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

Popular Posts

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

Popular Posts

Total Pageviews

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!

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Doll Museum: Extant

Doll Museum: Extant: This show with Halle Berry, will feature a robot child, a la Small Wonder.  With all the interest in drones and robotics, will there be a ne...

Thursday, May 28, 2015

This Just in; NBC writes Home!

There I was, minding my own business, and an email came from a Today Show producer who wanted to talk about dolls, high prices, and "creepy dolls."  I was nice, gave some information about the good things about dolls, and referred her elsewhere.  Below is my response:

Thank you, _______, for writing to me.

I'm really flattered.  However, I'm not into the creepy doll fad; I think it's silly. 

You may want to talk to ____________ and ____________of Theriault's.com.  They have sold several of antiques that have broken records, and these were also dolls designed by fine artists, in particular, a sculptor named. Albert Marque.  Andrew Carneghie once bought several of the Marque dolls, and paid a hefty sum for them during the early 1900s.   Also, Bonham's auction house in London, also on the web, sold a doll last September for nearly $400,000. They would probably be better equipped to talk to you.

For the record, early doll collectors were educators and artists.  Dina Vierny, who helped Jewish refugees escape the Nazis had a big collection of dolls. Picasso was inspired by them, and Samuel Pryor, former vice president of TWA, had a very large collection.  Look for the December 1959 National Geographic. G. Stanley Hall, a major figure in American Psychology, wrote a book that is free on Google called "A Study of Dolls" and he saw them as something positive.  Jackie Onassis once did a commercial about preserving historical artifacts that featured an antique doll. Dolls are used today in therapy to help treat children who are severely ill or abused, and many ethnic dolls are the only relics left of civilizations that are long gone.  The only thing that has survived is their dolls, and Laura Starr wrote about a lot of dolls like this in "The Doll Book," also on Google for  free.


Good luck, but I'm not someone who would want to make dolls or doll collecting something "creepy." I would call or contact Theriault's.  You can use my name.  Also, try the editors of Antique Doll Collector Magazine,_________.


I'd like to see or read your story when it is completed.  I wish you the best,

Ellen



Despite the popularity of Monster High, I have to wonder if all this creepy doll garbage is affecting kids. One little girl who used to love to see my dolls is now around 7, and she told me last week that she remembered seeing my dolls, and they were "creepy."  Where did she hear that?  Her mother collected dolls, and her grandfather used to buy them for me.  She used to love them, especially Polly Pockets and soft dolls.The world is a tough enough place; let kids have their dolls!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Recycle, Repurpose, and Renew, and you can also Read Dr. E's Greening Tips . . . Here

We doll collectors know how to do all three of these.  Collecting antique dolls and use dolls is indeed recycling.  Repurposing what was once a children's toy or collector's item enhances it's use, and restoring dolls and rescuing them is definitely renewing.  We also do these three when we creat doll inspired art, use everyday objects, or old lace and fabric to make accessories and clothing for our dolls.   We use what others might toss to make something beautiful.

This Memorial Day weekend, I found myself continuing to repair and wash doll clothes, and also refurbishing dolls from a collection I had just bought.  I spent a good deal of time outdoors, or in an open garage, using Febrese, and removing shelf dust from a variety of lovely dolls.

Some of the dolls were two hard plastic Ginnies dressed as a Dutch couple, several Seymour Mann dolls [anyone read Erica Jong?  They were here parents], 4 antique china heads, one automaton, many small unusual international dolls, a few mechanicals, a 90s Shirley Temple, and a set of mini Yolanda Bello picture perfect babies.

All are safely cleaned up and stored/displayed right now.

For those who read my blog Dr. E's Greening Tips for  the Common Person, and I'm posting here and sharing to the blog.  Malware has infected only that blog.  I can add new posts, but no one can see the blog; a "monetize' message pops up, and takes you on a grand tour of some odd sites for ads.  Sorry for the inconvenience; I have reported it twice ot Google and Blogspot.

I've been a blogger for 5 years and love it.  We are nearly 100,000 on this blog alone, and have over 3 million viewers on Google Plus.  Thank you!

I also spent time gluing dolls and other small items that needed repair, and planting annuals.  I used impatiens in the fairy gardens,  and fed my holly bushes. 

