A festive fall theme greeted the members.
Member Beverly Evans did a program on Mold 390 dolls by Armand Marseille. Despite his French-sounding name, Marseille was born to a wealthy Russian family in St. Petersburg in 1856. His family later settled in Germany. Marseille bought a porcelain factory in 1884 and by 1890 began producing bisque doll heads. He acquired several other small porcelain factories, becoming one of the most prolific doll producers in Germany. Marseille decided to add a line of affordable play dolls and in the 1890s began production of the Mold 390, a socket head, and Mold 370, the shoulder head version. These molds were produced in various sizes and quality, and can be found on a wide variety of bodies. Beverly brought many examples from her collection.
Mold 370 is the shoulder head version, typically found on a kid body with bisque lower arms.
Other members brought examples to share. This big ball-jointed girl belongs to Myrna Loesch. . .
as does this diminutive doll.
Elaine Jackson brought this pretty example in a lacy pinafore.
This all-original Belgium milkmaid is on a fully jointed body and is just 8 inches tall.
Sallie Howard brought these charming child dolls by Miroslava Brodlova of My Meadow Dolls for show and tell.
