Children of Japan

Children of Japan
Courtesy, R. John Wright

Hinges and Hearts

Hinges and Hearts
An Exhibit of our Metal Dolls

Tuxedo and Bangles

Tuxedo and Bangles

A History of Metal Dolls

A History of Metal Dolls
Now on Alibris.com and In Print! The First Book of its Kind

Alice, Commemorative Edition

Alice, Commemorative Edition
Courtesy, R. John Wright

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Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory

Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory
Her Grace wishes us all a Merry Christmas!

Annabelle

Annabelle

Emma Emmeline

Emma Emmeline
Our New Addition/fond of stuffed toys

Cloth Clown

Cloth Clown

Native American Art

Native American Art

the triplets

the triplets

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby
Bought Athens on the street

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Sand Baby Swirls!

Sand Baby Swirls!
By Glenda Rolle, courtesy, the Artist

Glenda's Logo

Glenda's Logo
Also, a link to her site

Sand Baby Castaway

Sand Baby Castaway
By Glenda Rolle, Courtesy the Artist

A French Friend

A French Friend

Mickey

Mickey
From our friends at The Fennimore Museum

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll
British Museum, Child's Tomb

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll
Among first "Toys?"

ushabti

ushabti
Egyptian Tomb Doll 18th Dynasty

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

Popular Posts

Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase

Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase
Courtesy, Antique Daughter

Judge Peep

Judge Peep

Hakata Doll Artist at Work

Hakata Doll Artist at Work
From the Museum Collection

Japanese Costume Barbies

Japanese Costume Barbies
Samurai Ken

Etienne

Etienne
A Little Girl

Happy Heart Day

Happy Heart Day

From "Dolls"

From "Dolls"
A Favorite Doll Book

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Jenny Wren

Jenny Wren
Ultimate Doll Restorer

Our Friends at The Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum

Our Friends at The Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum

Baby Boo 1960s

Baby Boo 1960s
Reclaimed and Restored as a childhood Sabrina the Witch with Meow Meow

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum
L to R: K*R /celluloid head, all bisque Artist Googly, 14 in. vinyl inuit sixties, early celluloid Skookum type.

Two More Rescued Dolls

Two More Rescued Dolls
Late Sixties Vinyl: L to R: Probably Horseman, all vinyl, jointed. New wig. R: Effanbee, probably Muffy, mid sixties. New wig and new clothing on both. About 12 inches high.

Restored Italian Baby Doll

Restored Italian Baby Doll
One of Dr. E's Rescued Residents

Dolls on Display

Dolls on Display
L to R: Nutcrackers, Danish Troll, HItty and her book, Patent Washable, Mechanical Minstrel, Creche figure, M. Alexander Swiss. Center is a German mechanical bear on the piano. Background is a bisque German costume doll.

A Few Friends

A Few Friends
These dolls are Old German and Nutcrackers from Dr. E's Museum. They are on loan to another local museum for the holidays.

Vintage Collage

Vintage Collage
Public Domain Art

The Merry Wanderer

The Merry Wanderer
Courtesy R. John Wright, The Hummel Collection

The Fennimore Doll Museum

The Fennimore Doll Museum

Robert

Robert
A Haunted Doll with a Story

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

The Cody Jumeau

The Cody Jumeau
Long-faced or Jumeau Triste

German Princesses

German Princesses
GAHC 2005

A Little PowerRanger

A Little PowerRanger
Halloween 2004

The Island of the Dolls

The Island of the Dolls
Shrine to Dolls in Mexico

Based on the Nutshell Series of Death

Based on the Nutshell Series of Death
Doll House murder

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A lovely dress

A lovely dress

Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann
A few friends in cloth!

Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum, WI

Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum, WI
Pixar Animator's Collection

Little PM sisters

Little PM sisters
Recent eBay finds

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Really old Dolls!

Really old Dolls!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Bibliography of Doll and Toy Sources: Print-Mixed Media-Electronic-Musical-Artistic

After 17 years of work, my book is out! It looks lovely, and has a photo of my Goodyear Rubber Doll on the front, and more of my dolls on the back cover. There is a Table of Contents, and an index. I have a preface and introduction about the history of dolls and doll collecting, and there are good black and white illustrations throughout, many of dolls from the museum. Even as I type, there is a doll on an old Maude rerun, along with a doll house and other toys, and Harlan Coben frequently mentions dolls in his novels. I keep finding more good URLs, and even Kojack had a doll or two on. So, I will have a second edition! There will also be information for where you can buy the book, soon.

The Barbie/Lilli exhibit is up at a local museum. I finished the PowerPoint and will try to figure out a way to post it for everyone to read.

I've had a few days off to search for dolls, and have found some treasures. I found a nice 6 in. parian head, blonde, painted blue eyes with molded collar and gold trim. It is in the so-called "low brow" hairstyle, and it is one of the nicest heads I've seen. I also found some modern fairy fashion dolls and Blythes, and a tiny Nippon doll in original dress. There was a lovely resin doll, one of a kind, with a winsome, wistful face, and several handmade Easter dolls or Effanbee 7 in. babies in crocheted outfits. I also found a vintage ideal baby, 8 in., with its original dress. All of these were five dollars and under, even the head. It pays to look in far off places, and new antique stores and junk shops.

One shop did scare me; it is hardly ever opened, so I went in. The spring weather influenced me. It was dark, long, and narrow, and filled wall to wall with piles of things. It was a hoarders episode in the making, except all were collectibles, even antiques. But, there was no room to look, or walk, and the owner was standing chatting in the middle of the only passable isle. He had good ideas, once. I found the two little dolls I bought displayed in an old popcorn machine filled with vintage mass manufactured porcelain dolls and Barbies. But, hardly any were priced. He had no change, and no bags. He was full of clever comments, like, "those are sharp shoes; are you a tap dancer?!" Hardly. He apparently complains to the other shops in the area that he can't sell anything. Well, I don't criticize, but here are my tips: market, organize, have change, have bags and boxes, have a huge yard sale for the excess, donate more to charity for a tax credit, advertise, and keep your sense of humor to yourself. Just a few ideas. I felt sorry for the guy; he was helpful and knowledgeable about his things, but I don't think even the boys from American Pickers would have had a lot of hope in that place.

A moral to all of us who collect? Collect v. Hoard? Since when is store inventory hoarding, and since when is collecting in that category? Who knows?

I only know I never met a doll I didn't like, and the hunt is on . . . .

To the People of Japan, hit so hard and tragically just days after the Hina Matsuri Festival, The Museum sends its thoughts and prayers. Take care.

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