Here and there are dandelions, which I con't really think of as weeds and don't mind.  Clover flowers are doing very well, and my rabbits love it. 

I cleaned out part of garage, too, and was meat by loud derision by my family of wrens and chickadees.  They swept out their old nexts, and began building anew.  They chattered at me, and teach other, from tiny ledges under the carport, and perpendicular to that, against the garage.

Our wildlife is doing well. I saw three deer today, and our cats and my dog brother in law were blessed Saturday at a special service for pets.    I will share photos after they are uploaded.

I haven't much time for crafts or special outdoors projects this year; elder care, illness, including mine, work, and lots of writing have kept me from it.   Also, allergy season is horrendous, but I do have some articles to share.

I find lots of fresh fruit, RAW drinks, and yogurt help consdierably.  I also swear by trubiotics.

More later, and bless all of you as we approach June 1 World Doll Day and also, the Summer Solstice. Blessed Be.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Newsletter About.com Week of May 18th

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Summer is Nearly Here and Dolls Play a Big Role
Summer is approaching, with grass growing wildly, pools opening, and Memorial Day approaching.  June 3d brings us another Rendezvous Auction from Theriault's, and many doll shows and events are under way.  Read more below for ideas for summer reading and collecting.
Ellen Tsagaris
Doll Collecting Expert
Reveiw: Puppet by Kenneth Gross: An Essay on Uncanny Life
Professor Kenneth Gross takes us on a tour of an amazing gallery of puppets in Rome, discusses puppetry, and takes a good hard look at a puppet classic in a serious of essays involving dolls and puppets you will not' want to put down.
READ NOW
Share
Puppets and Dolls Dance in Shadowlands for Philosophers
Ancient dolls and puppetry play a role in Plato's "The Republic." If you haven't read Book VII of this classic, read it now and note the role that ancient puppets and shadow puppets played in Ancient Greece and elsewhere.
READ NOW
Share
For Timeless Doll Debut: A New British Invasion
Four new British dolls teach history and literary skills with beautiful books and accessories.
READ NOW
Share
Dolls that Seem to Breathe
Uncanny dolls that go bump in the night, automatons, mechanical, and moving dolls inspire imagination and are immortalized in the film "Hugo" and the book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." Look also for "The Highest Bid", which features an automaton.
READ NOW
Share

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Dolls of Nepal and Tibet: A Tribute and a Humble Request

This gallery of photos is our museum tribute to The People of Nepal, in the wake of two devastating earthquakes.  I am a survivor of the 1989 Loma Prieta Quake in California, and my family in Kalamata experienced a terrible quake some 25 years ago that changed the face of the town.  I actually own a doll that survived hte 1906 Quake, and in 1989, on the anniversary of the 1906 Quake, at the exact moment, we had a terrible aftershock.

Nepal is a magical place, as is Tibet.  One day, I hope to see The Caves of Mustang, with their ancient religious paintings and scrolls.

My thanks to Caroline Johnson who shared many of the wonderful dolls pictured below, as well as the amazing stories that go with them. The other photos are public domain images.  Many are similar to my own dolls from this area, which I hope to photograph and post later.

If you enjoy these posts, consider contacting The Red Cross and making a donation to the victims of the Nepal Quakes.  Thank you.

Carved Wooden Dolls of Nepal.  Courtesy, Caroline Johnson    


Tibetan Buddhist Nun, cloth. Courtesy, Caroline Johnson

Tibetan Refugee Churning Butter, Tibetan Refugee Centre. Courtesy, Caroline Johsnon

Close-up Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre Label. Caroline Johnson Collection. You may enjoy Dark Road to Darjeeling, Deanna Reayburn

Male Tibetan Refugee Doll, courtesy Caroline Johnson
Nepalese Marionettes, Public Domain

Nepal, Public Domain

Little Girl of Nepal, Public Domain

Masks and Idols, Nepal, Public Domain

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

News from the Madame

Madame Alexander is changing its log and packaging, and will soon have  a doll hospital for its dolls.  In this, MA comes full circle.  Madame and her sister began in the industry by working in the family doll hospital, sewing doll clothes.  Congrats to MA!!


