. multi-layer costume, wig and shoes (shoes worn). $6250.
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17 1/2” Wooden Creche type male figure, circa early 1800’s Italy, original, beautiful condition. $2250.
21” Covered wagon china with molded ringlets encircling the head, costume of antique fabric. $475.
P.O. Box 4327, Burbank CA 91503 • e-mail: nellingdolls@gmail.com Cell: 818-738-4591 Home: 818-562-7839 • Member NADDA and UFDC
Visit us at: www.maspinelli.com 4
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------Editorial: Gay Bryant, antiquedoll@gmail.com Send all catalogs to this address: Antique Doll Collector, 4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 Subscriptions: Send to Antique Doll Collector, P.O. Box 239, Northport, NY 11768. Phone: 888-800-2588 or 631-261-4100 Subscription Rates: One Year $49.95; Two Years $95.90. First class delivery in U.S. add $30 per year. Outside the U.S. add $35 per year. Foreign subscriptions must be paid in U.S. funds. Do not send cash. Credit cards accepted. Antique Doll Collector (ISSN 1096-8474) is published monthly with a combined issue in July/August (11 times per year) by the Puffin Co., LLC, P.O. Box 239, Northport, NY 11768 Phone: 631-261-4100 Periodicals postage paid at Northport, NY. and at additional mailing offices. Contents ©2020 Antique Doll Collector, all rights reserved. Postmaster: Send address changes to Antique Doll Collector, P.O. Box 239, Northport, NY 11768. Antique Doll Collector is not responsible for any inaccuracies in advertisers’ content. An unsolicited manuscript must be accompanied by SASE. Antique Doll Collector assumes no responsibility for such material. All rights including translations are reserved by the publisher. Requests for permissions and reprints must be made in writing to Antique Doll Collector. ©2020 by the Puffin Co., LLC.
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Wish Booklets by Susan Sirkis A little over 10 years ago, I sat down with my friend Susan Sirkis and she asked me if I would continue “The Wish Booklets” business when she was gone. She giggled and told me not to worry—she wasn’t planning on going any time soon! When she passed away on September 27, 2019, it was too soon. There were so many things I still wanted to learn from her, and so many questions. But with a stiff upper lip and determination, I am continuing the Wish Booklet business - preserving Susan’s legacy and the amazing work that she created. She left a “road map” to help me find my way! Susan’s husband Mike, of over 62 years, a retired Army officer, has become my new mentor and is helping me “chart my course” in this new endeavor.
All of Susan’s amazing Wishbooklets and electronic resources are still available on our website! Visit our website @ www.SUSANSIRKIS.com Follow us on Facebook: Wish Booklets by Susan Sirkis
The Swell Doll Shop \ Bradley Justice Shawstein@aol.com / 919-698-9860
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The Complete Guide to Antique, Vintage and Collectible Dolls
December 2020, Volume 23, Number 11
ON THE COVER A group of rare Neopolitan character dolls is shown here. For more information, see The Neapolitan Dolls article by Florence Theriault on page 24.
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THE QUEST Notes on collecting
THE NEAPOLITAN CHARACTER DOLL by Florence Theriault
by Linda Edward
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DECORATING FOR A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS by Margaret Kincaid
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AMERICAN BOY Effanbee Boy Dolls 1920s to 1960s by Rhoda Seidenberg
HOLIDAY DOLL SHOPPING Great Places to See and Buy
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by Monica Bessette
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THE DOLL COSTUMES OF LYNDIE MCINTYRE by Dee Urquhart-Ross
SUBSCRIBE TO ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR, GO TO www.antiquedollcollector.com Subscription information: adcsubs@gmail.com or 631-261-4100 6
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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TREE FAIRY A History, Plus a Pattern by Nicki Burley
DEPARTMENTS AND QUEST 14 The Quest 16 Auction News 20 Museum News
33 Emporium 63 Calendar of Events 63 Classified
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1) 9.5” Early Neapolitan Angel - early om/teeth/tongue, glass eyes, mint face & limbs. Plus Rare Original Wings! Smallest size! $1800 2) 14” Rare Neapolitan Creche Aristocrat - long elaborate hair draped onto shoulders, Gl. Eyes, early Open Mouth w/ Teeth & Tongue, mint fingers, toes & face. Joyous! $1250
3) 24” 1830’s Glass Eye Enigma Lady dramatic Gesso over Wood exaggerated features, deeply carved hair, articulated pc’d ears, early Long Neck w/ Flat Coiled Bun, unusual Leather/wood Milliners type body. A Museum Doll Ribbon Winner. $4500
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4) 10” Extremely Rare Pre-Series Steiner - Incised just ‘3/0’ - the earliest unmkd tiny Bebe has delicate complexion, near perfect Orig. Lambswool Wig wearing a classic maroon Antique Bebe Silk Frock w/ factory trims. Precious! $8900 5) 22” George III Wooden w/ Written Provenance - museum class treasure from the English Nat’l Trust, Excellent Cond., amazing Orig.Wig and paint finish, Blue Gl. Eyes, Fork Fingers, jtd. Wood Limbs and mostly All Orig. clothes! $8800 6) Size ‘1’ Bru Breveté w/ Signed Bru Shoes - tender 17” beauty, glowing Hazel PWs, shaded lids, blond feathered brows, luscious bisque framed by golden tresses, plus Orig. Arms & Clean Body & Antique Silk Moire Dress w/ Bonnet! $11,500 4
7) 18” A Shelf Size Schlaggenwald Lady - A choice flesh tint Pressed Portrait w/ brn. eyebrows & lid lines, Orig. Uncut Wig & Body, all 4 mint rare Glazed Limbs & 5-layers of Orig. Clothes/ Hat. All mint! $3000
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(212) 787-7279 P.O. Box 1410 NY, NY 10023
Quality Antique Dolls by Mail Return Privilege • Layaways Member UFDC & NADDA
matrixbymail@gmail.com
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8) 13” German Fashion Lady w/ Bisque Arms - in 4-layers of vintage Bustle Back Day Dress and a fashion type Lady Face just. $375 9) 23” Chunky Kestner 257 Flirty - Very naughty eyes. quiver tongue, beautiful antique boots, Edwardian Wool Sailor Suit. $550 10) 16” Slender All Original Kestner 168 - a rare size ‘168’ all mint in Fancy Layered Clothes/Shoes & uncut Factory Wig. $595 9
11) Elaborate 26” SH 1279 Character - Perfect satin bisque, stylish Antique Ensemble w/ Factory Shoes, big dimples. A stunner! $1600 12) 21” Kestner 143 Fauntleroy - dashing bl. eye swain, orig. Kestner BJB & Factory Wig plus charming Vintage Short Suit! $895 13) 32” Script Series Kestner Mariner - life like gallant lad, mint bisque, framed by golden hair, quality sailor suit & hat. He has endearing big eyes for you! $695 14
14) 21” Scarce Kestner ‘161’ - the distinctive perfect face, dreamy bl. eyes, lacy lashes, early flat brows, full pouty cheeks, antique shoes & fine fancy ensemble. $595 15) 22” Heirloom Christmas Doll ca: 1880 a family treasure, Closed Mouth, PW Eyes, mint wig, 4-antique dresses, & little girl’s journal in trunk! $1200
(212) 787-7279 P.O. Box 1410 NY, NY 10023
Quality Antique Dolls by Mail Return Privilege • Layaways Member UFDC & NADDA
matrixbymail@gmail.com
18) Gutter House with rare Bow Front Window - great condition, near perfect papers, vibrant colors, removable 3-dormer roof, plus shelf size 10x12x19”. $1500
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19) Fully Jtd Factory Orig. 10” Kestner 174-Mint! w. Hip Length Factory wig, bl. eyes, in her Orig. Knit Ensemble for winter! $750 20) 14” All Original Pre-1900 Infant - amazing handiwork Victorian Crochet Ensemble plus Cape & Bonnet. Historic Doll $395
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16) Choice 12.5” Factory Original Pouty - scarce Heubach 7246, Closed Pouty Mouth, lustrous bl. sl. eyes, Orig. Flaxen Braids, Ensemble & Shoes too! $1250 17) 11” Factory Dressed Pierrot Style Googly - clever Deco Imp,blue eyes, Factory Wig, snappy clothes. A pip! $750
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21) Incredible 22” Glass Eye Gretchen - rarely does a K*R character have such a flawless complexion! A large & compelling size w. beautiful crisp features, shining Rare Glass Eyes, Orig. Quality Body, plus feminine layers of Antique Clothes, Hat & Shoes. Stunning & mint! $6800 22) Creche Angel w/ Orig. Wings! (see #1)
23) 24” Striking in Scarlet Bebe Steiner - with flawless lustrous bisque, smoldering blue eyes, perfect even feathered brows, barely parted lips w/ 6-tiny teeth, orig. Signed Stiff Wrist Body , antique shoes, brilliant Holiday Ensemble w/ Chapeau. $2950
24) Precious 12” Closed Mouth Steiner Bebe A mint Sugar Plum w/ Stiff Wrist fully jtd. BJB, big round PWs, creamy bisque Factory Wig Pate & Shoes, wrapped in her frilly Red Silk Ensemble for Christmas! $2995 25) Rare tiny 10” K*R 115A ‘Phillip’ - precious mint bisque, rich facial sculpting, Pouty Closed Mouth, fully Jtd. Toddler Body, Factory Wig, plus his adorable Edwardian Ensemble too. Adorable! $2500 26) Rare Size 13” Elaborate Bru Teteur w/ Chevrot Body includes her Label & Mechanism, cork pate/ wig, glowing Brown PWs, delicate blond brows, perfect bisque includes fingers, layers of Heirloom Finery with Wired Bonnet. This gem has it all! $7900
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(212) 787-7279 P.O. Box 1410 NY, NY 10023
Quality Antique Dolls by Mail Return Privilege • Layaways Member UFDC & NADDA
matrixbymail@gmail.com
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27) 10” Miniature Googly Toddler-mint & Fully Jointed! - Bl. eyes, Factory Wig, delightful clothes. In pristine cabinet condition! A prize! $2500 28) Bru Face 13.5” Name Doll ‘Elsa’ - tender expression, pre-1900 Square Cut Teeth, Blue PWs, Stiff Wrist early body, all pretty in pink, antique Mohair Tresses topped by Fancy Antique Hat too! $1800
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Gigi’s Dolls & Sherry’s Teddy Bears Inc.
16” Kestner 220 Toddler body w/ fur wig, blue sleep eyes, plaster pate, rub on cheek, head marked: H Made in Germany 12, JDK, 220, 15 $3295. Now $2995.
15.5” Limoges France 4, blue pw eyes, pierced ears, antique clothing, HH wig, little paint wear on body $285. 6” Hertwig Low Brow china all original w/ vintage dress $49.95 16” S & H 1078, blue sleep eyes, pierced ears, original mohair wig $195.
15” Alexander Elise gold ballerina in mint condition & high facial coloring $195. Vogue Ginny: #101 Undressed Walking Doll, blond bangs in box w/ catalog & instruction sheet, straight leg walker, mint condition $135. #1000 Blond Bang, bent knee walker Ginny in box with white Crayola dress w/ black velvet trim $145.
20” K * R 101 49 Marie w/ blue painted eyes, mohair wig, repainted lower legs, missing finger left hand, antique clothing & leather boots $1595. 6.5” Hertwig Low Brow China w/ original limbs on newer body, right leg repaired $46.95
17” O/M Jumeau unmarked 1907 Look, brown PW eyes, original clothes, Paris Bee Mark shoes & socks, Mama/ Poppa talking body, paint chips on hands $1450.
22” DEPOSE 10 Jumeau on 6 ball stiff wrist body w/ Jumeau Medaille d’ ‘or Paris blue stamp, blue pw eyes, applied ears, blonde mohair wig, antique clothing $3895.
12.5” Kammer & Reinhart Stockinet Gentleman “Older Suitor” w/ boutonniere & flowers, wears monocle, great personality $255.
27” Lady Grace French Mannequin Repro by Carolyn Theesfeld 1996, beautifully painted, dressed 19” English Wax Over Papierexquisitely, green blue PW eyes, Mache c 1970, new lips & eyebrows, red mohair wig $495. original body w/ German rewaxed arms, original mohair wig & undergarments, possibly was a Christmas Fairy w/ antique tinsel in hair, cracks in wax on face $225.
18.5” Depose Tete Jumeau 8 in red on stiff wrist 8 ball stamped body, brown PW eyes, pierced ears, HH wig, antique clothing, hat & boots, beautiful coloring $2995. 13” Beautiful Conta & Boheme 187080 China boy w/ fabulous detailed painting & nice brush strokes on hairline& sideburns, blue eyes, old cloth body & leather arms $195. 15.34” SFBJ 237 Jewel Eyed Boy, beautiful molding and painting, antique outfit, shoes & stockings, paint wear on hands & lower legs $995.
22” Kling Bell 189 9 Blonde China, blue painted eyes, old cloth body, beautifully molded hair, 189 Bell w/ K mark 9 $265.
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11.5” Countess Dagmar Parian by C F Kling, blond hair in updo & back braids, molded shoulder plate, cobalt blue eyes looking upward, wonderful antique body $495.
15” Simon & Halbig Glass eyed, Jointed Head Parian 1870’s w/ molded hair & blue / gold ribbon, beautiful body & coloring, slight cheek rubs $1095.
Layaw Availa ay ble
29” Kestner 154 14, original pate & HH wig, blue sl eyes, nice leather body w/ bisque arms, hairline on forehead above left eye $175.
11” MIB Alexander Kelly #1103 1958 only, blue earrings, auburn hair, maise floral dress w/ wrist tag, box w/ original $4.99 tag $545.
