Alexander, a 1920's ll" Steiff ? Monkey

He belongs to JoAnn, who considers him a favorite of hers.  Can anyone positively identify him as Steiff?

Donate to Miss Iwate Fund at Birmingham Public Library

http://www.bplonline.org/programs/Iwate.aspx

If clicking doesn't work, copy and paste the URL in the URL box.

This is the library's site that makes it easy to donate for the fund for our Friendship Doll Miss Iwate (see information on other posts) to have a display case for herself and all her accessories, and also to return her to Japan for some needed conservation.  She is an historical doll and piece of history that should not be forgotten in a box in a dark storage room.

Evening with Miss Iwate at Birmingham Public Library

Japanese doll expert from Montana Alan Pate visited Birmingham's own Friendship Doll Miss Iwate, and gave a very interesting and animated lecture about the complex story of Japan's gift of 58 Friendship Dolls to the children of the U.S. in 1927.  A Harvard graduate, he has done extensive research regarding this important piece of history, and is about to publish a book on the subject.  Our Birmingham Doll Club helped sponsor Mr. Pate's lecture, and brought some Japanese dolls of our own for him to see and appraise.

The following 3 photos are some of members' dolls that Mr. Pate explained and discussed with us.

Double left click to enlarge photos.

Below  Mr. Alan Pate is talking with Birmingham Doll Club members about their own Japanese dolls.

Photos below are of Mr. Ben Peterson of the Birmingham Public Library setting up Miss Iwate and all her accessories.

Click on URL below for more interesting information about Miss Iwate and about how to donate to her conservation and display fund.

If that doesn't work, copy and paste in the URL box.

http://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2013/02/come-meet-miss-iwate-tonight-at-central.html

Happy Birthday, Sharon!!!!

Here is an antique Gaultier for you!

Information about Miss Iwate, Birmingham's own Japanese Friendship Doll

Please come to the reception and lecture on Japanese Friendship Dolls by expert Alan Pate.

Birmingham (AL) Public Library, February 21 at 6:00 p.m.

(See flyer in post below with picture of Miss Iwate)

Here's a blog entry I did about Miss Iwate and the program next week. 
Please use this to promote the event.  Thanks, Ben.

http://bplolinenews.blogspot.com/2013/02/bpl-and-birmingham-doll-club-present.html

--
Benjamin E. Petersen
Department Head
Southern History Department
Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
Birmingham, AL 35203
205-226-3665

Effanbee Patsy Doll Program for February

Effanbee Patsy dolls are the second most popular doll of the composition era (after Shirley Temple who came a little later).  Also she was one of the first dolls with her own commercial wardrobe; there were many patterns for her clothes, also, and one can still find "mama-made" items for Patsys.  The size range of Patsy dolls is from Wee Patsy at 5 3/4" to the Patsy Mae mama doll at 30".  Benard Lipfert, who came to the U.S. from Germany, designed Patsy, as well as many other popular dolls of the era, such as Shirley Temple and Betsy McCall.  His family in Germany was from a 5th generation toy-making tradition.  Patsy (14")  in all composition first appeared in 1929, but was marked as "Mimi" in 1928.  It is thought that the change was made because of the popularity of Patricia, the daughter of the famed aviator Mr. Fitzmaurice.  Patsy dolls came with painted eyes, sleep eyes, wigged or with molded hair.  The various Patsy dolls chronologically are:
Patsy 14", Patsy Ann 19", Patsy Lou 22", Patsy, Jr. 11.5", Patsy Joan 16", Patsyette 9", Patsy Baby 10", Patsy Babyette 9", Patsy Baby Tinyette (bent legs) 7", Patsy Baby Tinyette Toddler (straight legs) 7 3/4", Patsy Mae 24", Patsy Ruth 26", and Wee Patsy 5 3/4"

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An Evening with Alan Pate, Feb. 21, 6:00 p.lm., Birmingham Public Library

http://www.antiquejapanesedolls.com/


Mr. Pate, an expert on Japanese artifacts,  will give a talk on the Japanese Friendship Dolls, which were gifted to the children of the United States in 1927.  The Birmingham Public Library owns one of these precious dolls, and intends to build a special showcase for her and all her accessories.

