Antique dolls in Musee de la Poupee in Paris

I once deviated from my Paris tour group to find this small doll museum, and though I got lost and had to find my way on the subway in French, it was definitely worth it! Notice how they display the dolls in vignettes, some of which have watercolor painted backgrounds.

TWICKENHAM DOLL SHOW

Here is an all needlepoint dollhouse (about 36" high), a large Shirley Temple (about 26" tall), and a carved wooden Hitty doll.

NEEDLEPOINT DOLL HOUSE

Janet and I were amazed at this dollhouse that we saw at the Twidkenham Doll Show in Huntsville. The lady made everything with needlepoint!

DOLLS AT TWICKENHAM SALE AUG. 21

Double click on photos to enlarge:

Effanbee Babyette 1943 (compo). Made cheaply with closed eyes and cloth body during the war.

Ruth Gibbs China Dolls (1940's), mint in box with wardrobes (rare to see this)

Some compos and hard plastics from 1930's and 1940's

TWICKENHAM DOLL SALE AUGUST 21

Here are photos of our Birmingham Doll Club members who enjoyed going to the sale in Huntsville, AL, and also of dolls from some of the sales booths. We had a fun day, and everyone found treasures to buy.




Here is our Road Trip Group. Jill was a great driver.

Jumeau

Parians

Peddler China Doll

TWICKENHAM DOLL CLUB SHOW & SALE

Here are photos of a few dolls in sales booths at the August 21 sale at Huntsville, AL. Members of the Birmingham Doll Club of Alabama attended, and found some treasures. We had a great road trip.

Kestner and Jumeau French Fashion

Shirley Temples, an old Peg Wooden, a China, and a Bisque head doll

Nice, large Bye-Lo Baby by Grace Storey Putnam

Some small treasures, including Half Dolls and Googlies

1800's WOODEN JOEL ELLIS DOLL

Vermont Novelty Co. made wooden jointed dolls, and stopped making dolls in 1873. The hands and feet were cast lead; the arms and legs were turned rock maple. The mortise and tenon joints fit tightly so she could pose. The head was pressure formed and painted. Usually the head is in poor condition, for any moisture would cause paint to pop off due to swelling.

MD. ALEXANDER DOLLS

The 1st photo shows vinyl Cleopatra, 2 1930's compo Wendy Ann's with swivel waists, and vintage compo Snow White (only Md. Alexander with no cheek coloring - "face white as snow"). The 2nd photo is a 6" compo. Double click on photo to enlarge.

MD. ALEXANDER CLOTH DOLLS - VINTAGE

Jill gave an interesting and informative program on vintage Md. Alexander cloth dolls. The first 2 photos are Md. Alexanders, and the 3rd is not. You can tell an "imposter" by looking at many dolls and noticing the molding detail and the way the face paint is applied. The clothing is marked, but the dolls are not. The vintage Md. Alexander cloth dolls are sought-after, and bring high prices on ebay, though they are continuing to make them.

DEBORAH JENKINES AND HER DOLLS

Here is Region 9 Director Deborah, ready to give her program "German Dolls for the French Trade". The second photo shows her holding her favorite of the group, a Cote Boehm (French? - someone tell me), dressed in a linen coat dress with soutache braid. The third photo is a German doll that looks French, and the fourth is a French doll, the famous Nursing Bru or Bebe Teteur with original clothing and silver and rubber pacifier (note open mouth). This doll's clothing is all original. Deborah made many of the outfits herself from old fabrics and laces. These 3 dolls were made in the late 1800's.

GERMAN DOLLS FOR THE FRENCH TRADE BY DEBORAH JENKINES (Double click to enlarge)

Here is Deborah's handout from her program of the same name.

GERMAN DOLLS FOR THE FRENCH TRADE,May Joint Meeting

Here are our UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs) Region 9 Director Deborah Jenkines' French and German dolls she brought as examples for her talk "German Dolls Made for the French Trade" for our May 16 joint meeting with all 4 Birmingham dolls clubs in attendance. We had 29 at the Homewood Library meeting to hear Deborah's interesting and informative talk about the German porcelain factories copying the beautiful French dolls and selling them as French. This occurred during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Most of these dolls were unmarked; the French marks were erased. There were no copyright laws at that time.

We appreciate Deborah's visit from Georgia. Many volunteers in the 4 Birmingham, AL doll clubs helped make this meeting a success; i.e.,Birmingham Doll Club of Alabama, Magic City Doll Club, Doll Study Club of Alabama, and Kollectors' Choice.

RARE BLISS DOLL HOUSE

Thank you, JoAnn, for sharing your wonderful and rare lithographed wooden Bliss dollhouse with us. Bliss is printed on the door. Remember to double click on the photos to enlarge. Bliss made wooden products for 100 years, and began making wooden toys in the 1870's. Click on this URL to find out more about these houses:

http://www.cynthiahoweminiatures.com/bliss.htm