Birmingham Doll Club-January, 2016

The January, 2016 meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club was held at the home of the hostess, Jill S.
Jill gave an interesting and very informative presentation on the jointed wooden dolls made by the Albert Schoenhut Company.  The Schoenhut Toy Company (1872-1935) was Philadelphia toy manufacturer which made a wide variety of wooden toys.  The jointed wood dolls were produced starting in 1911 and continued until about 1928.  Suggested references for identifying Shoenhut dolls includes SCHOENHUT DOLLS-ACOLLECTOR'S ENCYLOPEDIA by Carol Corson, "The Schoenhut Doll Mystique"  DOLL NEWS by Betty O' Sullivan, and the web site OldWoodToys.com.

The earliest dolls had the company name and patent date incised on the back

An applied decal placed on the doll's back was used to identify the company and patent date starting in 1916.  

Schoenhut doll's had a unique construction with holes in the bottom of their feet to fit onto a special stand.  This would allow the doll to be placed into many life-like poses. 

The dolls' shoes were made with holes to match the holes in the bottom of the feet. 

Schoenhut Doll Stand

Later dolls had grooves in their upper legs to allow their stockings to be tied into place (we all hate to have our stockings around our ankles!!) 

This 16/301 Schoenhut doll has her original one piece underware.

Close-up of the one piece underware.

The back of the underware

This is a lovely 19/308 Schoenhut doll.

Pinn family Doll

Toddler doll

these twin boys are 14/205 Schoenhut dolls.

This 21/309 Schoenhut has a sweet expression.

This smiling 16/304 Schoenhut girl looks as if she is about to laugh out loud!

A 14/312 and a 21/313 Schoenhut sitting together.   

A 19/308 Schoenhut girl with a friend. 

Additional 19/308 Schoenhut girl. 

Two 19/308 Schoenhut dolls. 

Original box for the Humpty Dumpty Circus

A Schoenhut clown with animals from the circus

Schoenhut elephant

Schoenhut goat (I love his billy goat beard!)

December, 2015 Meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club

Our Annual Christmas Party was held on December 13th and was hosted by Debra and Jill M.  After a short business meeting, we had refreshments and exchanged Secret Santa gifts.  Santa was very good to us this year!!!

Dorothy received these mischievous Elves!

Janet and Lydia

Jill with her adorable boy doll.

Barbara received figures associated with a king cake and Christmas in a display case

Information on the back of the display case

Little angel

Janet and her smiling Elf

Debra opening her gifts

Janet with her celluloid girl. 

Jill M.  received this sleeping Effanbee baby

So sweet!!!!

Lydia with her gorgeous Hilda reproduction. 

Hilda could not be persuaded to rotate 90 degrees, but she is still beautiful!!

This picture is blurry because I was trying to focus on Michelle's tiny Shirley

Shirley is so small she can ride in a lipstick case.

Shirley was hand carved by Sharon especially for Michelle-Lucky Michelle!!!

Sharon with her Russian doll

November 14, 2015 Meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club-Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop

On November 14, 2015, Dorothy Clark conducted a Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop and provided lunch for the Birmingham Doll Club.  Dorothy is so talented and generous to share her crafting expertise with others.  A great time was had by all!!! 

Corn husks must be soaked in water to make them pliable prior to making the doll

Just the tops of the soon-to-be doll skirts need to soak in water

Dorothy giving hands-on instructions on making a corn husk doll.  

This doll needs a skirt!

The chest is filled out with cotton balls

Dolls in progress

The natural curling of the corn husks makes stylish skirts!

Lovely hat!

Dorothy's own doll

This doll has long gorgeous curls!

This doll has a new corn silk wig (a natural blonde).

Corn husk ladies standing together

A wire skeleton allows the doll's heads and arms to be placed into life-like poses. 

Beautiful!