23” Sweet Kestner 214 10 ½, brown stat eyes, German body, lower right leg as is & feet as is $275. 9” AW Kister 1870’s Blonde molded hair w/ fancy painted boots, antique dress $150.
6.5” K star R L 15 All Bisque, blue sleep eyes, jointed head, chips at top of legs, white long stockings, brown 2 strap shoes $425.
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28.5” C/M Bru Jne R 14 1891- 92, brown PW eyes, beautiful molding & coloring, she has a baking crack on right side head that has been over sprayed, compo bj body, 1 finger glued, original HH wig, pate & 14 Paris Bee Shoes, antique clothing & bonnet $7950.
22” Tete Jumeau SFBJ 301 Paris 25, Bebe Vrai Modele Fabrication Jumeau label on body, blue stat eyes on rocker, some paint chipping on body, 1 tooth replaced $450. 5” Kestner 620 3 Jointed head All Bisque, brown sleep eyes, 2 strap brown shoes, right elbow glued $225.
15” Jumeau 2 on All Leather Body w/ bisque forearms & metal upper arms/ upper legs, leather over carton, tenon joints at elbows, left arm jointed arm loose, original boots marked 2 CC in Oval, blue PW eyes, pierced ears, antique mohair wig & clothing $4750.
20” Madame Alexander Side Part Queen 1957 Cissy All Original w/ beautiful coloring $695. 21” SFBJ 60 22 6 w/ blue sleep eyes, HH wig, silk dress, 5 piece body $450.
Vogue Ginny 1951 Strung Painted Lash Frockling Fables – TV Hostess, two tone brown eyes, some stains & fading on outfit $250. Dutch Girl & Boy All Original w/ 2 tone blue eyes, mohair wigs $220. Pair
19” CM French Belton type marked 183 on French stiff wrist body, upper left thigh appears remade, brown PW eyes, pierced ears $1695.
19” Rare Shirley Temple Walker 1960 All Original w/ tag, wholesale $10.49 price tag, only had plastic off her hair for picture, high coloring, vinyl head & arms, blown plastic legs & body $395. 10” CM Belton Sonneberg ‘0’, blue threaded eyes (one cracked), pierced ears, great cabinet size, beautiful face $595.
18.5” Connie Lynn Terri Lee’s Sister All Original, dress & bonnet w/ Daisy, beautiful caracul wig $185.
10.5” Wonderful All Original Blond China w/ “Alice” band, superb detailing, cloth legs patched $950.
16” Patent Pending Terri Lee w/ mannequin wig, beautifully painted in tagged dress & original shoes $285.
30.5” CM Tete Jumeau marked Depose Tete Jumeau 14 Bte SGDG w/ red stamp, French Depose Paris 14 shoes, blue PW eyes, applied pierced ears, HH wig $3995.
23” Kestner 167 H Germany, brown sleep eyes, original mohair wig, shoes & socks, 1 finger missing left hand, chip out of lower left forearm $545. 12” K * R 126 28, brown stat eyes, repainted baby body, rub on nose, sweet expression $145.
15” Kestner 220 10 F on toddler body, blue sleep eyes, plaster pate, brunette HH wig, antique clothing, V baking mark or mold lines on bridge of nose $1795. 15” Fabulous All Original 1920’s Chinese Boy w/ amazing painted eyes and facial features, compo head, hands & feet, cloth body, inserted HH at top of head, little crazing back of head $495.
6029 N. Northwest Hwy. Chicago, IL 60631 • 773-594-1540 • (800-442-3655 orders only) • Fax 773- 594-1710 Open: Tues., Wed., Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. Near O’Hare, Park Ridge & Niles
Chicago’s finest selection of Antique, Modern and Collectible Dolls, Barbie, Gene, Alexander, Tonner, Fashion Royalty, Steiff, Dollhouses and Accessories. Member U.F.D.C. & NADDA • Worldwide Shipping • email: questions@gigisdolls.com • Check Out Our eBay Store - gigisdolls2010
Contact us for Monthly Specials! Tour our shop at: www.gigisdolls.com & join us on Facebook • Now on Ruby Lane
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The Quest A Collecting Column by Linda Edward
Choice Decisions
T
he roots of doll collecting run deep in most collectors. I remember as a child, standing in the toy department of our local store and rating the dolls made by various companies. This company made the cutest dolls, that company used better quality materials, another company had great clothing or accessories with their dolls. Little did I know that decades later I would still be rating individual dolls to determine which examples should be added to my collection. Regardless of the type of dolls we collect, or what our doll budget will allow, we all make measured choices as we build our collections. Carefully weighing the merits and flaws of each doll we encounter. Often our first choice is in deciding what type of collection are we aiming at. Whether we are building a broad representative array or a narrow focus grouping, we are all looking for the best examples we can find and afford. Points for consideration include: Quality Most antique dolls were mass produced and although there were production standards in place within each doll-making company, wide variations of quality can be found. Look for careful molding, high quality materials, and well executed finishes. China, bisque, and paper mache dolls were made in molds which were used over and over, causing mold-wear that can radically alter the look of any particular model of doll. Painting can also vary widely, even on dolls of the same mold and manufacturer. Models made over long periods also have color changes in their painting which reflect the aesthetic of their era. Try to look at as many examples as possible to determine what you are going to be happiest with before you buy. Size This factor not only relates to how we will display and protect our dolls, but also has a bearing on the look of a doll. Some doll molds translate best into particular sizes. I once went through a period of trying to create more space by selling my larger dolls and replacing them with smaller versions of the same doll. It did not take long for me to learn a valuable lesson, as I found that some character molds looked too intense for my taste in smaller sizes. The reverse of that coin was how delightful certain
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Although Early 20th century illustrative artist Bessie Pease Gutman expressed the sentiment that “Love is Blind� when it comes to dolls, most collectors are more discerning when choosing the next doll for their collection.
other molds are in diminutive scales. Condition Antique dolls can be found in various states of condition ranging from poor little rag-a-muffins to unplayed-with pristine examples. Although there can be satisfaction to be gained by rescuing a doll in poor condition, most of us dream of finding dolls in as good condition as possible for the material and period of the
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bodies, costumes) will generally command the upper end of the price spectrum today; but perhaps, more importantly they have more to teach us about the world in which they were created. However, for the collector whose focus is sewing for dolls, it can be preferable to look for examples without original clothing. Again, it all comes down to personal choices. In the final analysis, by deciding where our hearts lie as Examples of Kämmer & Reinhardt’s mold 101 in 16” and 8” sizes illustrate how the details of a mold collectors and focusing on finding can vary according to the size of the doll. This, added to differences in painting, can create very examples that are the best fit for different looks in the finished doll. our self-determined parameters, the collections we develop are sure to bring joy to our lives – doll. Again, this depends on the focus of your collection. and isn’t that what it’s really all about?! But remember that although a doll with flaws may be an inexpensive way to gain a particular model, it is the doll in good condition that has the best chance at remaining in stable condition and holding its monetary value. Rarity A doll that is harder to find can sometimes be forgiven for imperfections that we would not accept in a doll that is more often found. Time spent in study can be repaid many times over by being able to recognize a rare doll when encountered in an unlikely setting. Originality There is something absolutely delicious about finding an antique doll in original clothing. It presents a true snapshot of its period. Dolls that are as close as possible to how they left the manufacturer (original eyes, wigs,
A 14” Cuno & Otto Dressel mold 1469 is a treat to find in its original factory presentation providing a pure example of how these dolls were sold by the maker (photo courtesy of Frasher’s Auctions) but for the collector who enjoys costuming, an undressed example can be the perfect doll to purchase.
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Auction News Dolls, Dolls, Dolls & More Dolls! Wednesday, December 9th, 2020
ONLINE ONLY AUCTION!
Bidding is open now! Lots start to close at 6:00 P.M. SPECIAL LIVE PREVIEWS: TO PLACE YOUR BIDS: Sunday, December 6th from Noon to 3 P.M. go to & Tuesday, December 8th from 2-7 P.M. DottaAuction.HiBid. com 330 W. Moorestown Road (RT 512) Nazareth, PA 18064 Join us for our annual Doll Auction, our first since the beginning of COVID-19! We are anticipating 400 lots or more! Many lots and photos are listed online. Please take a look and call or email us if you have any question or need more info. For more information, including up to date catalog and photos, as well as to register and bid for this, or any of our upcoming auction, please visit: www.DottaAuction.hibid.com
330 W. Moorestown Road, Rt. 512 Nazareth, Pa. 18064 Pa. License # AY 1950-L www.DottaAuction.com info@DottaAuction.com
December Auctions
Theriault’s
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Marquis: Neapolitan Figures from the Büktas Collection: Part One 410.224.3655 www.theriaults.com See our ad on the back cover for more information.
Galerie de Chartres
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Janine Chovet Collection - Chapter 2 “Les plus Belles Poupees Francaise” +33 (0)2 37 88 28 28 | chartres@galeriedechartres.com www.ivoire-chartres.com and www.interencheres.com/28001
Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH Saturday, December 5, 2020 Steiff special auction 0049 (0) 6203 13014 | mail@spielzeugauktion.de www. spielzeugauktion.de See our ad on page 20.
Dotta Auction
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Auction Photos Right, Top: Ladenburger Steiff bear
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Online Doll auction at www.DottaAuction.HiBid.com 610-759-7389
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Withingtons posted their November 5-12 results in their ad on page 17. A painted Izannah Walker doll (Lot #066) led the results at $11,500. Access their catalogs at www. withingtonauction.com. Several auction houses have December doll auctions scheduled. Theriault’s auction on December 5th is titled, “Marquis: Neapolitan Figures from the Buktas Collection: Part One. Antique Doll Collector features Neapolitan figures from the auction as our cover this month and don’t miss the fascinating article written by Florence Theriault in this issue (page 24). Ladenburger Auctions will be hosting their special Steiff auction on December 5, too. Be sure to check them out at www. spielzeugauktion.de. Examples from the auction are a Steiff bear starting at 350 euros or 414 US dollars. A featured Steiff goat is a prototype with a head turning mechanism that will begin at 900 euros or 1065 US dollars. Chartres has a Premium Antique Doll auction on December 5 featuring Les plus Belles Poupées Françaises, Janine Chovet Collection, chapter 2. In this auction they will present the biggest Steiner figure C8 (95 cm) and also the smallest bébé Steiner série 4/0 (21 m). Highlights: a very rare Tiburce Mothereau 3/0 (29 cm), bébé bru breveté 6/0 (35 cm), and more: 4 Bébé Schmitt, bébé Bayeux-Mothereau, Petit et Dumoutier, Panier, Falk et Roussel, Joanny, Mascotte. Reach them at www.ivoire-chartres.com. Dotta Auction will host their annual Doll Auction on December 9. This will be online only but see their ad on this page for details or visit their website at www.dottaauction.com.
Right, Bottom: Ladenburger Steiff goat with animated head Left: Galerie de Chartres featuring Les plus Belles Poupees Francaise
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Anne Demuth
Buying & Selling Fine Antique Dolls 1025 Bowman Rd., Westfield, NC 27053
Give yourself a gift! Visit my private doll shop over the holidays. Socially distanced and by appointment only.
Please call or text me at 336.755.1400 You’ll be greeted by goodies galore and fabulous opportunities to buy, sell or trade! Choose from my 20 plus year doll collection including hundreds of antique and vintage dolls. Plus, pick through my huge collection of antique and vintage doll dresses, slips, chemise, pantaloons, shoes, wigs, ribbons, fabrics, furniture and accessories. Bring your dolls to dress, trade and repair.
