Beauregard/Keyes House, French Quarter, New Orleans, with Doll Collection

Confederate General Beauregard lived here in the 1800's, and author Francis Parkinson Keyes lived here about 30 years (1940-s to 1970's), and wrote many of her 52 published books here.  Below are a few of the most interesting dolls from the collection - an SFBJ, a parian, a blonde common hairdo china, a wonderful dollhouse completely furnished, and a wax-over with pupilless glass eyes in a case.

2013 Annual Doll Sale B'ham Doll Club of AL

Note:  Click on photo to enlarge.

Here are some highlights of our Annual Doll Sale held in Vestavia Hills, AL yesterday.  We had a fun day selling and buying, and it is always educational.  I always find out something new about doll collecting and costuming.

Annual Doll Sale - B'ham Doll Club of AL

Antique and modern dolls and accessories

Free appraisals

May 4, 2013 from 8 to 2

1809 Mission Road, Vestavia Hills, AL

Happy Birthday, Michelle!

Happy Birthday, Michelle!!!  Here is a stuffed rabbit by Hansa for you.  Hope your day is great.

Happy Birthday, Dorothy!!!

Here are Md. Alexander Ginny dolls from the New Orleans UFDC Convention last year.

Teddy Bear Display

Here are some of my favorite bears - including artist bears, one offs (one of a kind), an antique, and a crocheted set of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, which makes me smile.  The bear on the bicycle won 3rd Place in his category at the United Federation of Doll Clubs Convention in New Orleans last year (out of 23).  Click on photo to enlarge.

Delicious Party Pound Cake

Besides giving a delightful program on small dolls, Debra served this delicious pound cake.

Kathy’s Party Pound Cake



1 box pound cake mix
4 eggs
1 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese

Have eggs, butter and cream cheese at room temperature.
Combine cake mix, butter, and 2 eggs.  Mix well (batter will be stiff).  Spread in a greased 9x13 pan.  Combine cream cheese, sugar (save enough to dust on top after baking), 2 eggs, and vanilla.  Spread over cake.  Sprinkle pecans on top.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Cool slightly.  Sprinkle sugar on top and cut into small squares.

April Meeting - Program on Small Dolls (8" and under)

COLLECTING SMALL DOLLS
PROGRAM FOR APRIL



Our program for April was about collecting small dolls eight inches and under.  There are a multitude of dolls made of various materials that fall into this category , but we focused on the original all bisque and subsequent bisque-head with composition body small dolls.

During the 1860’s and 1870’s there were already miniature dolls such as all-wooden dolls, bisque and china-headed dollhouse dolls, and china “frozen Charlottes.” However, in 1878 a different kind of miniature doll was born.  In that year an advertisement appeared in La Poupee Modele, a French children’s magazine.  It announced the birth of “poupees de poches,” or pocket dolls.  These little all-bisque dolls looked like a realistic child, with real wig and glass eyes.  They were fully articulated and could be dressed and undressed.  Earliest production of the little all-bisque dolls appears to have been French, but within two years the French doll shops started using German doll firms for their “French” all-bisque dolls.  The German firms of Simon and Halbig and Kestner made many of the early all-bisque dolls for the French trade.  The all-bisque dolls were immediately very popular, but for some reason the name “pocket doll” was not.  In 1880, only two years after their introduction, they were re-named “Mademoiselle Mignonette.”

Around 1900, the meaning of the word “mignonette” changed.  Instead of meaning only the all-bisque doll, a “mignonette” became any small bisque-head doll regardless of the body material or quality.  The doll firms began putting the bisque heads on small composition bodies and these were also known as “mignonettes.  These dolls were much less expensive than the all-bisque dolls.

We had the largest doll attendance we've ever had at a meeting, I think!  Sorry I couldn't post all the photos.  We had all kinds of dolls for show and tell including bisque, china, papier mache, cloth, composition, wood, and celluloid.

A great book

Bisque Kewpie, all bisque, Hitty, etc.

Some great small bisque heads with compo bodies

Cloth ethnic dolls

Bisque heads

A mix of bisue, cloth, and wood

Palmer Cox Brownies, cloth

Happy Birthday to you, Beverly!

Here is an arms away flapper pincushion doll for you!

Heebee Shebee 1926 - Mint Condition

This Horsman doll designed originally as a cartoon character by Charles Twelvetrees stands 10" tall, and is all composition with joints at shoulders, head, and hips.  The Shebee companion (not pictured) has pink shoes and pink silk ribbons.

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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