Madame Alexander is a doll company with a history, a legacy, a heritage that denotes respect for its place in doll making.
The brand name stimulates cherished memories that center around high quality, trustworthiness and authenticity.
So, when we embarked on our mission to update and make the brand resonate with today’s doll lovers, we held great respect for what was iconic and used that as the core to build upon as we designed new Baby and Play categories.

A Fresh Twist on a Classic

Evolution-of-logo
Madame Alexander's refreshed branding emphasizes the company's iconic history as the premier keepsake doll brand for consumers of all ages.
The new branding closely links the renowned heritage with the current assortment of baby and play dolls.

The Pink Ribbon

With thoughtful design, the new logo’s for Baby, Play and Collection are each wrapped with a pink ribbon.
ma-new-logo
Ribbons are an integral part of the doll's design, from a baby doll's hair ribbon, to the ribbons on the collection doll shoes, to the ribbons used on the dresses across Baby, Play and Collection.
The pink ribbon becomes the new classic icon across the doll categories, and is embedded into the new logos. 

Dots & Stripes

The classic dots and stripes of Madame Alexander are used across the categories, made bolder in the collection for maximum visibility across the new social media platforms.
logos-with-backgrounds
The new Baby graphics encompass dots and stripes in soft tones in a playful scatter dot pattern.
The Play patterns are vibrant and fun, designed for young girls whose favorite colors we know are pinks and purples. Dots and stripes are prevalent in multi colors and sizes to showcase the playfulness of the 18-inch and small doll play lines.

Love is in the Details™

When Beatrice Alexander founded the Madame Alexander Doll Company at her kitchen table in 1923, she believed dolls should always engage a child’s imagination, should always be beautiful, and most importantly, always be played with.
Today, the Company’s promise continues to uphold the tradition of quality, design and craftsmanship. The Company creates beautiful dolls to love, play and grow up with. As Madame herself was fond of saying, “love is in the details”™ and "dolls are made to be played with and loved.”
When we ask doll shoppers today why they like Madame Alexander, we get great responses that resonate with us as we continue to design and create dolls for today’s fans. We listen and love hearing from our fans!

Here are some comments from customers!

"My girls loved their MA dolls."
"I had these dolls when I was a child and wanted to create a collection for my granddaughter."
"Tradition -- my children's grandmother bought them Madame Alexander dolls and now I want to do that for my grandchildren."
"Just love the doll faces, a lovely birthday present."
"I started buying Madame Alexander dolls for my little girl and nieces over 30 years ago. Now I'm buying them for my granddaughters and great niece."
"Long history of excellent merchandise and I wanted to start a doll collection for my granddaughter."

What do you think of our new look? Let us know in the comments below!


Antique Doll Collector Magazine: June Sneak Peek!

Antique Doll Collector Magazine: June Sneak Peek!: June Cover Our collector friends from Norway have shared another of their passions: Steiner bébés. Alf Ertsland writes about the adv...





Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Preview; The Windup Girl and the Map Maker's Children, also, remember The Miniaturist

I just found this in the Goodreads newsletter:


The Windup Girl

by
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel, a new edition of the break-out science fiction debut featuring additional stories and a Q&A with the author.

Anderson Lake is AgriGen’s Calorie Man, sent to work undercover as a factory manager in Thailand while combing Bangkok’s street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history’s lost calories.

Emiko is the Windup Girl, a strange and beautiful creature. Emiko is not human; she is an engineered being, grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in this chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.

What happens when calories become currency? What happens when bio-terrorism becomes a tool for corporate profits and forces mankind to the cusp of post-human evolution? Bacigalupi delivers one of the most highly-acclaimed science fiction novels of the twenty-first century.

In this brand new edition celebrating the book’s reception into the canon of celebrated modern science fiction, accompanying the text are two novelettes exploring the dystopian world of The Windup Girl, the Theodore Sturgeon Award-winning “The Calorie Man” and “Yellow Card Man.” Also included is an exclusive Q&A with the author describing his writing process, the political climate into which his debut novel was published, and the future of science fiction.
(less)
Paperback, 480 pages
 
 

The Mapmaker's Children

by Sarah McCoy (Goodreads Author)
After another miscarriage, Eden investigates a porcelain doll head she finds in her new house, a clue that links her to the incredible true story of Sarah Brown, a mapmaker for the Underground Railroad whose life is told in parallel.
More

Wednesday, May 6, 2015