If you are thinking of selling your doll treasures, I buy everything from one doll, or doll accessory, to an entire collection, including: dolls, shoes, clothes, wigs, miniatures, doll jewelry, doll houses, furniture and accessories. 1. Extremely RARE 13” Antique C1910 Simon Halbig 1303 DEP Marquis Doll. $9575 2. Extremely RARE 15” Antique C1910 Simon Halbig 1303 DEP Marquis Doll. $9575
3. 14” Antique Sonneberg Bisque Closed Mouth Belton Doll Marked 106. $1375 4. 20” Antique C1880 French Bisque Bebe Phenix Star Jules Steiner w/ Great Outfit. $3950
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5. C1911 13 1/2” Antique German Kestner Character Toddler Doll $698 6. Antique 23” Bruno Schmidt 2048-6 German Bisque Toddler Tommy Tucker Doll. $995 7. 18” Antique C1880 Bisque Closed Mouth Roullet Decamps Intripede Jumeau Bebe. $4550
8. Antique 14” Jumeau French Fashion Marked 1 on Shoulder-plate Doll Poupee Peau. $2850 9. Rare C1911 12” Kammer Reinhardt Character 116A Doll w/Side Hip Jtd Toddler Body. $1175 10. Antique 14” German Bisque Gebruder Heubach 8420 Doll w/ Fully Jointed Orig Body. $850
11. Antique 11” German 592 Bahr Proschild Character Toddler w/Rare Body. $795 12. 21” Antique C1880 French Bisque Eden Bebe Paris w/Great Outfit. $2350
13. Antique 21” German Bisque RARE 2072 Bruno Schmidt Closed Mouth Toddler Doll. $1575
14. C1910 15 1/2” Antique German Bisque Doll Kammer Reinhardt Rare Glass Eyed 100 WIGGED! $3350
15. C1890 20” Antique German Bisque Doll Closed Mouth Extreme Pouty Kestner. $3375 16. 18” RARE Antique C1880 Bisque Closed Mouth Mystery Bebe Doll W/Lovely Outfit. $2750
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17. 26” Antique C1880 French Bisque RD Bebe Paris w/Great Outfit $4350 18. 25” Antique C1880 Bisque Closed Mouth Tete Jumeau Bebe Doll W/Lovely Outfit. Has old tight hairline probably in making $2150
19. Antique 16” German Bisque #126 Kammer Reinhardt Doll on Side Hip Jointed Body. $675
20. Antique 13” German Bisque #525 Kley Hahn Child Doll On Fully Jointed Compo Body. $475 21. Antique 21” German Bisque Kestner CM XII Pouty Doll w/Straight-wristed Body. $3500 22. C1911 12” Rare Closed Mouth Simon Halbig Character Doll, Perfect Bisque. $685
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23. C1890 23” Antique German Hard to Find 630 Closed Mouth ABG Doll Perfect. $1595
24. Antique 14” German Bisque RARE Hertel Schwab 141 Art Character RARE Doll Perfect. $3750 25. Antique 15” German Bisque RARE Hertel Schwab 141 Art Character Doll Perfect. $3750 26. 23” C1880 English Poured Wax Doll From Museum Portrait Aileen Queen of Dollock. $3299
27. C1910 19” Antique German RARE Closed Mouth 526 Kley Hahn Character Doll. $3225
28. 19” Antique E8J C1884 Bisque Bebe by Emile Jumeau Doll w/Original Signed Body. $5995
29. Antique 28” German Bisque Kestner CM Pouty Doll w/ Perfect Bisque w/Marked Body. $2500 30. 11” Antique German Closed Mouth Doll 212 Bahr Proschild w/Original Body. $1299 31. Antique Very Large 16” Gebruder Heubach Figurine Curtzing Girl Perfect. $595
32. Antique C1850 20” Bald Head Wigged Pink Lustre China Head Doll w/Pierced Ears. $1895 33. Gorgeous C1909 14” Factory Original Antique German Munich Art Doll. $9975 34. Gorgeous C1909 14” Factory Original Antique German Munich Art Doll. $8395
35. 23” Antique RARE Paper Mache French Bisque Bebe Schmitt et Fils w/8 Ball Body. $2850 36. 16” Antique German Closed Mouth Doll 260 Bahr and Proschild in Velvet Boy’s Suit. $1299
37. 23” German Wax Fashion lady Staatdamen with unique painted gloves and boots RARE. $2799 38. 23” Antique Doll French Bisque Bebe by Schmitt et Fils with Original Signed Body. $12,550
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39. Antique 15” Rare Bisque Simon Halbig Fashion Doll Poupee w/Great Outfit. $2900
40. Antique 15” German Bisque Hertel Schwab 172 Extremely RARE Googly Toddler Doll. $3550
Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays Experience pure doll Joy! Find all of these and more in my eBay Store Anniepoojewels For more information call: 336.755.1400 or email: dollsbearscookies@yahoo.com Also find us on Facebook: Anne Demuth
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Museum News
DEBORAH FRATINO ANTIQUITIES Member of UFDC and NADDA
Patriotic Christmas Decorations Little Christmas Show
T 10” Heubach Pouty #6969
Leather gloves · Silver mirror/locket · 14k pocket knife Painting on ivory in Ormolu frame
Call for more information! debfratino@aol.com | Tel: 203-434-6733
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his year’s special show will focus on Christmas tree decorations, made at the time of the two world wars. Christmas in wartime had a special meaning; the Christian message of peace was radically reinterpreted. During the First World War, the Christmas tree carried secular, national symbols, seeking to evoke patriotic feelings. There were images of the emperor and iron crosses made of Dresden cardboard, glass submarines, mines and bombs with painted imperial eagles, and the top of the tree was often decorated with a structure in the shape of a Prussian spiked helmet. During the Second World War, the National Socialist leadership appropriated Christmas for war propaganda. In numerous publications, the Third Reich tried to use this important family celebration for propaganda purposes. Every opportunity was taken to reinterpret Christian customs and contents into Germanic origin and content. For example, Christmas decorations were sold which promoted those ideas – there were pressed glass ornaments containing old Germanic symbols such as the tree of life, sun wheel, runes, and swastika. (However, it is important to stress that such pieces are rarely seen in contemporary photographs. Most families seem to have given priority to the notion of peace). This difficult chapter in the history of Christmas tree decorations should not be ignored. The Museum succeeded in showing this somewhat different Christmas season thanks to items on loan from the private collection of Mr. Dünnenberger and the Library at Guisanplatz BiG. The exhibition will be shown in this form only at Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel and on their website at www.swmb.museum.com from November 21, 2020 — February 14, 2021.
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17” Early French Fashion Doll, cup and saucer neck, deluxe leather body with bisque arms. Manufacturers of Fine Doll Jewelry, Brass Accessories, Miniature Trunks & Hardware 336 Candlewood Lake Road, Brookfield, CT 06804 Phone 203-775-4717 Email: info@catspawonline.com
$2,800.00
Visit our website and shop online: www.catspawonline.com Catalog price is $8.95 post paid
Accessorize Your Dolls!
Cats Paw has been in business since 1982 specializing in quality reproductions made from antique originals, and unique old store stock. Our antique reproductions are made by hand using the lost wax technique, and each item is hand finished to achieve an authentic “antique” look. We offer exquisite doll accessories that only look expensive! • Jewelry • Trunks • Items for the Boudoir • Buttons and Clasps • Purse Frames • Presentation Boxes • Bleuette Accessories & More
ANN PRUETT-PHILLIPS
ann@annpruett-phillips.com, (323) 200-4404
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Joyce Kekatos joycedolls@aol.com 917-859-2446 or 718-863-0373
I buy dolls and will sell on consignment. LAYAWAY AVAILABLE • Member UFDC & NADDA
www.grandmasatticdolls.com • Look for me on Ruby Lane!
9” E.J. Jumeau #1 Bebe, mint bisque, bulging pw eyes, orig. mohair wig, hair ribbon & pate, wears orig. silk & lace dress, Jumeau shoes w/rosettes, orig. undies, ant. Fr. hat & crocheted socks, on orig. str. wrist EJ body. BREATHTAKING & the tiniest size made. $24,700.
18” K * R 117 “Mein Liebling”, gorgeous sl. eyes, perfect creamy bisque, orig. curly clean mohair wig & pate, great ant. pink & white 2 piece outfit, ant. wool matching barette, & ant. leather shoes, orig. slip & undies, on a magnificent orig. K * R body, clean shiny orig. finish, unplayed w/ condition. Great pouty modeling. She is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!! $4575.
5.5” French All Bisque Mignonette, immaculate bisque, “swivel neck”, pw eyes with luscious lashes, orig. long mohair wig, orig. silk & lace dress, undies & slip, orig. silk ribbons wrapped around her bare feet, perfect orig. all bisque body. GORGEOUS!! $4200. 11” Hertel & Schwab #546 Character, sl. eyes, perfect bisque, orig. auburn mohair wig, vintage ruffled organdy dress, ant. blouse, orig. slip & undies, & orig. shoes, on GREAT orig. H & S body, ABSOLUTELY DARLING!!! $3200
Antique pastel colorful stacking blocks. They are really beautiful with alphabet letters & pictures of children, in great condition & have been mine since I have been collecting. You can stack them up or scatter them around your dolls. Either way, they will look great in your collection! $350. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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The
Neapolitan Doll
Its Place in Doll History By Florence Theriault
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t’s a long-held belief in doll circles that the art character doll originated about 1910 with the exhibition of the Munich Art Dolls from the studio of Marion Kaulitz, followed soon thereafter by the highly expressive character dolls created by Kammer and Reinhardt and others. The belief holds that the idealistically beautiful doll of their recent past was being supplanted by the new realistically featured character doll with all the moods, frowns, sadness and delight of the real ‘people of the street’. The theory is generally true. But one thing is wrong. It wasn’t the first time. In the 1700s in the flourishing city of Naples, Italy, art character dolls abounded. The dolls depicted women, men, children, peoples of all races and people of all social backgrounds, and people in every imaginable mood of expression. Their original purpose, from many centuries earlier, had been as figures in nativity scenes, but over time had evolved. In this wealthy and prosperous city, with a booming intellectual and artistic population, the dolls had become “a grand distraction for a population at play, a toy of the elite” as described by Elio Catello in an introduction to a museum exhibition at the Kimball Museum. 24
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The Character Faces of the Neapolitan Dolls
Artists, whose other works were of marble or stone, were recruited to sculpt the models for these dolls. Their involvement was mostly a well-kept secret, and to this day, very few are documented. After all, these were playthings, not art! Famous artists would not want their names connected with child play. The same practice - and the same secrecy - occurred a century and a half later in the doll factories of Germany where famed fine art sculptors were enlisted to sculpt doll heads. An example is the work of Berlin artist Arthur Lewin Funcke who sculpted models for the art character series of Kammer and Reinhardt, but whose name was not known until some 75 years later. This secret role of fine artists in sculpting realistic and highly expressive dolls portraying “people of the streets� is the reason art character dolls were created in both eras. And it is why, today, many collectors affirm that the doll is art. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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The Character Faces of the Neapolitan Dolls
Dolls with Sculpted Hair and Bonnets
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Dolls with Sculpted Hair and Bonnets
There are other categories of collecting in which the type of doll familiar to today’s collector was preceded by the same-style Neapolitan doll in the 1700s. An example is the German bisque doll with sculpted hair and/or bonnet from the 1860-1885 era which are highly sought by today’s collectors, particularly examples with rare variations of hair style, uniquelymodeled bonnets, and those which combine these features with a highly characteristic facial expression. So, too, do those principles hold when studying the forebear Neapolitan doll. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Dolls with Sculpted Hair and Bonnets
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Male Dolls
In one category the doll models of the Neapolitan era are more abundant than the later bisque or porcelain dolls of Germany and France. That was in the greater number and variety of male dolls which are shown in the photographs here and is likely explained by the changing market model. By the 1860s the most likely market for a doll was a young girl who presumably sought a doll in her own image. 30
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The Prequel of Automata Dramatically, the faces, poses, costumes and activities of many 19th century automata were foreseen in the Neapolitan doll. This is particularly notable in exotic dolls of the East with their rich complexion, lavish costumes and highly expressive and realistic features, but it is also echoed in Neapolitan dolls as musicians, dancers, and “action-oriented� portrayals. Fast forward 100 years, add an internal clockwork mechanism and, voila! There is an automaton.
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The Theatre
Every collector who has ever posed a doll – a tilt of the head, a placement of the arm - rather than allow the doll to stand inertly, face forward, knows the drama, the theatre, that is inherent in every doll. Sometimes a doll can pose dramatically by itself with lighting and the quiet elegance of space speaking to its specialness. Other times, a doll posed interactively with other dolls, scenery, accessories, animals and such, creates a theatre of life. The 1700s Neapolitans understood the benefits of each, commissioning important dolls that were designed for unique display, and simultaneously creating lavish exhibitions – farmyards, marketplaces, taverns, elegant salons – and more. The Neapolitan notion of the doll as theatre was repeated a century or more later, in events such as the great international toy fair exhibitions staged in Germany each year. The Neapolitan doll has been overlooked by doll collectors. There is a sense that these are “not really dolls”. Yet, they are! They portray faces of people, their little bodies were designed to be articulated into infinite poses, they wear clothing costumes, and, mostly, they were meant for play, for arrangement, for imaginative dreaming. There is further good news: These dolls remain affordable and, in most cases, they require little in the way of restoration or costuming. For collectors looking for the “something different”, here is a wonderful path to choose. The dolls shown in this article are features in Theriault’s December 5 auction, “The Doll as Theatre”, the Hanne Buktas Collection of Neapolitan dolls. The dolls shown on the cover of this magazine are featured in Part II of “The Doll as Theatre,” to be conducted on March 6, 2021. For more information www.theriaults.com. 32
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SELL A DOLL IN THE
EMPORIUM
Kathy Libraty’s Antique Dolls
Paula Claydon 914-939-8982
Eyelash27@aol.com Member NADDA & UFDC
www.evelynphillipsdolls.com
The Frizellburg Fashions are ready for the holidays as our Snow Queens, they are a captivating size at 34” and 28”.
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!!!
17” J. Steiner Fre A 10. Angelic girl. Perfect Bisque Head. Steiner stamped body with straight wrists. Gorgeous blue paperweight eyes. Beautiful blonde human hair wig. Antique dress, undies, socks and shoes...........$3900
Happy Holidays to all our wonderful friends and customers.
The Trinckes Collection
Frizellburg Antique Store 1909 Old Taneytown Rd., Westminster, Md. 21158 frizellburgantiques@yahoo.com See us at facebook.com/Frizellburgantiques 410-848-0664 or 410-875-2850
We are OPEN Thurs - Sunday 11-5
Judy McDonald Dolls
1. 19” German China Lady with Fancy Snooded Hairdo..........................................$1595 2. 14.5” Closed Mouth Pouty Kestner in Pink Silk Frock.............................................$2300 3. 18” Simon & Halbig 1329 in Original Japanese Costume......................................................$2150 ~Layaway Always Available~ Call us at: 718.859.0901 www.rubylane.com/shop/kathylibratysantiques email: KathyLibratysDolls@gmail.com
Do you have a doll or collection you want to sell? See details on page 64.
sent for approval/ approved
Jonie May 13” SFBJ 251, comes with trunk and many factory clothes, Contact me for price, and SFBJ 226 (boy) First place show winner $1095, both 13” tall. Miniature antique dressing table with marble $895
$450
Contact me for prices and details!