High Brow Center Part 1860's China Doll, 24"

Here is a wonderful old high brow china doll with original body and leather arms.  She has the old orange lips, red eye liner, white center part with side curls - and a wonderfully pleasant expression.  She probably needs some help with her wardrobe.

Free Lecture and Reception - Japanese Friendship Doll

Double left click to enlarge flyer.

You are invited to a free Lecture and Reception concerning Birmingham's own Japanese Friendship Doll.

Happy Birthday, Julie!

Happy Birthday, Julie!  Here is a Simon Halbig 1329 bisque head doll for you.

Happy Birthday, Jill!

Here is a very old cloth doll for you.  Don't you think it is "Mama-made"?  Have a Happy Birthday!

Small Dolls on my Dresser

These are dolls and stuffed animals that I enjoy looking at every day on my dresser:  From L to R:  Reproduction Kestner by Pat Boldt (bought at Convention in New Orleans), unmarked German bisque head doll, and stone bisque with lovely bare feet and plait in back with colored flowers (also unmarked, but probably German).  I found the tiny crocheted dresses and bonnet also at Convention; I believe the sellers were from New Zealand.  And the tiny handmade stuffed bears and cat were also in the sales room at the UFDC Convention.

An Evening With Miss Iwate - Save the Date

This beautiful Friendship Doll sent in 1927 from Japan to the children of the U.S., along with 56 others, has been kept in the Birmingham Public Library in a storage room.  Please join us for a reception and talk by Alan Pate, Asian doll specialist, on Feb. 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the main Birmingham Public Library.  We plan to help raise funds for a proper display case so she can be admired and appreciated.  See similar post below on this blog for more information.

Compositions, Stuffed Animals, Cloth and Wooden Dolls

Double left click to enlarge photos for your enjoyment.

A wonderful Raggedy display.

 Lots of beautiful, cuddly stuffed animals.

 A great case full of composition dolls.

 Here are Effanbee Patsy dolls of various sizes.

T

 On this bench are 4 Schoenhut wooden dolls on the left,  and on the right are 2 cloth Chase dolls.

 Here are Grumpy, Coquette, Baby Daity type, and Lambikin.

 Georgene Raggedy Ann's sit atop books.

Nippon Dolls - Jill's January Program

Nippon is synonymous with the word Japan. From 1891-1921 all exports from Japan had to have Nippon on them. Thus, dolls and toys from the Nippon era are easy to date. Nippon era all bisque dolls are still afforable and fairly collectable. Nippon era all bisque dolls are generally 3-7" tall, are jointed at the arms and hips, and came in hundreds of different styles. Baby Bud, Kewpie, and the Happifats were copied from the German dolls, especially during WWI when imports from Germany were frowned upon. Some Nippon dolls are beautifully painted while others are very average. The Nippon era dolls are an interesting part of history.

 The 1st 3 photos are all sweet Nippons.  In the 3rd photo, the second from the left won a 1st Place at the recent UFDC Convention in New Orleans.  She wears her original crepe paper costume. The 4th photo is of a Morimura Bros. (Japanese company) copy of the German Hilda, along with some Made in Japan dolls.  The one on the right has her original crepe paper and tinsel dress.  The 5th photo shows 2 Morimura boy dolls and some small Made in Japan dolls (after 1921).  The last photo is of Nippons; the one on the left has a blue bow painted on either side of her head, and the one on the right has a blue ribbon around her head (or perhaps her head was smoothed to look like a cap). She wears the remains of a ribbon costume.

Remember to double left click on photos to enlarge.

Some Christmas Goodies

Japanese all bisque, an SFBJ gypsy girl, and a 3 1/2 inch repro mignonette.

Sharon Dressman Artist Bear - Clown

So happy to see him under the tree!  He is a sparse mohair "one off" named Picadilly Panda, made in 1998.  Sharon Dressman is an American bear artist.