April 12, 2026, Meeting

David Craig did a program on D.A.E. Originals fashion dolls designed by his friend, David A. Escobedo.

In 1992, Escobedo began his career as a doll designer by repainting and dressing "My Scene" Barbie dolls (the two following dolls are examples).  He then worked for Mel Odem dressing the Gene doll line. In 1997, Escobedo decided to start his own doll company. D.A.E. Originals. 

The company began by creating limited edition and one-of-a-kind vintage-inspired outfits for Gene. In 2002, Escobedo introduced his own fashion doll, Vivian the Miniquin. According to her backstory, in 1943, the upscale Diamonds Department Store opened. The store became famous for its innovative and dramatic window displays. Vivian was a mannequin in the fine clothing department. She and her fellow miniquins, as Escobedo called them, could absorb the feeling and memories of any customer who touched them, giving the miniquins a glimpse of the outside world. At night the miniquins would come alive, sharing what they had learned and enjoying the department store's many amenities until morning came and they had to return to their places. 

David told the club that although the Vivian face sculpt has remained the same, the later editions are fully jointed. The company also gave Vivian a beau, Monty, in 2005. David said that Escobedo wanted to capture the lush fashions of the post-WWII era and was also inspired by clothing worn in movies from that period. The clothing is exquisitely proportioned and detailed, including the hats, shoes, accessories, and  undergarments. This Gene doll models some of the lovely lingerie made for Vivian.  David told the club that he is drawn to these dolls because they remind him of his childhood and watching his mother and grandmother getting all dressed up in their finest outfits. 

 

Jenell Howell continued the collectible fashion doll theme by sharing this example from the Deja Vu doll line by Tonner Doll.

She also brought two much earlier examples of fashion dolls. This flirtatious flapper is Mold 1159 by Simon and Halbig. Her slender lower legs have feet molded to wear heeled pumps.

Also by Simon and Halbig and produced for Cuno and Otto Dressel is this Mold 1469 with a slim composition lady body.  Her Edwardian outfit was created by Doug James for his 1470 line of dolls and clothing, modeled after the Halbig 1469 series.

Myrna Loesch shared this charming Gebruder Heubach character child.

Nancy Countryman brought this boxed fashion set for Barbie.

Sharon Weintraub shared two recent finds, This is a 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 authentic Russian costumes. This doll represents a merchant's wife. The doll came with a tag describing only as "Strange Doll," but Sharon told the club that she likes strange.

Also on the strange side was this wind-up automaton monkey by the French maker Roullet et Decamps. Originally, the key was jammed, but Sharon was able to access, clean, and oil the mechanism, so now the monkey musician plays his accordion, turns his head, and opens and closes his mouth while a cheerful tune plays.