Lay Aways Available. Call 352-854-1856 www.rubylane.com/shop/linda-ellen-brown-trinckes email: brownlindaellen@gmail.com
Antique Doll & Toy Market
1. 16” Earliest Steiner Bebe. Rare example with excellent bisque. Jointed Steiner composition body. Wonderful antique clothing, wig, and shoes. $5,800 2. 12” Hertel & Schwab 165 Googly on toddler body with its factory finish. Excellent condition. This adorable little imp is original head to toe. $1,895 3. 16” Carved Bonnet Schoenhut. Documented provenance. No repairs or repaint. Original clothing and Teddy Bear companion. $3,750
More photos and info / Layaway available
Lisa Pepin ~ pepins4@msn.com ~ 206-669-7818 Many more “fresh to the market” dolls available.
www.judymcdonalddolls.com (818) 991-9303
SARA BERNSTEIN DOLLS
View Quality Dolls at affordable prices. 100’s of pictures and prices at my Ruby Lane Shop...
santiqbebe@aol.com • 732-536-4101
www.sarabernsteindolls.rubylane.com ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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By Margaret Kincaid Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love celebrating it in my parents’ old summerhouse. It was built by a Revolutionary War soldier on his land grant on the side of Rowe Mountain in Bradford, New Hampshire. Eight years ago I did an extensive renovation of the house and now I celebrate Christmas here with my son from California and my daughter and her family, who live an hour away, in Medford Ma. I received Tasha Tudor’s A Doll’s Christmas when I was three and 70 years later, I still provide Christmas for the Dolls and Teddy Bears, as well as friends and family. hen I was nine or ten years old, my mother was Vice President of the League of Women Voters in Baltimore. She worked right up until Christmas, so she would leave me with greens and some supplies to decorate the house. Mother was never extravagant. One year she bought two cheap trees from the Boy Scouts’ final sale before Christmas and told me to make it into one fat tree. It took all day, but the final tree was magnificent if I do say so myself! I had other influences. I was fascinated with Mrs. Redmon’s collection of family ornaments from the 19th century, and one year after a dancing lesson at Mrs Henderson’s house, I rearranged all the family ornaments on her tree because they were not spaced just right. I moved to decorating with lights because our house could not be the only house on Elmwood Road with no lights. When I started spending Christmas in New Hampshire, I put outdoor lights on the house, but
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they didn’t look right on a 210-year-old cape on a mountainside. Then I put candle lights in the window, and now I keep them on all year because the little 7-watt bulbs give a warm glow inside and out. Then, this year, I planted three eight-foot tall Balsam Firs at the edge of the forest by the house and lit the trees with old strings of incandescent mini lights. They look like magical trees glowing in the forest. I’ve been keeping them on all the time. In the night the glow comes in my bedroom window and looks very comforting. The eighteenth-century cape is fairly remote and surrounded by 160 acres of forest. It is painted red inside and out, the color originally made with ox blood and buttermilk. The house has beautiful 18th century woodwork and four fireplaces. The ceilings are seven feet high and most rooms are 13 feet square. Only the original kitchen or keeping room is larger. I decorate with natural greens from the forest and deep red silk ribbons in all widths. I mix in artificial berries to make the greens look more like Christmas decorations. I find adding a basket of Christmas greens to the house or the doll scenes makes the decor festive. In the laundry room entry I set up a couple of lovely old china dolls from New England which have red plaid
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dresses which add to the Christmas spirit of the house. I found adding a mini basket with Christmas green and a little Steiff cat makes the scene more charming. Here is a picture of how I make these little baskets of Holiday greens. If you have a Victorian or Colonial Revival house you can be much more exuberant. When you are at a show or now looking on the internet, look for these little accessories. While we all dream of finding a fabulous doll, sometimes finding a little something like basket, candlesticks, a hat or a box of tiny ornaments can be very satisfying. The Christmas tree is set up on the sun porch to keep it cool and the room is big enough for the whole family to sit around and open packages. About lighting: This year I bought an artificial pre-lit tree. The tree looked pretty good, but the LED lights were so bright you could not appreciate the colors of the ornaments. I eventually cut them and put my fifteen-year-old lights on in their slow fade mode. With LED lights one has to be careful of color and size - some are too blue or too yellow/green, but the very tiny fairy lights are not too bright. I have a theory that the color of firelight may be hardwired into humans: Thousands of years ago, if you did not like sitting in the light with other people, bad things happened to you in the night. Wierd blue/white light (or chartreuse) wasn’t safe, not like candlelight. Now I try to stay with the color of the old incandescent lights, available in LED lights, marked as ‘warm white’.
Each year I carefully unpack my collection of ornaments, many of them from the John Noble collection. Gradually, over the years, I have added to the collection so there are quite a few of them. There is a wide array of unusual things portrayed, from lobsters to cars. There are girl’s toys and boy’s toys. When decorating with vintage or antique ornaments, feather trees are great. Since feather trees come in all sizes from 5 foot to 5 inches tall, you can find a feather tree for whatever scale you desire. Small feather trees decorated for Christmas instantly make doll cabinets look festive! In the 1950s there were charming boxed sets of tiny feather tree ornaments sold. These can still be found. They are rare and bring a premium price. The illustration, below left, of these sets also shows an English Fairy soap box from 1900. To decorate a feather tree I like to use glass bead garland and tie it and the ornaments on with fine silk ribbon. The ribbon is a decorative element and keeps the ornaments securely on the tree. Even if you pay only $5 an ornament, my large tree has 60 branches and each branch has an ornament; so you are looking at $300 for 60 ornaments. After collecting antique figural glass ornaments for 30 years, I am only tempted by the more expensive ones. I keep the trees decorated year around. When I put them away, I tie a clear plastic bag around the tree and carefully set the tree in my storage area. On the sun porch with the tree is a case full of the larger scale Snow Babies. Many years ago I was at a Fortnum and Mason display and sale of Christmas ornaments and I saw a grouping of three of these figures. I loved them, but Glen Rollins said they were too expensive; so I started looking for them and collecting them. Obviously, by now I have more than the three I had originally wanted! Snow Babies can get into trouble all on their own; so the R. John Wright Nast Santa Claus is checking up on them. This year I set up the feather tree I got with the John
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Noble collection in my parlor. The tree is decorated with the most wonderful paper dolls, made into Christmas ornaments. The tree also has my collection of Kugels on it. The Kugels were the original glass ornaments made in Germany. These balls are very heavy and look good on feather trees with a strong metal framework. On a fresh cut tree the Kugel has to be put near the trunk or it is too heavy for the tree. Standing in front of the tree are some girls all dressed for Christmas. The girl on the left is a 22 inch tall Phoenix Star doll. This company succeeded the Steiner Company. She is wearing a period French coat, but she had no dress; so I had to make her one out of some antique red and white cotton scraps. The EJ size 11 is wearing her original Ernestine Jumeau ensemble. As I have worked with these two dolls, they always seem to be whispering to each other. I hope they are not going to cause too much trouble before Christmas. The K*R 115A seems a little cross that they are not paying attention to her, but Mama Bear is always friendly and comforting. Mama Bear is an early white Steiff bear. The Steiff squirrel and rabbit are having a conversation of their own. The doll’s live in the garage which has been converted to a Doll Room with cases for my girls. In the world of dolly fantasy it is always Christmas. One case has a tea party which has been going on for 20 years. On the left is a lovely Bebe Francois size 5. The shoes, jacket and hat are original Jumeau, but I made the pleated skirt. The French lines Liberte sash ties her into her chair. The other girl is a Phoenix * with a wonderful wardrobe. My girls like to have their Steiff cats with them. They have a miniature 36
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Old Paris Tete a Tete tea set. There is a three-tiered tray from Fortnum and Mason with petit fours on it. I hope they do not drink too much champagne! To make the scene more festive, I added a Christmas tree, an old Paris vase with artificial greens, and a basket of greens under the table. The white table and chairs were made for Au Nain Bleu at the end of the 19th century. Originally, I had loaded down the table with way too much stuff. Our mothers taught us to look at our outfits to check that we had not overdone the accessories - you have to do the same thing with a display. The girls in the group, pictured at far left, are both Tete Jumeaus. The girl on the right is in her original chemise and she is carrying a wreath I made forty years ago for my daughter’s dollhouse. These miniature Christmas decorations can last a long time! She has a Heuback character baby in her original outfit in the darling wicker carriage made as a regional souvenir about 30 years ago. The other little girl is a dear Size 5 Tete Jumeau in period clothes. The dresser is a wonderful French hand painted piece; I have never seen another one like it. Over the dresser is a present from Samy Odin, an unusual 19th century porcelain plaque depicting a 18th century girl. I hope the Steiff cat does not notice the R John Wright mouse on top of the dresser. A basket of berries tucked in the corner makes this scene look festive.
Above is a delightful Steiner Figure C with lever eyes who is already asleep waiting for Santa. Her bed is part
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of the same series white of furniture. The pink washstand with its original white China is also made for Au Nain Bleu. I had a lot of fun dressing the bed to match the decor. In these troubled times it is very calming to work on these charming details. Do you think she has been a good girl and will Santa come? The large cabinet has little Christmas vignettes on most of the shelves. On the left hand side are three shelves set up to look like a dollhouse for tiny dolls. Most of the furniture is the smallest size of the French Faux Bamboo from the late 19th century. In the top case is the bedroom with the bed and armoire. The two Simon and Halbig all-bisque girls have just gotten up and are getting ready to go downstairs for breakfast. Little do they know there is only one croissant left. Both of these small treasures came from Michael and David at the Carmel Doll Shop. The larger one with bent elbows is 71⁄4 inches tall and the littler one is six inches. Breakfast is in progress with two tiny Sonnonberg dolls on jointed wooden bodies. The girl in the blue dress is the first doll I ever bought in Paris in 1971. Forty years later I found her smaller sister at a show in America. The tiny 81⁄2 inch Steiner Figure C with Lever eyes was in Lynne Murray’s collection. The little bottle brush trees with mercury glass ornaments make this a Christmas breakfast. The Dresden dogs are
hoping the dolls will drop the last croissant. The tiny tea set is the tiniest, most detailed Old Paris tea set I have ever seen! In the bottom cabinet is a German Flat Christmas Tree. In this small scale these flat trees are very effective and decorative. The girl in white is a 5 inch Simon and Halbig all bisque. The larger 8 inch girl in red is another Simon and Halbig girl on a tiny articulated body. The tiny boy is a very cute Googlie with his original clothes. These kids have already opened up their presents! In the center top shelf are some of my French girls in original clothes. They are surrounding a German feather tree made 25 years ago. The girl on the left is a size 9 EJ with an Ernestine Jumeau ensemble. The doll on the right side of the Christmas Tree is an all original Steiner, series C with a double row of teeth. With her red dress and her shy smile, she is very rare and charming. She came from Samy Odin and once was in the Musée de la Poupée in Paris. The girl in darker red in the front corner is a Tete Jumeau in an original luxury outfit. The FG Polichinelle in the front left corner is also all original from a collection in France. I have recently decided not to travel with these girls any more. I will share pictures, but the original silk outfit are 130 years old and every time I pack and unpack them the silk becomes more frayed. I get tremendous inspiration from seeing these original outfits. Across the doll room on some shelves are some of my girls enjoying Christmas. On the right is a scene with my French doll furniture painted a la Japonaise. An all bisque baby sits in the high chair and there is a Christmas tree on a music box on the table. A charming Bruno Schmit toddler girl is holding a Teddy Bear. This year all my dolls have little teddy bears to hold. Next year it might be doll’s or toys. The scene just was not Christmasy enough! Notice the dogs. The Steif Dalmatian is sitting very properly, but the felt Dalmatian is running away with the Christmas pudding. He is a felt Christmas ornament from Liberty’s in London. This scene just did not seem festive enough for the holidays; so I decided to make a couple more baskets ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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of Christmas greens. One basket is an antique French bottom of a hamper and the other is a tiny modern basket I found at an outlet store. I stained it brown to make it look more like the antique one. I line the baskets with green tissue and put dry oasis in it. I use miniature artificial greens. The vintage ones made in Japan during the 1950s are the best. I stuff them in the basket checking that they are close together and in proportion. I add a silk ribbon to finish it off. Actually the full-sized ones are made the same way but you have to put a watertight container in the basket and use wet oasis and fill it with fresh greens. The next scene has a wonderful doll’s table from the 1840s. On the wall is an original Tasha Tudor illustration
of strawberries and on the table is a Wedgwood miniature tea set with strawberries which I bought in 1980. The girl on the right is a Kestner 129 wearing a turkey red dress in honor of the holiday. The girl on the left is a Kammer and Rhinehart Toddler 122. She too has on her fancy Christmas outfit. Since she is a doll, hopefully she will keep it clean. The petit fours from Fortnum and Mason are not gooey. There is a teddy bear cabinet where an extended family of 18 bears are getting ready for Christmas. Their Christmas decorations have fruit and vegetables.
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The tree is decorated with fruit and flowers. I started this collection 40 years ago when I set up a Christmas display at my daughter Eleanor’s school. When Steiff came out with the boxed set of four bears around a table with tiny Steiff porcelain, I had to have it. It has been fun searching out furniture and accessories for bears. Some of the furniture was in my Sandra Sue dollhouse from my childhood. I thought of this as something my grandchildren could play with because it is not as breakable or valuable as the antique dolls. I have fun looking for things at shows or online that I can add to the bears world of Christmas. The big blank button antique Steiff bear is serious about his preparations. Papà Bear is writing his Christmas cards at a 19th century Faux Bamboo desk. The cards are the same age he is, 1906. The R John Wright Tinkerbell likes to watch him doing his correspondence. The large Baby Lori likes the company of the bears. The blank button cinnamon bear is hoping for some attention, but does not want to disturb Papa. The Basket is filled with the early heavy blown glass ornaments from Germany. Papà might get around to putting them up later.
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That’s our holiday gift to you… a full year of print
Antique DOLL Collector
at our lowest price of the year, $42.95! This special offer is available to new print subscribers as well as renewals! (New issues will be added to your current subscription.) It also makes the perfect gift for a fellow collector. Don’t delay, this offer is only available in November 15-December 31!, 2020.
