April 23, 2023, Meeting

The theme for the April meeting was Easter, spring, or April related dolls. 

Jan Irsfeld brought two of her Madame Alexander Cissy dolls in a trunk that she had created. The doll in white is entitled "The Promise of Spring" and the lovely lady in green is Spring for the Madame Pompadour four seasons series.

Sharon Weintraub brought out a bunch of itty bitty all-bisque bunny dolls. All are by the German firm of Hertwig and Company, except for the largest bunny boy in the brown felt jacket, who was created by Gebruder Heubach.

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These bunnies are all dressed in their original crocheted clothing. The tallest in only 2.5 inches tall.

Bette Birdsong shared her Gene doll in the "Suddenly Summer" ensemble. Although the title says "summer," the outfit is certainly appropriate for a spring stroll.

Bette also shared this vintage Ginny in a pineapple print dress.

Elaine Jackson brought several dolls, including this wistful wooden doll by Swiss artist Erika Catellani.

This reproduction all-bisque girl in a bunny hat is dressed in an outfit from a mini American Girl Elizabeth.

Elaine also shared a doll she had long wanted and finally found.  This is a composition Patsy-type made by the Averill Manufacturing Company.  Elaine told the club that the doll was sold by various companies under different names. This is "Boots" sold by Horsman and has a twisting waist. The vintage dress is "mommy made." 

Nancy Countryman brought this vintage McGuffey Ana doll by Madame Alexander,

 

as well as this antique German doll by Armand Marseille.

Jenell Howell shared this charming Crib Crowd doll by Madame Alexander.  She is all original, including her basket, and has a caracal wig. 

Jenell also made this pair of all-bisque bunny dolls, who are reproductions of models by Gebruder Heubach.

Another all-bisque doll shared by Jenell was this reproduction of an antique German "wrestler" made by doll artist Becca Hisle. The doll was the souvenir from the March 18, 2023, luncheon held by the Fort Worth Antique Doll Club to celebrate its 65th anniversary. 

Myrna Loesch brought the doll in the pink floral dress, which she had patiently assembled. She told the club that the head, Mold 1078 by Simon and Halbig, and body were found at a doll show, the dress came from Theriault's, and she made the wig. 

The little girl in the embroidered red dress belongs to Pam Hardy. Pam told the club that both her mother and aunt were doll collectors. The doll, made by Schoenau and Hoffmeister, was one of her mother's first dolls.  

Sylvia McDonald brought this girl in green by doll artist Heidi Plusczok, issued in 2004. 

 

Beautiful Baby

You must have been a beautiful baby

You must have been a wonderful child

When you were only startin'

To go to kindergarten

I'll bet you drove the little boys wild

Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, 1938

Continuing our virtual doll meeting, member Jenell Howell shares this delightful diminutive doll. Dating from the early 1950s, this curly haired cutie is part of the Vogue Ginny family known as the Crib Crowd.  Jennie Adler Graves opened the Ye Olde Vogue Doll Shoppe in 1922. An exceptional seamstress and designer, she began by creating outfits and trousseaus for imported German dolls. In 1948, Graves introduced an 8-inch hard plastic doll. The doll was so popular that Graves designed her own version, christening her creation "Ginny," after her own daughter, Virginia.  Ginny and her extensive wardrobe were a huge hit and inspired a new generation of 8-inch tall play dolls.  The Crib Crowd dolls have the standard Ginny head, but curved baby legs.

Her bright brown eyes have painted lashes and she has a caracul wig