November 10, 2024, Meeting

In keeping with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, many members brought dolls representing Native Americans. This papoose in a pink felt cradleboard belongs to member Myrna Loesch. The cold-painted bisque baby was dressed by Madame Hendren, which was part of the part of the Averill Manufacturing Corporation, and dates from 1916 through the 1920s. Myrna said that a handwritten note found with the doll read, "In Lucy Brown's keepsake box packed up in Pittsburgh 1927."

Member Elaine Jackson brought two pairs of cloth dolls to illustrate the myth of the First Thanksgiving at Plymouth Massachusetts in 1621. The first pair, representing Priscilla Mullins and John Standish, appeared earlier on this blog. The dolls, dating around 1950, have pressed and painted faces and are from Just Folks Doll House by Helen Walker of Staunton, Virginia.

The second pair were a Native American boy and girl, made by the Michigan WPA Toy Project, sponsored by Michigan State College. Dating around 1939, the dolls were made using the Edith Flack Ackley cloth doll pattern. They are have painted features, rather than the embroidered features used for the Ackley pattern and are all original. Elaine noted that the dolls' costumes are not representative of the Wampanoag Tribe (who also called themselves the People of the First Light), who were the indigenous people who greeted the Pilgrims.

Member Sylvia McDonald, who was the hostess for the meeting, shared several Native American dolls. The man in the elaborately beaded buckskin outfit represents a Plains Indian. Sylvia said that he appears to be of either carved wood or treated cloth and came with a tag denoting him as, “Circa 1930’s.”  The woman doll was purchased for her by her brothers, John and Larry, in Taos at a shop in 1954 or 1955. Of hard plastic, she is dressed in a traditional Navajo costume.

This homemade cloth Indian family were sewn made by a friend’s niece when Sylvia was around eight or nine years old.  She said that they were some of the first dolls that she considered a part of her collection.

This trio belongs to Member Bette Birdsong. The woman wearing a navy wool dress, which was typical of her tribe, and the man on the right, are reproductions of dolls made by the Crow. The doll with the heavily beaded bodice, which was characteristic of the Sioux, is an antique. The beadwork includes tiny images of American flags. 

Member Jenell Howell brought a complete set of composition Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dolls in what appears to be their original presentation box. These dolls were issued by the Knickerbocker Toy Company to coincide with the 1937 release of Disney's first animated feature. All of the dolls are in excellent condition and Jenell said that there was speculation is that this set might have been a salesman's sample.

Returning to a seasonal theme, Member Jan Irsfeld displayed two Madame Alexander Cissy dolls from a series issued over four years, starting 2005. The dolls were inspired by the Pompadour period, when French fashion was an its height, and the dolls were dressed in clothing representing the four seasons. This pair represents Fall and Jan made the man's knee-high suede hunting boots.

Another example of Jan's terrific tailoring and dazzling beading skills.

Member Nancy Countryman shared this 17-inch tall composition doll. The doll has sleeping blue eyes and two teeth, but no markings.           

                                           

She also brought a homemade cloth gray mouse dressed in fall colors. A clear glass mason jar serves as this doll's body. 

Member Pam Hardy brought these miniature porcelain Yolanda Bello dolls from the Picture Perfect Babies Collection by The Ashton Drake Galleries.  The boy dressed in a baseball outfit is Matthew and the girl’s name is Jennifer. 

 

A big thank you to Member Ann Meier and Sylvia for providing the pictures and information!

 

October 13, 2024, Meeting

The club met at member Bette Birdsong's home, where she gave a program on French faux bamboo doll furniture. She explained that after trade opened with China and Japan in the 1860s, a style of furniture called “chinoiserie” that incorporated Asian motifs became popular in Europe. However, bamboo was too fragile for heavier European furniture, so companies began creating faux bamboo furniture using hardwoods. Doll furniture reflected this popular style throughout the 1800s. She displayed these examples from the collection of her sister, Lynda Eitel.

Bette said that the early faux bamboo doll furniture was high-end and often associated with French fashion 

dolls. Toy armoires, like this one, featured mirrored doors, as well as shelves for storing doll clothing and linen.

Night tables and dressing tables sometimes had marble tops. The night stand has a cabinet for secreting the chamberpot, while the dressing table features racks on the sides for holding towels.

The settee and chair have woven cane seats and the table folds up for storage,

Bette told the club that beds were the most expensive of such furniture, often outfitted with feather pillows and mattresses, as well as lace canopies. Lynda's bed has tiny metal casters and an arm for supporting a delicate canopy of lace or net. 

Sometimes pieces can be found with the maker’s label. Choumer and Collet began making making doll furniture in 1867 and later contracted with the American toy store FAO Schwarz. Faux bamboo doll furniture was exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition. 

Member Sharon Weintraub shared this French all-bisque doll by Fernand Sustrac, with ball-jointed elbows. Sustrac patented this doll in 1877. Sharon got the doll from a woman who had inherited the doll from her grandmother. The family spent time in France in the late 1800s and the woman assumed that the doll was probably purchased then. 