Charge your subscription (print) today. Call +1 631-261-4100 or visit www.antiquedollcollector.com/special.html. Note: Postage will be added for print subscriptions outside the US.
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American Boy Effanbee Boy Dolls From 1920s to 1960s
By Rhoda Seidenberg Photos by D.M. Seidenberg
FIG. 1a.
Skippy made his debut in the February, 1929 issue of Playthings.
A
ny parent or grandparent with children born in the last two decades of the 20th century is familiar to semiannual pilgrimage to the store with the dark burgundy sign stating: American Girl. This brand is aimed at girls who want a doll with connection to American history. These dolls were made to give girls confidence while introducing them to history in the guise of play. Many Americans see dolls as girls’ play. Psychologists see dolls as a transitional object that nurtures maternal instincts. My question is simple: What about boys? Toys for boys are usually relegated
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FIG. 1b. Many people were familiar with Percy Crosby’s impish Skippy. This book is an early compilation of stories that appeared in the newspaper comics section.
to military play, such as toy soldiers, guns, and other weaponry. From this, we would assume that boys’ toys are limited in creative outlets. Certainly, in Europe, boys play with dolls, as well as their gender-specific toys. Boy dolls were created by Albert Marque, Jumeau, Bru, Kammer and Rheinhardt, etc. These dolls were mostly girl dolls with shorter haircuts and mustaches. One can assume that boys played with dolls as well. American doll makers, such as Effanbee and Horsman made dolls labeled as the All American Boy. Were these dolls marketed to boys or were they just brothers or boyfriends to popular girl dolls?
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FIG. 2. Another Effanbee advertisement shows that Skippy was marketed to little boys. Look at the range of outfits.
The Effanbee Story
The company, started by Bernard Fleischaker and Hugo Baum in 1915, was one of the most successful doll companies in America. They began making mama dolls and baby dolls meant to nurture maternal instincts in young girls. Then in 1928 a doll arrived that presented a new role model. Patsy was a young girl with a bob haircut and smart clothes. She was sculpted by Bernard Lifpert in his Brooklyn basement. The Patsy line was very successful, even producing African-American and Chinese versions. According to Patricia Schnoonmaker in the first volume of the Patsy Doll Family Encyclopedia, these black and Asian dolls were special orders. Unfortunately, we don’t know who commissioned these rare dolls. Many Effanbee archives were lost during their move from Manhattan to Brooklyn. On February 24, 1929, Patsy gained a boyfriend, Skippy. (fig. 1a)
FIG. 3. This Black Skippy is super rare. These Skippy dolls were not found in any Effanbee advertisement, yet the appearance of these dolls must have been ordered privately. Photo courtesy of Theriault’s Auctions.
FIGS. 4a, b. Doll sales were probably boosted with tie-in premiums like this Wheaties card showing Skippy keeping fit. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Skippy, First All-American Boy
FIG. 5. Boys and girls would enjoy being part of The Skippy Secret Service Society complete with special code card and member pen.
Skippy was a character based on the comic by Percy L. Crosby, who envisioned the antics of a sassy suburban kid and his friends. (Fig. 1b) Skippy was born in 1923 in Life magazine and died in 1945 in Hearst Syndicates. According to Joan Crosby Tibbets, Percy’s daughter, Skippy was the alter ego of her father, who grew up in a middle-class family in Brooklyn, New York. Skippy voiced Crosby’s reminisces of his childhood and his conservative ideals. These sentiments included being critical of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Trouble with the Internal Revenue Service and Skippy Peanut Butter copyright infringement led to the impoverishment of Crosby. After an alleged suicide attempt,
FIGS. 6a, b. When the winds of war were blowing, Skippy was ready to serve as an airman, army officer, and as a sailor. During this period, Effanbee dropped the “Skippy” name.
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FIGS. 7a, b. Effanbee produced The Candy Kid in the late 1940s. The doll is all composition and could be dressed as a girl and/or a boxer, complete with leather shoes and boxing gloves.
he is sent to an asylum on Long Island. Crosby died there in 1964, but his beloved Skippy lived on. Skippy, the doll, was not so controversial. Effanbee received the rights to reproduce the cartoon character as a doll. Skippy had a built-in audience from the comic strips, so he was also a popular doll for Effanbee. Though he is billed as Patsy’s “boyfriend,” Skippy maintained his creator’s personality. Effanbee portrayed him as a boy with a hand in the cookie jar expression. His pouty expressions and sweet wide eyes made him adorable for boys and girls. His outfits declare Skippy as all boy. An advertisement in the May, 1929 issue of Playthings magazine (fig.2) presents Skippy in seven outfits. He is dressed as a cowboy, in overalls, in a white shirt with tweed shorts, in a baseball uniform, a boy, and cub scout, and a World War I soldier’s uniform. These outfits suggest that Skippy was marketed to young boys. This early version of Skippy had an all-composition Patsytype body. The back of his head is marked: Effanbee// Skippy//©P. L. Crosby. His molded hair could be either light brown or blonde. Effanbee also produced a highly prized and rare black Skippy. (fig. 3) Kids could enjoy their Skippy doll together with other Skippy promotions like Wheaties trading cards and Skippy’s Secret Club. (figs. 4a, 4b, 5) They would have enjoyed watching Jackie Cooper portray Skippy in the movie of the same name. Skippy would remain an important part of the Patsy family during the 1930s and 1940s. The 1940s’ body is now cloth with composition arms and legs. The head sits upon a wood button that serves as the neck. During the 1940s, the doll was not advertised as
FIG. 8. Kids from the ‘50s would be familiar with the Rootie Kazootie Show. Effanbee took advantage of the popular kid’s television program to produce a doll of Rootie. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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FIGS. 9a to d. Super cute Mickey was also called the All-American Boy. He came dressed in many outfits including a sailor and even this very controversial Confederate Johnnie Reb doll. Mickey in the original box is hard to find, but it is possible.
“Skippy,” though the dolls in the 1942 FAO Schwarz catalog had listings for Skippy Sailor and Skippy Soldier. Effanbee dropped the “Skippy” name and listed them as soldier dolls. (figs 6a, b) This omission of the brand name coincides with the decline of Crosby’s comic strip and the disturbances in his life. Skippy, the comic character, ceased production in 1945. Effanbee seemed to have stopped production of Skippy by 1946.
Candy Kid
In 1947, Effanbee introduced the Candy Kid, an all composition toddler doll with molded hair and bright sleep eyes. Candy Kid was presented as a boy or girl with costumes dictating the sex of the doll. Boy dolls were dressed in a white shirt with shorts or like a boxer with red boxing shorts and real leather gloves and shoes. (figs. 7a, b) Candy Kid boxers recall the Jackie Copper character in The Champ, starring Wallace Beery. Like Skippy, Effanbee produced a super rare black version. Perhaps he is supposed to be the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis. 44
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Mickey, the Mid-Century American Boy and Happy Boy
During the 1950s, Effanbee began to move away from producing composition dolls and switched to hard plastics and vinyl. In addition to hard plastic fashion dolls, all-vinyl Rootie Kazootie debuted in 1954 based upon the children’s show of the same name. (Fig. 8) This doll was produced in 21 inches and 11 inches. Rootie wore the same costume as seen on television with molded hair, sweet wide eyes, and freckles. 1958 saw the creation of the Happy Family, which included a little boy that resembled the next star Effanbee boy doll named Mickey—the All-American Boy. Mickey was available in twenty outfits—some were like Skippy. He wore a baseball uniform, also bellboy, fireman, Air Cadet, Marine, sailor, Union soldier and Confederate soldier. (figs. 9a, b, c, d) The most interesting Mickey doll as a boxer had a black eye. Another boy, Happy Boy, featured closed eyes and a wide smile exposing one tooth. He came in three costumes, including a boxing outfit like Mickey. (figs. 10a, b) Happy and Mickey were regulars in Effanbee sale catalogs until 1972. Before G.I. Joe and other Vietnam era soldier dolls, boy dolls that were played with by boys were few and far between. Many early boy dolls were girl dolls with mustaches and/or beards. Effanbee, the creator of successful girls’ dolls like Patsy, achieved success with Skippy, His costumes reflected the aspirations of real American boys of all colors. Dolls dressed as boxers like the Candy Kid, Mickey, and Happy would have been played with by little boys. All these dolls were produced by the Effanbee Doll Company. Effanbee was a company that was progressive and innovative. Thank you, Effanbee for giving us so many lovable American boys.
FIGS. 10 a, b. Happy Go Lucky Boy was produced around the same time as Mickey. Happy was dressed in outfits like Mickey, including a boxer but without the black eye. Happy looks like he got the upper hand. Look at Mickey’s black eye!
REFERENCES Robinson, Jerry. Skippy and Percy Crosby. New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1978. Schoonmaker, Patricia. The Effanbee Patsy Family and Related Types. Baltimore, MD: Hobby House Press, 1971, 1983. Smith, Patricia. Effanbee: Dolls that touch your heart. Paducah, KS: Collector Books, 1983. Theriault, Florence. Playful Art: Dolls of American Childhood, 1900-1960. Annapolis: Theriault’s Gold Horse Publishing, 2009. Theriault’s Auctions. Patsy ‘n’ Pals: A Catalogued Auction. Annapolis: Theriaults Doll Masters, 2000. Tibbetts, Joan Crosby. “Percy Crosby and “Skippy”.” Doll News 40th Anniversary (1989): 6-12. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Show Me the Dolls! Holiday Shopping by Appointment
By Monica Bessette
T
his is an unusual – even challenging – holiday season. Especially so when it comes to finding just the right dolls. This year we might miss the thrill of going to a place where we can hold, inspect and study dolls of many types, shapes and sizes, up close and personal. Yet, with a little effort it is still possible to experience the pleasure of buying dolls at brick and mortar locations around the country. Here are gems who’ve met the challenges of keeping their business alive and thriving, some for decades. A few are shops within museums, or private collections in the seller’s home. Antique Doll Collector salutes all those whose love of buying and selling dolls, doll houses, miniatures, and stuffed animals has kept our hobby and passion alive. Please note: Photos are representative of their stock; items may no longer be available, so call first if you have a special “need.” Many of the shops are temporarily “By Appointment Only.” We look forward to the new year and hopefully, the freedom to explore the main streets and back roads, to discover those much-sought-after treasures, and to make new friends and acquaintances.
love the authentic schoolroom of 1912 featuring antique dolls as students. “Our gift shop makes available unique items for children and adults alike.” Located in Historic Catlin Court. Group tours can be scheduled through the museum office. Arizona Doll &Toy Museum, 5847 West Myrtle, Glendale, AZ 85301, (623) 939-6186. Hours: Tues-Sat 10-4.
❄ ATTIC ANTIQUITY DOLLS
❄ ANNE DEMUTH
When you visit Ann Demuth’s private doll shop, “you’ll be greeted by goodies galore and fabulous opportunities to buy, sell, or trade. Choose from my 20 plus year doll collection, including hundreds of antique and vintage dolls. Also select items from my huge collection of antique and vintage doll dresses, slips, chemise, pantaloons, shoes, wigs, ribbons, fabrics, furniture, and accessories. Bring your dolls to dress, trade, or repair. Visit me and treat yourself to a great holiday doll or give one as a gift.” Anne Demuth, 1025 Bowman Road., Westfield, NC 27053, (336) 755-1400. Hours: Open by appointment only. Please call ahead for an appointment.
❄ ARIZONA DOLL & TOY MUSEUM
Curator, Kathy Lanford, invites you to visit the Museum and Shop to view the wide variety of dolls and toys from yesteryear, as well as familiar modern play things. You’ll
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Owner, Dorothy Meredith, has been in business for 30 years. Her shop sells mostly vintage and antique dolls, mid 1800s to late 1900s. They sponsor semi-annual doll shows at the Schertz Civic Center. Dorothy’s shop is a winner of past Doll Doctor’s Association restoration competitions. They restore all types of dolls, and offer 1-day and 5-day restoration workshops. Located about a half hour east of San Antonio, TX. Attic Antiquity Dolls, 8351 N. State Hwy. 123, Seguin, TX 78155, (830) 606-5868. Hours: Please call for an appointment.
❄ CARMEL DOLL SHOP
Carmel Doll Shop offers a large selection of exquisite dolls, doll clothing, dollhouses, and other specialty items including automata, teddy bears and friends, furniture, vintage toys, and many holiday items. It is also home of the Grovian Doll Museum. Michael Canadas and David Robinson founded Carmel Doll Shop in 1989. “Over the
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Day Trip” in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine. “Our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff will be happy to help you find the perfect item. We can also order items for you.” They offer delicious treats, play times for the kids, big and small, as well as educational programs. “We’ve got it all!” The Den of Marbletown, One Basten Lane, Kingston, NY 12401, (845) 687-6441. Hours: Fri-Sun, 11-6, or by appointment.
❄ DOLL PEDDLAR years the shop has become known for stocking high-quality merchandise in a beautiful, imaginative setting. Special emphasis is always placed on attractive display, because we feel a visit to Carmel Doll Shop should be an inspiration to collectors.” Carmel Doll Shop, 213 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, (831) 643-1902. Currently open by appointment only. Please be sure to call ahead to arrange a convenient time.
❄ CAT’S CRADLE ANTIQUES & ART
Cat’s Cradle owner, Glen Rollins, has been dedicated to the antiques trade since 1989—30 years of selling the curious to the sublime. Specializing in decorative arts, jewelry, antique dolls, fine arts, folk arts, and objects of quality. The shop offers offer a large selection and price range that will appeal to the discerning collector and connoisseur. Member of UFDC and the Utah Antiques Dealers Association. Cat’s Cradle Antiques & Art, 168 W. Center Street, Provo, UT 84601, (801) 374-1832 or cell (801) 361-9212. Hours: Mon- Sat, 11:30-5:30, or by appointment.
