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

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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!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Decoration Day

Decoration Day

I recited this poem at a Memorial Day school program in sixth grade, wearing a prairie dress my mother sewed for me. I don't remember the author, or one line of the poem, but here it is for all veterans, and for my grandfather's an everyone else in my family who served, and for my students in the military:

PD image of the Star Spangled Banner



My Grandpa’s old and kind of lame,

He doses in his chair,

And when the family goes some place,

He stays and doesn’t care.

 

He’d rather stay at home,

He says,

Than dress to go uptown,

And when he knows there’s

Company come,

He’s always lying down.

 

But once a year there’s quite a change on

Decoration Day.

Then Grandpa wears his uniform and

Hurries me away,

 

[To see a big Parade] . . . .

 

The shiny cars with great folks in,

The flower girls in white,

The bands that play the national airs,

With all their wind and might,

 

And the boys that wear OD

Come through,

And straight and tall,

The wind a blowing

Through his hair,

My Grandpa Stands Through it

Thursday, May 18, 2017

5 Accessories to Complete the Vintage 1970s Look | Ruby Lane Blog

5 Accessories to Complete the Vintage 1970s Look | Ruby Lane Blog

5 Must-Have Accessories to Complete the Vintage Western Look | Ruby Lane Blog

5 Must-Have Accessories to Complete the Vintage Western Look | Ruby Lane Blog

A Gallery for Summer; Dolls, the Solstice, and me

Summer brings hope, and melancholy memories.  We are engaged in a variety of doll related projects, from programs to historical societies and work on our book on doll history and culture.  We cover the range of space toys and space law, to collectibles columns by the NY Times, fabulous finds, therapeutic doll hobbies, collecting, repairing, and more.  This month, I will be writing about art dolls in Antique Doll Collector, and my blog posts on Ruby Lane will continue to appear.  Some have my name as guest blogger, for those who count these things.



In light of family medical issues, I have to say that most days are work and running home to see what is happening.  It has been a constant diet of disaster du jour for everyone, but I see my mother in my mind's eye telling me never to give up.

I find writing to be the most helpful activity, with creating doll fairy gardens and miniature scenes next. These tell a story, and are made of many objects culled over the years that have just waited for that special moment.

For all of you, here is another link to the amazing Yamasaki Palmira Doll Collection, which may be translated into English once you reach the site. Enjoy: http://www.geocities.co.jp/PowderRoom/4336/

One quest I am on is to discover where the Whistling Bru whose owner was shot by the NAZIS as a spy is.  She appears in Helen Young's book, The Complete Book of Doll Making and Collecting, 1967.  Please write if you know, I and a colleague who works on recovering art stolen by the NAZIS would like to know. the girl allegedly too her dolls to a French convent for protection.  After she was shot, the nuns sold them, about six or seven in all, to an American doll dealer who sold all but one.  The dealer also bought hand crocheted lace created by the nuns and sewed it on the dolls costume.

So, here are a few photos.  Enjoy.  Lately, I have found a portrait doll of Rose O'Neill, many 80s, 90s miniatures, an original Strawberry Shortcake character in her box, trolls and Pee Wees in their boxes, Uneeda dolls, a black F.G. fashion with painted amber eyes, a large Handwerck, several 80s Barbies n their boxes, mint Seymour Mann dolls, many modern collectibles for less than a dollar, in box, a collection of 8 inch, handmade Victorian Doll Clothes for Alexander's little women, CPK and Faye Wine original patterns, and much more.  the 80s and 90s dolls are a find; I have had to fill in that part of my collection.  I was in school those years, and not buying many dolls. I also scored, finally, the last Hatchimal at Target!






Japanese Ceremonial Dolls, Public Domain


日本語で博士 E の人形博物館 [Dr. E's Doll Museum in Japanese}: Yamazaki Palmira Doll Collection

日本語で博士 E の人形博物館 [Dr. E's Doll Museum in Japanese}: Yamazaki Palmira Doll Collection: Follow this link for an amazing cite in Japanese that can be translated into English.  http://www.geocities.co.jp/PowderRoom/4336/

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Charlie's Angels Dolls on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

The old Johnny Carson show is sometimes a time capsule for vintage dolls and toys, especially for what was trendy during the 70s and 80s.  Tonight's episode on Antenna TV featured Chevy Chase showing Charlie's Angels dolls, as well as the Diana Ross and Farrah Fawcett 12 inch dolls, all dolls in my own collection.  It was great to see these in the original packages.  Below are some photos for you to enjoy.



Vintage Charlie's Angels Dolls, Public Domain

Diana Ross, Public Domain

Public Domain Image
Public Domain Image