Bette displayed this Black character doll, attributed to the German firm of Bahr and Proschild. She said that the doll is on "permanent loan" from her sister, Lynda.

In honor of Halloween, member Elaine Jackson brought this cloth "gypsy" doll made in the 1970s by a local doll artist, Ann Lind. Elaine told the club that as a child she sometimes dressed up for Halloween as a gypsy woman wearing skirts, scarves, and jewelry borrowed from her mother's wardrobe.

September 8, 2024, Meeting

This month's meeting had a special guest, United Federation of Doll Clubs Region Three Director Karen Allen.  Members were asked to a bring a newly acquired doll or a doll with special meaning to them. This composition bride doll belongs to Myrna Loesch. She won her at a raffle in 2023 at a luncheon held by the Fort Worth doll club. The beautiful bride in Mary Ann by Madame Alexander and dates from the 1940s.  The dress is original, but Myrna made her veil.

Sylvia McDonald shared this handsome lad, made by German doll artist Käthe Kruse. He was the childhood doll of her great-aunt, who was born in 1902. Sylvia thinks her aunt received the doll around 1912. He still has his original box and a wardrobe of clothes, including this spiffy sailor suit.

Jan Irsefeld brought this stunning Cissy by Madame Alexander in her trunk filled with gorgeous gowns, all created by Jan.

This blond china head doll belonged to the collection of Pam Hardy's mother. She told the club that her mother kept the dolls packed away, allowing them to be seen only on New Year's Day. 

This terrific trio was created by Elaine McNally. The larger cloth doll is her interpretation of dolls made by Izannah Walker in the 1800s. The smaller pair are carved wood.

Also of wood is this Bébé Tout en Bois belonging to Elaine Jackson. Despite the French name, the dolls were made in Germany.

Sharon Weintraub shared two new acquisitions. This all-bisque cutie with an unusual swivel neck is by German doll maker Gebruder Heubach. She is faintly incised "Igodi" on her lower back; this was the trademark for this patented neck joint system invented by Johannes Gotthilf Dietrich.

This 11-inch tall doll is from the Dunaev factory in Russia, which used a head from Kammer and Reinhardt as a mold for its terracotta heads. The dolls were made beginning in the early 1900s and were dressed in detailed and authentic costumes representing different regions of Russia. This doll carries a label, "Made in Soviet Union," indicating that it was made following the 1922 Russian civil war. The factory was seized by the state in 1929 and doll production ended by 1937. His costume is all original, including his wonderful lapti shoes, woven from birch fiber. 

Nancy Countryman brought two well-loved dolls from her childhood.

She made the dress for this doll.

Ann Meir displayed this colorful quilt she had crafted,

Member Jenell Howell brought these two example of dolls created by Dewees Cochran for Effanbee. The one in the striped dress is all original.  

Bette Birdsong shared this wistful French doll by Jules Steiner. She is a Series C and her eyes open and close by a lever on the back of her head. 

This doll is modeled after "Wingy" Plenty, a character from the Dick Tracy cartoon strip.  Bette had a similar doll as a child.

Karen surprised the club with a door prize.  Sue Smith was the lucky winner of this appealing antique bisque baby doll.

 

August 11, 2024, Meeting

Members Jenell Howell and Myrna Loesch gave a report on the United Federation of Doll Clubs Convention, held July 23rd through the 27th in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Jenell's convention find was this dashing Puss in Boots by doll artist John Wright.

Myrna shared the convention souvenir doll, "Miss Unity" designed by Helen Kish,

this all-bisque reproduction doll by Darlene Lane from the Fourth of July Luncheon, 

this fashionable femme from the Doug James 1470 line with multiple detailed outfits and accessories (the doll is a James' interpretation of the antique Mold 1469 by German maker Simon and Halbig), and

this vintage composition Madame Alexander Madelaine Du Bain she found in the convention sales room.

Also in keeping with the convention's Wizard of Oz "There's no place like home" theme is this Connie Lowe doll dressed as Dorothy.

The 2025 convention will be in Norfolk, Virginia, home to the Barry Art Museum and its collection of dolls and automatons.

Member Sharon Weintraub shared her purchases from the sales room. The spotted dog is "Rag," an all-bisque dog designed by Georgene Averill, who joins his companion, "Tag," the white kitten already in her collection. The little antique china doll has a squeaker in its cloth torso.

Member Elaine Jackson displayed this souvenir doll, Rosita, from the 1984 convention in San Antonio. 

Member Sylvia McDonalds shared these two Käthe Kruse dolls from previous conventions. This is "Fritzel," a special limited edition doll made for the 2000 convention.

 

Gretel was made for the 2007 convention. She is stuffed with reindeer hair and is dressed in a traditional Austrian outfit.

Member Jan Irsfeld displayed this Madame Alexander Cissy doll in an elaborate equestrian outfit.

This vintage Cissy belongs to Member Pam Hardy. Jan made the dress and Myrna her shoes.

Member Elaine McNally shared this charming cherub.