Doll Peddlar is a family owned brick & mortar store. Owner, Judy Johnson, told us, “the shop has been at the same location in Little Rock since the mid-90s. The business has grown and changed over the years, allowing us to remain in business. Our website is kept up to date with daily updates. Our commitment to our customers includes friendly service, prompt shipping, and knowledge. Our abundant inventory gives our customers a range of choices from basic play dolls to investment works of art.” Doll Peddlar, 10 Office Park Drive, Little Rock, AR 72211, (501) 224-5792, Hours: Currently open by appointment only.
❄ FRIZELLBURG ANTIQUE STORE
❄ THE DEN OF MARBLETOWN
The Den of Marbletown is a Teddy Bear Museum, a Steiff Toy Shop, and a small café, too. Owner, Curator, and Chef, Steve Ferri, welcomes the whole family to stop in and take a tour! The Den celebrated their 6th Anniversary in October, and was recently awarded a 2020 “Best Nostalgic
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Frizellburg Antique Store owner, Laura Turner, is pleased to announce, “This year is our 25th anniversary, but are hoping to celebrate with a big party in 2021!” The building that houses their shop was built as a general store in the 1860’s and was A.E. Warner’s. They are the third owners, and have tried to keep it as original to a country store as possible. “We brought in all the antique showcases and equipment down to our brass cash register! Our specialty has been antique dolls, toys, and holidays, but I love textiles and early clothing also. It’s all combined with antique furniture and country store accessories. If you are driving through Maryland, you’re always welcome to call ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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and set up an appointment. We are getting ready for the Christmas season and would love to share the holiday spirit with everyone!! Stop in and leave with a smile!” Frizellburg Antique Store, 1909 Old Taneytown Rd., Westminster MD 21158, (410) 848-0664 or (410) 875-2850. Hours: Thurs-Sun, 11-5, and by appointment.
❄ GIGI’S DOLLS & SHERRY’S TEDDY BEARS, INC.
animals, and toys. She also sells and appraises antique and vintage dolls, with some modern dolls mixed in. Her shop has lots of doll clothes and accessories. Eileen’s shop is the promoter of the Northern Ohio Doll Show, in Strongsville, Ohio, which is held in February and August. “Bring your child in to adopt a baby doll or shop. Perfect for holidays!!!” Intensive Care Doll Hospital & Doll Shop, 12652 West Geauga Plaza Unit 1, Chesterland, OH 44026, (440) 7299690. Hours: Tues/Wed/Thurs 12-5, Saturday 10-5, or by appointment.
❄ LOLLY’S DOLLHOUSE & MINIATURES
Gigi’s Dolls & Sherry’s Teddy Bears has been serving the Doll and Bear world in the Chicago area for over 39 years. We cater to all ages and all different doll lovers and collectors. Gigi’s Dolls provides a variety of dolls in a variety of price ranges. We have 5,000 sq ft filled with a large assortment of antique, vintage, and modern collectible dolls. We also carry teddy bears and plush animals, doll houses, and doll house miniatures, as well as clothing and accessories. Your dolls and bears are not complete without personalizing their wardrobe with our numerous fashions. Our store is also a Doll Hospital offering a wide variety of services. We do estate appraisals and insurance claims—one doll or an entire collection. We purchase antique & vintage dolls & teddy bears. We’re available to present doll education seminars at local doll clubs or organizations. We also participate in many Doll and Teddy Bear Shows across the country, and have hosted the NADDA Doll Show in Chicago. We are members of UFDC and NADDA. Gigi’s Dolls & Sherry’s Teddy Bears, 6029 N. Northwest Hwy., Chicago, IL 60631, (773) 594-1540 Hours: Currently open by appointment only.
❄ INTENSIVE CARE DOLL HOSPITAL AND DOLL SHOP
Eileen Green has been the owner of Intensive Care Doll Hospital & Doll Shop, located in Chesterland, Ohio, for 30 years. Her expertise is restoring antique dolls. She sells, fixes, repairs, cleans, and sometimes buys dolls, stuffed 48
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Lolly’s miniature shop was established in 1973 and has grown into a large 3,000 square foot store with a full line of doll houses, furniture, accessories, building supplies, tools, and electrical. We have everything! Need custom work done on your doll house? We do painting, repairs, assembling and wiring. Lolly can help with any of your questions. Lolly’s Dollhouse & Miniatures, 1054 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120, (847) 697-4040. Hours: Tues-Sat, 10-4.
❄ THE MINIATURE CELLAR
Rosemary Macedonio opened The Miniature Cellar in 2006, sharing a small basement room with a doll hospital. Two moves later, they have 3,100 sq ft of dollhouses, dolls, building supplies, furniture, lighting, just about anything you can use for a dollhouse.“Our products range from mass produced to one-of-a-kind artisan items. Many of the dolls are hand sculpted by artisans from across the country. We also purchase from estates, which allows us to offer miniatures from artisans and manufacturers who are no longer producing. We offer classes (suspended during the pandemic, of course) on making miniature structures, dolls, accessories, food, and scenes.” The Miniature Cellar, 12652 West Geauga Plaza, Unit 1, Chesterland, OH 44026, (440) 729-6464. Hours: Tues-Sat, 10-5.
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❄ NICE TWICE DOLL SHOP
Nice Twice Doll Shop, owned by Bonnie Peterson, “proudly serves the local community’s doll needs, as well as those around the world. Located in historic Downtown Campbell since 1984, and founded by Ruby Sargeant, Bonnie purchased the shop in 1999, and has continued her tradition of bringing dolls together with their new owners. The shop expanded in the 2000s to allow for an evergrowing selection of treasures. We know doll collecting is full of love, and we enjoy building a relationship with our customers by taking the extra time for that personal touch to your doll buying experience. You’ll find a wonderful mix here of dolls from the late 1800s to today. Every decade in the last 100+ years is represented—too many to list! New things come in all the time, so every visit can turn up something special. We look forward to your visit! Nice Twice Doll Shop, 253 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008, (408) 379-9599. Hours: Mon-Wed 10:30-4:00ish, Thurs-Sat 10:30-7:00.
room is filled with antique dolls and bears, art dolls and bears, antique miniature furniture. The collection includes antique bisque French and German dolls from about 1870 through the character bisque dolls of about 1910, as well as antique Steiff and American bears from 1906 to the 50s, including blank button Steiffs. Many of the dolls were purchased through the years from notable estates, and through fine auction houses. By making an appointment, we will give a guided tour of our historical home and our collections. The earliest dolls are fashion poupées, Jumeau, and FG. French Bébés include Jumeau, Steiner, and Denamur. Also rare early closed-mouth Kestners, some lovely Simon & Halbig, SFBJ characters, and too many more to mention. The Trinckes Collection, Deland, Florida, (352) 854-1856 or (352) 300-8983. Private showing by appointment only.
❄ TURN OF THE CENTURY ANTIQUES
❄ THE SWELL DOLL SHOP
The Swell Doll Shop is owned and operated by Bradley Justice, who keeps a booth in the Gibsonville Antique Mall, where they have their “Attic finds.” They specialize in antique and vintage dolls, with a large selection of new American, European and Japanese play dolls. They have an enormous variety of Mattel dolls and toys from 1959 to today. It’s a fun place to find a bargain on vintage dolls. You can shop over 30 booths of antiques, and two full booths of Barbie, action figures and vintage Fun. Looking for a particular item? Contact Bradley at least 48 hours in advance, and he can arrange for a special shopping experience (masks required). The Swell Doll Shop, located in Gibsonville Antiques & Collectibles, 106 E. Railroad Ave., Gibsonville NC 27249, (919) 698-9860. Hours: By appointment only.
❄ THE TRINCKES COLLECTION
The Trinckes Collection is housed in an antique Colonial Revival home from the late 1890s, in Deland, Florida. Every
Turn of the Century Antiques is a brick and mortar doll shop located in the heart of Colorado’s antique shopping district, Denver’s Antique Row. It is a little slice of doll heaven that has been family owned and operated for over forty years. Founder Diane Hoffman turned her passion into a reality when she opened her expansive second space in the early 1980s. It was a dream to design this special place, fill it with dolls, and open the doors. Since then, Turn of the Century Antiques has served collectors worldwide, from antique to modern dolls, toys, and teddy bears. It is home to the Virtual Doll Convention, and is run by a caring team led by Rachel Hoffman. Visiting is possible by appointment, and we welcome doll collectors, clubs, and host private events. Please call or email, and our team will be happy to assist. Turn of the Century Antiques, 1475 South Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80210, (303) 722-8700. Hours: Open daily, by appointment. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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The Doll Clothes of Costumer Lyndie McIntyre
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By Dee Urquhart-Ross
expect many collectors have some dolls which are wonderful but have costumes which are in a fragile state, have pieces missing or are just too delicate to sustain any handling at all. This state of affairs can easily lead to a lack of enjoyment of that particular doll as we hesitate to even touch the shredded fabric exhibited in her costume, or we feel that her missing underlayers or accessories mean she never looks quite “right�?
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Other dolls, great beauties but lacking some, or perhaps all, items of costume, might be passed by as a purchase, or, perhaps worse, might have been added with hesitation. Then, due to the inherent quality of the doll itself, she might find herself in costumes cobbled up in totally inappropriate modern fabrics which do not look period (and mostly refuse to hang properly), or which overwhelm the delicate beauty of the unfortunate doll completely!
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The bloomers, chemise, and petticoat were made from a damaged early Victorian christening gown which was decorated with beautiful white on white embroidery. The bustle is made from fabric from the same piece as the costume, and also contains tarlatan – a traditional stiffening fabric. The corset is made from a very small piece of very old brocade, and lined with silk salvaged from her precious bag of old bits and bobs. The corset is also boned just like an original, but not with whalebone! The dress and accessories come from an original silk cape which was water damaged. The cape lining was also used to line the dress. The trim is also an original piece, some of it being the best quality French lace.
Then that doll becomes much less than a favorite, and perhaps she is relegated to the back of the doll cabinet to await a never-coming second costuming attempt! But, fear not, help is at hand. Lyndie McIntyre, a well-known theatrical and media costumer in the UK, has decided to set up her own business, Dolly Tres Chic, for the express purpose of providing period costumes and garments made-to-measure for your costumeless poupeés and bébés! Before showing you some of Lyndie’s lovely work, here is a short version of her bio. She is a costume-maker, working in theatre, film, and television. Originally a student at the Charles Rennie Mackintosh School of Art in Glasgow, she did further training in pattern-making and clothing construction at Cardonald College in Glasgow, Scotland. Her career began at Scottish Opera in 1986, and from then she has worked on many film and theatre productions at places such as the Citizens Theatre, The National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company in Glasgow and London, and the Gate and Abbey Theaters in Dublin, to name but a few. She has also worked with many wonderful costume designers on film and TV projects such as Angela’s Ashes, The Golden Compass, Antique DOLL Collector
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The complete outfit here is shown on a Simon and Halbig for Kammer and Rheinhardt doll with a rare Lady Body perfect for this lovely walking dress.
City of Ember, King Arthur, Aristocrats [B.B.C.], Da Vinci’s Demons, The Legend of Tarzan, Emerald City and, recently, Outlander. She spends her day working from designers’ drawings to create authentic costumes for adult and child actors. Her team is often required to repair or copy original pieces which are badly damaged. It occurred to her that it would be wonderful to somehow save these fabulous garments and give them new and continued life! She began finding torn, faded and water-marked pieces and very carefully unpicked all the beautiful, sometimes hand-sewn work; then, by using doll reference and her own source reference books, she scaled patterns down from the adult clothes until she had constructed small exact replicas of adult costumes and had her templates. Not wanting to lose any fabric, she carefully works out how to get the most use out of each piece—even the tiniest salvaged section can be used on the clothing of a small personage! 52
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Everything is made authentically; for instance, the little corsets are miniature replicas of originals held in the Kyoto Institute. She keeps everything scrupulously in scale, and she supplements the costumes by even searching for original (or as close as possible) minute trimmings, buttons and threads. Lyndie is meticulous in her workmanship and research, producing as authentic an outfit for each doll as is possible. The costumes illustrated here demonstrates the quality of her work and her attention to even the smallest detail. Each outfit takes weeks of researching, unpicking of antique fabrics, and careful planning. It is important to Lyndie that she salvages and preserves these pieces of the past. She believes that someone many years ago spent a long, long time cutting, sewing, and enjoying wearing these lovely things. Often she finds herself day-dreaming about who the original owners and wearers were, what they would have looked like, what their lives were, and also that they would be happy to know she is trying to preserve something of their work so it can be enjoyed anew in these tiny replicas. I hope that you can see why these complete outfits are worthwhile to complement your antique treasures, dolls who may be sans important elements of their original outfits. Lyndie’s work is really exquisite and as near to a replacement antique costume as it is possible to acquire. A complete outfit for a doll of about 20 inches or so costs about £2,000 (approximately $2,600 at this writing). Lyndie can be reached at dollytreschic@myphone.coop
This delightful walking dress utilizes many small pieces of period fabrics culled from very badly damaged Victorian and Edwardian clothing, and allows these wonderful fabrics to live again! The skirt and bodice are made of fragments of a badly damaged silk robe ca. 1920s. The scale of the silk design was the perfect size. It forms a lovely tiered back to the dress which is most effective. The ruched, cream-colored silk on the hat, cuffs, and neck, which forms the blouse, are made from tiny remnants of a badlydamaged child’s Victorian dress. The pink trim was a perfect shade to pull the ensemble together! The buttons are made from minute pieces of black jet trim, which again is Victorian. The bag is made from small pieces of the skirt fabric; the fringe from a very badly-damaged Victorian shawl; and the beading from another damaged Victorian or Edwardian piece.
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A Christmas Fairy Tale Costume for a 7” all-bisque doll by Nicki Burley
(photos by Nicki Burley unless otherwise noted)
“As long as the children could remember, at Christmas every year, the fairy doll had been there at the top of the Christmas tree. She was six inches high and dressed in a white gauze dress with beads that sparkled; she had silver wings, and a narrow silver crown on her dark hair, with a glass dewdrop in front that sparkled too; in one of her hands she had a silver wand, and on her feet were silver shoes – not painted, stitched. ‘Fairies must have sewn those,’ said Mother… Every year there were wonderful things on the Christmas tree: tinsel and icicles of frosted glass that had been Father’s when he was a little boy… When the lights were lit, they shone in the dewdrop on the fairy doll’s crown, making a bead of light; it twinkled when anybody walked across the room or touched the tree, and the wand stirred in the fairy doll’s hand. ‘She’s alive!’ said Elizabeth.” The Fairy Doll, by Rumer Godden
Babette is ready to adorn the tree in her tulle gown, trimmed with silver ribbon, tinsel, and Dresden papers. The tulle is cut with pinking shears to make traditional “V” shapes.
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nce upon a time, not really long ago, Christmas trees were decorated by tradition more than fashion. Instead of purchasing a new “theme” each year, families eagerly anticipated hauling the Christmas box out of the attic. Then the fun began, as some assembled colorful paper chains and popcorn for garlands while others excitedly dug out favorite ornaments and searched for just the right spots to hang them. Long strands of silver tinsel were carefully pinched from a box and strewn on the branches
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This early fairy seems especially proud of her elaborate tinsel star crown. She’s dressed in cross-barred dimity and has homemade gauze and gold wings and a lot of sparkle. (Pinterest) Beautiful early wax over papier mache fairy with a fashionable crinoline gilt-edged gown and layered Dresden leaf-shaped star wand. (Pinterest)
like glittery ice, at least until the children got bored and threw it on in handfuls. Everyone vied to cut the most elaborate paper stars, inevitably covered in glue and sparkles by the time they were hung on the tree. Fathers dreaded the annual impossible tangle of light bulbs and cords to wind on the branches, but oh, how the room lit up with twinkling magic when it was done! And finally, the scene felt complete when the star or angel was placed on the very top. Originally a pagan symbol of life during winter’s darkness, evergreen trees ended up in Christian German homes by the 17th century, while England and America were slow to adopt the tradition. German-American immigrant communities set up outdoor trees in the 18th century and indoors soon after, but the rest of the country regarded the trees with some suspicion due to lingering Puritan influence. They believed that Christmas should be spent in solemn reflection–it wasn’t a day for parties, gifts, or decorations–especially pagan ones, and
This tiny doll definitely seems to be a fairy, with large feather wings and a crown, but she carries an entire candle lit Christmas tree rather than a star wand! (Pinterest)
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A little bisque fairy dressed all in pink and gold—pink was a surprisingly common color for Christmas decorations in the past. Her tinsel trim is wonderfully fluffy! (Pinterest)
The crown and wand for this composition fairy have an almost Disney quality, like the Good Fairy in Pinocchio. Her modern gauze and ribbon overskirt show how these materials sometimes discolor more quickly than older fabrics. (Pinterest)
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“foreign” ones at that. Eventually, however, American heads were turned when a popular little Queen across the pond encouraged her beloved husband’s holiday traditions. In 1841, Victoria and Albert set up a Norway spruce tree and decorated it with candles, sweets, and toys. While not the first German royal to bring a tree indoors—Queen Charlotte adorned trees with candles for Windsor Christmas parties, creating a fashion for them—Albert was the first to have real fir trees shipped from Germany just for this purpose. Previously, any nice-looking tree might be dug up, potted, and brought into the drawing room. Albert gifted Christmas trees to schools near the castle each year, but they didn’t become wildly popular until the London Illustrated News published a woodcut of the Royal Family (with 6 children by then) standing around their neatly decorated tree in 1848. Because the young Queen’s family was so widely admired, Christmas trees quickly became a fixture in English and American homes. An altered version of the engraving appeared again in an 1860 issue of Godey’s Ladies’ Magazine, with Prince Albert’s mustache and sash eliminated, no reference to the royals, and simply titled, “The Christmas Tree.” The translated image made it clear that the tradition had been accepted in this country, too, never to be questioned again. In fact, a tiny American flag is frequently spied waving proudly on the tree top in antique illustrations. Those illustrations also reveal some unusual decorations such as food and presents. The food never spoiled, because parents usually decorated the tree on Christmas Eve behind closed doors, then let everyone in for a party when it was ready. The small bags of chocolate coins we now put in stockings were once tied on the tree, along with apples, oranges, and paper cones filled with sweets long forgotten: colored marzipan, sugar plums, gingerbread, and gilded walnuts. Small presents such as dolls and toy soldiers were left unwrapped and tied on as well, with larger ones arranged beneath the branches. Some trees were tabletop-sized and nailed to a board, with a creche scene arranged on the base to remind the family of the holiday’s meaning, and the presents tucked discreetly behind. For many of us, the most important gifts we found beneath the tree each year were DOLLS. Collectors frequently share favorite tales of beautiful dolls who became our best friends, amazing miniature wardrobes sewn by mothers and aunts, and dolls we longed for but never received. We have loved big dolls, tiny dolls,
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“The Royal Christmas tree is admired by Queen Victoria,” the 1848 engraving from the London Illustrated Times that finally pushed the Christmas tree out of Germany and into homes throughout the English-speaking world. (Pinterest)
baby dolls, teen dolls, doll houses and doll families. We often choose to collect—all over again—the dolls of our childhoods, because the nostalgia of playtime, friends, and family is so dear. These memories are tinged with a kind of magic; time spent with dolls has permanently changed us for the better somehow. Even as adults, we tend to be dreamers. We have hope, we share, and we practice kindness when we can. If doll collectors had a sort of “patron saint” who understood the wonder of this relationship, it would be author Rumer Godden, whose books somehow exactly capture life through the eyes of dolls AND children. The Dolls’ House is the only one of her books that’s easy to find in the States. In it, an antique Dutch doll named Tottie Plantagenet and a family of modern dolls long for a home of their own. They get much more than they bargained for when their young owners inherit a dollhouse and its inhabitant Marchpane, a beautiful and selfish china head doll. She’s nasty enough to make you shiver, heart pounding as you race through the pages to discover if
“The Christmas Tree,” a translated version of the 1848 English illustration, which appeared in Godey’s in 1860. In this version, Albert wears a waistcoat rather than a blue sash, has no mustache, and Victoria’s dress is simplified. The tree is smaller and there are fewer children, as well! (Pinterest)
dear Tottie is safe. While Ms. Godden’s stories are delicate and simply told, they aren’t sugar sweet. She reveals that the secret life of dolls is as emotionally complicated as any child’s: some dolls are cruel while others are kind, they get frustrated by their limitations, they try to help the children they love, and they long to be played with and have adventures. Two of her tales in particular explore the wishing power of dolls at Christmas—The Fairy Doll, in which a tiny tree topper becomes little Elizabeth’s secret helper, and Holly and Ivy, where wishes are enough to fill an empty home with family. Written during the 1940s and ‘50s, Godden’s tales have the air of Christmas in a simpler age while sharing timeless truths about the bond between children and dolls. But even after reading The Fairy Doll, I was still mystified by Christmas Fairies. I was familiar with stars, angels, and colored glass spires as tree toppers, sure–in the Bible, the birth of Christ is marked by a new star in the sky and by angels, who appear above a group of shepherds to announce the Messiah’s birth. It was obvious why these Antique DOLL Collector
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A mid-century American Christmas party, where all the children have gathered around the tree to receive gifts. Some are tied to the branches and some are at the base. The tree topper is a tiny American flag. (Hamilton East Public Library)
were placed on the tree. But where had fairies come from? When a helpful friend sent me a wonderful article on the history of this tradition (Margaret Gray Kincaid, Antique Doll Collector December 2014), I was completely charmed by the dolls–especially since so many of them are small, inexpensive dolls who were likely dressed at home with tulle and tinsel. Not surprisingly, I’m a huge fan of pocketsized dolls, sewing, and crafting. Since first appearing in the 19th century, they’ve been made from all sorts of materials, so collectors can find them in any favorite medium: wax, papier mache, china, bisque, composition, celluloid, and plastic. Modern dolls (still inexpensive to collect today) frequently came from the discount stores, dressed in flimsy materials that haven’t always worn well, but they’re always recognizable as fairies thanks to a few constants: a fluffy gauze dress, tinsel trimmings in silver or gold, a sparkling crown and wings. The accessory that truly distinguishes them from angels, however, are their star wands. Their dresses are typically white or ivory, but a surprising number have pink dresses or ribbon sashes. 58
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This simple 1920 Christmas tree from the UK is “planted” in a bucket and simply trimmed with garlands, glass balls, and of course a Fairy doll. Mother is busy tying presents to the branches, while a fashionable Teddy bear waits beneath. (Pinterest)
Ms. Kincaid discovered in her research that the English Christmas Fairy likely evolved over time from earlier German tree top angels, inspired by the Bible story. When the English accepted the Christmas tree, they interwove their own fairy lore with Christian symbols and created a unique holiday decoration. In Germany the Christ Child brings gifts, but many English children were told that the fairies brought them, and tree lights are still called fairy lights. There’s even a soap brand called Fairy, which used to advertise over the holidays with beautiful Christmas Fairy illustrations. If you’d like to add a bit of English Christmas magic to your own tree this year, here is a costume for your mignonette. She can even be tied to the tree with a long ribbon! Christmas Fairy dolls were not played with, so their dresses were sewn or glued to their bodies, but this little dear is just playing dress-up. Her costume — even her wings–can be taken off after the holidays, and everything packed away carefully for next year. And just like that, you’ve started a new tradition.
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Materials ¼ yd ivory cotton tulle netting
⅛ yd batiste
1½ yds ¼” silver ribbon 12” grey 4mm silk ribbon 1 hook & 2 silver beads (4mm) 6” piece wired mini tinsel trim
⅜” x 6” grey or ivory cardstock
2 sets 2¼” silver Dresden wings 6” strip ¼” silver Dresden leur de lis trim 2 silver Dresden stars Carved toothpick Grey and silver craft paints Pinking shears, hemostats, craft glue, fray stop product Find the Christmas Fairy kit at: www.etsy.com/shop/RoseWrenDolls
Sources *The doll used for this costume is a reproduction Simon & Halbig 886 by Darlene Lane at darlenelane.com, created for the 2015 UFDC 2S Regional event. **Costume kits may be ordered from the author at RoseWrenDolls on Etsy.com
A side view shows how Babette’s wings will detach for storage
A tantalizing children’s book illustration from 1918 by English artist Margaret Tarrant, in which the entire tree is covered with fairies, much to a family’s delight. (Pinterest)
“The Christmas Tree Fairy,” by Cecily Mary Barker, is accompanied by a little poem about the tree’s surprise at finding itself indoors, decked with lights instead of fir cones. The Fairy Doll comes to life at night and glides among the branches, helping to make the tree a “magic sight.” (flowerfairies.com) Antique DOLL Collector
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General Instructions
Baste one set of lining pieces to the netting, then cut around them to form the bodice exterior.
Layer pinked tulle skirts with shortest on top. Tack ribbons evenly across the skirts.
Ribbon Placement Diagram for Skirt (Not actual size)
1 ¼”
2 ½”
2 ½”
2 ½”
2 ½”
2 ½”
1 ¼”
CF • Test the bodice pattern pieces on your doll before cutting good fabrics as doll bodies are unique! • The costume is fitted over pantalets only. Select a pattern that fits your doll and make before beginning to sew. • Nylon glitter tulle could be used instead of cotton, if sewing for a modern doll. • Seams are ¼” unless specified otherwise. Dress 1. Spray starch and iron batiste, then cut 2 bodice fronts and 4 backs. 2. Baste 1 front and 2 backs to netting (baste back pieces in opposite directions to ensure you have a left and right side). Cut around the pieces. The netting is the outside; the remaining pieces of batiste will be the lining. 60
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3. Sew lining shoulder seams and basted netting shoulder seams separately. Press seams open on each assembly. 4. Place lining and basted pieces right sides together. Sew up the center back and around the neck. Clip the neck seam carefully and turn the bodice right side out, then press. 5. Baste around the armscyes, sides, and along the lower edges of the bodice. 6. Cut sleeves from tulle with pinking shears, then gather the top edge and sew to the armscye. Trim and overcast the raw edge. 7. Sew, trim, and overcast the side seams. Press seams toward the back. To trim the bodice, cut 2 pieces of silver ribbon, each 4⅝” long. Tack ribbon at the center back along the lower edge of the bodice, at the shoulder, then at the side seam on the lower edge of
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Completed bodice front, showing ribbon placement.
Completed bodice back, with ribbons tacked at back and shoulders.
Fairy accessories include a star wand, set of wings, and a crown.
the opposite sides. The ribbons will cross in front. Fray stop the ribbon ends. 8. Cut 3 tulle skirts with pinking shears 2½”, 3¼”, and 4” long, each 15” wide. Layer the skirts with the longest on the bottom and the shortest on top. Turn back ¼” at each end and run 2 rows of strong gathering thread through all 3 layers—cotton quilting thread works well for this step. Secure thread firmly at the beginning of each row. 9. Cut 6 silver ribbons, each 3” long, and fray stop the ends. When dry, tack the ribbons to the skirt layers, following the layout diagram, and being careful to avoid the gathering stitches.
10. Pull up gathering threads and sew evenly to the bodice waist. Trim and overcast the edge, then press seam up toward the bodice. 11. Sew up the back seam, leaving 1” open at the top. Trim and overcast the seam. Create a placket in the skirt back by turning raw edges of opening inside and hemming them down to the underskirt layer. 12. Close the bodice with 2 silver beads and thread loops. Using ivory quilting thread, sew a horizontal thread loop to the outside of the bodice, about ¼” below the top silver bead. This will be used later as a “hanger” for the wings. 13. Cut 12-15” of silver ribbon and tie around the doll’s waist in a small bow, off to one side.
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Bodice Front
Cut 4 From Lining
1”
Fold
Cut 2 From Lining
Bodice Back
Sleeve Cut 2 From Tulle
Accessories Crown: Wrap the ⅜” wide strip of cardstock around the doll’s head to fit, gluing and overlapping the ends. Glue the leur de lis Dresden around the top half of the strip, allowing the trim “points” to extend over the edge. Glue the mini tinsel trim around the lower half of the strip, twisting metal ends together to eliminate sharp points. Wings: Cut apart 1 set of wings and leave the other whole. Glue the cut apart wings to the back of the whole set, angled downward to create the appearance of 4 wings total (like a butterfly). Glue the remaining hook to the back of the wings at the top, with the loop end facing up, and allow to dry thoroughly. The hook allows you to hang the wings off the loop on the back, so they are removeable. Star wand: Paint a carved-end fancy toothpick with 1 coat of grey and 2 coats of silver craft paint. When dry, glue the pointed end of the stick centered between 2 Dresden stars in whatever size you prefer. Cut silk ribbon into 2 pieces, each 6” long, and tie together tightly to the stick just below the star, placing a tiny dab of glue on the knot as you secure it. Trim ends as desired. Silver ribbons crisscross on her bodice, and a separate sash allows her to be tied to the tree. A tiny star was cut from silver Dresden trim and added to her crown.
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Find the Christmas Fairy kit at Nicki Burley's shop: www.etsy.com/shop/RoseWrenDolls
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Calendar of Events Send in your Free Calendar Listing to: Antique Doll Collector, c/o Calendar, P.O. Box 239, Northport, New York 11768 or Email: events@antiquedollcollector.com If you plan on attending a show, please call the number to verify the date and location as they may change.
LONG TERM 10/17/20-4/5/21 ~ Switzerland. Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel. Special exhibition “Denim – stylish, practical, timeless”. +41 (0)61 225 95 95. sina@swm-basel.ch. www.swmb.museum.
DECEMBER 2020 5 ~ Annapolis, MD. Marquis: Neapolitan Figures from the Büktas Collection: Part One. Theriault’s. 410-224-3655. 410-224-2515 (F). www.theriaults.com. 5 ~ France, Online. Absentee and Telephone. Auction featuring Janine Chovet Collection Chapter 2. Galerie De Chartres. +33 (0)2 37 88 28 28. chartres@galeriedechartres.com. 5 ~ Germany. Steiff special auction. Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion. www. spielzeugauktion.de. 0049(0)6203-13014. mail@spielzeugauktion.de. CANCELLED! 5-6 ~ Gaithersburg, MD. Doll & Toy Show. Fairgrounds. SFB Events/ S. Bellman. 239-440-3184. sbellman714@gmail.com POSTPONED TO JUN 6, 2021. 6 ~ Concord, CA. Doll Show and Sale. 101 Doll and Study Club. Anne Lien. 415-342-8655. stilly5@yahoo. com. www.dollclubs.com 6 ~ Fullerton, CA. Dolls, Bears, Toys & Heirlooms Show and Sale. Hotel Fullerton.. Rowbear Presents. Rowbear Lowman. 831-438-5349. RowbearPresents@ charter.net. NationalDollFestival.com 9 ~ Nazareth, PA. Doll Auction. Nazareth Auction Center. Dotta Auction Company, Inc. 610-759-7389. info@dottaauction.com. www.dottaauction.com.
JANUARY 2021 13-17 ~ Online. Virtual Doll Convention. California Dreaming Showtime. Rachel Hoffman 303-722-8700. info@virtualdollconvention.com. www.virtualdollconvention.com
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CANCELLED! 16 ~ Naples, FL. Doll Show and Sale. New Hope Event Center. Naples Doll Club. Colleen Holden. (515) 707-3450. Dolls50265@aol.com. 24 ~ Naperville, IL. The Naperville Doll & Teddy Bear Show. Marriott Hotel, Grand Ballroom. Karla Moreland. 815-356-6125. kmorela@ais.net. www.KaneCountyDollShow.com CANCELLED! 30 ~ Glendale, CA. Doll Show and Sale. Glendale Civic Auditorium. Verdugo Hills Doll Club. Janie Olds. 562-818-2501. j.l.olds@ca.rr.com.
FEBRUARY 2021
6 ~ Westhampton, NJ. Crescent Shrine. Sweetbriar Auctions Antique & Vintage Doll Auction. Dorothy Hunt. 410-275-2213. sweetbriar@live.com. www.sweetbriarauctions.com 6 ~ Portland, OR. Doll & Bear Show and Sale. Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show. Holiday Inn, Portland Airport. Alisa Walsworth. 253-961-8131.alisadollshow@gmail.com.
McHugh’s Holiday Online Auction Featuring Antique & Vintage Dolls Toys such as Steiff and R. John Wright November 27 - December 11, 2020
7 ~ Fullerton, CA. Dolls, Bears, Toys & Heirlooms Show and Sale. Hotel Fullerton.. Rowbear Presents. Rowbear Lowman. 831-438-5349. RowbearPresents@charter.net. NationalDollFestival.com.
Shipping Available | 804-353-9596 www.RichmondEstateSales.hibid.com
13 ~ Schertz, TX. 29th Annual Hill Country Doll Show & Sale, Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Pkwy. Dorothy Meredith. 830-606-5868. dmeredith.dolldr.com. 20-21 ~ Dallas, TX. Doll Conference. DollCon Dallas 2021. MCM Elegante Hotel Dallas. Kellyann Herrington. 469-630-2205. Kellyindallas@gmail.com. www.dollcondallas.com/. 21 ~ Strongsville, OH. Northern Ohio Doll & Bear Show. Strongsville Holiday Inn, 15471 Royalton Road. Eileen. 440-283-5839.
14 ~ DeWitt (Lansing), MI. Lansing Antique & Collectible Doll Show & Sale. Banquet & Conf Ctr of DeWitt. Sandy Johnson Barts (269) 599-1511. SJBbetsys@comcast.net. facebook.com/LansingDollShow 26-27 ~ Jonesborough, TN. Doll Show and Sale. Jonesborough Visitor Center. The Dollhouse. Ellen Stafford. 423-753-0022. ellen@jonesdollhouse.com.
APRIL 2021 3 ~ Lynwood, WA. Doll Show. Embassy Suites North. Seattle Antique & Collectible Doll & Toy Club. Joy. 425-712-1575. Trevino746@aol.com
21 ~ Lynwood, WA. Antique Doll & Toy Market. Embassy Suites Hotel. Lisa Pepin. pepins4@msn.com. 206-669-7818 27 ~ Largo, FL. Doll Show & Sale. Annual Greater Orlando Doll Club Show & Sale. Greater Orlando Doll Club. Venue on the Lake Maitland Civic Center, Inc. Barbara Keehbauch. 407-678-5678. bkeehbauch@msn.com.
MARCH 2021 facebook.com/antiquedollcollectormagazine pinterest.com/antiquedollcollectormagazine instagram.com/antiquedollcollectormagazine
McHugh’s
6 ~ Fletcher (Asheville), NC. Doll & Bear Show and Sale. WNC Agricultural/Boone Bldg. Jackie Stone. 828-505-2287. jackiestone@charter.net. www.SoutheasternDollShows.com
10 ~ Westhampton, NJ. Crescent Shrine. Sweetbriar Auctions Antique & Vintage Doll Auction. Dorothy Hunt. 410-275-2213. sweetbriar@live.com. www.sweetbriarauctions.com 10 ~ Mt. Juliet (Nashville) TN. Doll & Bear Show & Sale. Nashville Doll Show. Southeastern Doll Shows. Jackie Stone. (828) 505-2287 jackiestone@charter.net. www.SoutheasternDollShows.com Calendar continued on page 64
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APR. 2021 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63 11 ~ Dedham, MA. Spring Dedham MA Doll, Bear & Folk Art Show. Holiday Inn Boston Dedham Hotel. Collins Gifts.Wendy Collins. 603-969-1699. CollinsGifts14@aol.com. www.collinsgifts.com. 17 ~ Ringgold, GA. Doll Show & Sale. Chattanooga Doll Club. The Colonnade. Carolyn Cronan (706) 965-4619 ccronan@catt.com. 18 ~ Denver, CO. Toy & Doll Supershow. Denver Mart, I-25 at 58th Ave (Exit east). Dana Cain. 303-347-8252. Dana@DanaCain.com www.tdsupershow.com 24 ~ Grapevine, TX. Doll & Toy Show & Sale. Metroplex Doll Club. Grapevine Convention Center. Linda Crowsey. 903-429-0128. lindacc45@hotmail.com. Rodney Waller. 817-988-8019. rwaller@swbell.net.
24 ~ West Chester (Cincinnati), OH. Fashion Doll Show & Sale. Queen City Beautiful Doll Club. Margie Schultz. 513-207-8409. askmargie@aol.com. 25 ~ Lancaster, PA. Doll, Toy & Teddy Bear Show. Lancaster Farm & Home Center. Ron Funk. 717-371-0395. 30-May 2 ~ Charleston, SC. National Antique Doll Dealers Association. 2020 Antique Doll Show & Sale Event. Embassy Suites. Show Chair. Marion Maus. mmausantiques@gmail.com. www.Nadda.org.
MAY 2021 1 ~ Maitland, FL. Doll Show and Sale. Venue on the Lake Maitland Civic Center. Greater Orlando Doll Club. Barbara Keehbauch. 407-678-5678. bkeehbauch@msn.com.
SARA BERNSTEIN’S DOLLS
8 ~ Batavia, NY. Doll & Teddy Bear Show and Sale. Saturday’s Child Dolls. The Quality Inn. Martha Smith. 585-506-7948. satschild4@yahoo.com. 8 ~ Richmond, VA. Doll Show and Sale. Richmond VA Raceway Complex. Ruth Walker. 434-295-1435. whales89@aol.com. Judy Seay. 434-981-3822. 8 ~ Toledo, OH. Doll, Bear & Toy Show & Sale. Toledo Doll Show. Stranahan Theater & Great Hall. Karen Kosies. 520-270-0179. toledo@dollshows.net. 15 ~ Tucker, GA. Doll Show and Sale. Atlanta Doll Collectors Club. Vickey Harris. 404-543-8866. vickeydharris@aol.com. Ebony. ebonyjb@hotmail.com. www.atlantadollcollectors.com. Find more doll events near you at www. antiquedollcollector.com, select “Events” tab.
The Doll Works Judit Armitstead (781) 334‑5577 P.O. Box 195, Lynnfield, MA 01940
Gottschalk Mid-Century Modern Petite Dollhouse
Ph. 732‑536‑4101 Email: santiqbebe@aol.com www.rubylane.com/shops/sarabernsteindolls
YOUR AD HERE a classified marketplace for antique dolls and related merchandise
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO ADS 3.3” h x 2.4” w $75
FULL COLOR PHOTO ADS 3.3” h x 2.4” w $95 Please include payment with your ad. Larger ads are considered display ads — call us for information. 1‑888‑800‑2588.
Antique Doll Collector, P.O. Box 239, Northport, NY 11768 adcsubs@gmail.com or louannw@antiquedollcollector.com 64
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Please visit our website for a fine selection of antique dolls, dollhouse dolls, dollhouse miniatures, teddy bears, all bisque dolls, bathing beauties, kewpies, dresser boxes, snow babies, half dolls, and doll accessories at …
www.TheDollWorks.net
Do you have a doll or small collection you want to sell?
ADVERTISE IN THE EMPORIUM
Send us a photo or a digital photo of your 1-3 doll(s) or accessories with a description and your check or credit card information. We do the rest!! Take advantage of this special forum; the cost is only $95 for a 2.4”w x 2.9”h ad space.
For More Info Contact: Louann at 217-419-6314 or louannw@antiquedollcollector.com
DECEMBER 2020
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Margaret Gray Kincaid
Dolls: 16” Schmidt Toddler 2097 with worn white Steiff bear $850. 15” K*R 122 Toddler (cheek rub on left cheek) $900. 19” Kestner 129 Girl $750. 22” Phoenix Star French girl $3500. 23” E11J Original ensemble restoration on her fore head $3900. 11” All bisque baby (Hair Line in arm) sitting in a gold painted French faux Bamboo high chair $375 Pair of 4” Snow Babies with bells $500
Accessories: UFDC wicker carriage with small white Teddy Steiff Bear $135. French Faux Bamboo doll bed 18”L x 9”W x 11”H $135. English Gate leg table, very finely made, 6” high $550. French wicker market basket $150. Fortnam and Mason tea service Christmas ornament $40. Brass candlesticks with candles $25. Coopercraft English Bone China Corgi dog 5 1/2”T x 7”L $40. Beige and brown Steiff Tabby cat 4”H and 8” to end of tail (Neck does not move)$40.
Christmas Trees and Decorations: 34” tall antique decorated Feather Tree $450. 12” tall doll sized feather tree $85. 6 3/4” antique round candy box with 20 3” cornucopia made by Marianne In France $325. Boxed set of antique tiny feather tree glass ornaments $275.
margaret.kincaid@gmail.com ♦ Cell 646-709-4340 ♦ Land line 603-938-2344
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