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!

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Valentine's Day for Doll Lovers


To me, this day is about friendship and devotion.  The story of St. Valentine is that he was a devoted teacher, imprisoned for being a Christian and other contemporary offenses.  His gaoler's little girl was blind.  There was not braille, no talking books.  Valentine taught her the best he could.  The night before he was martyred, he wrote her a letter, signing it, "Your Valentine."  After he died, a miracle took place, and the little girl could see again.  So, gift giving, friendship, and miracles, are the real theme of the day.  What will you give to your doll collecting friends!

Tiny Valentine Doll with assorted miniatures, books, doll related objects.


Collectors are special gift recipients; it is easy but hard to find gifts for them.  What if we buy them what they already have?  What if it isn’t good enough?  Valentines Day is full of possibilities for buying doll collectors presents. 


  1. Stuffed animals in red and pink; these were staples when I was growing up.  I love especially the red monkeys and pink poodles.  Some, like Snoopy, come on candy boxes. WebKinz and Beanie Babies have special characters for Valentines Day.  I find they are still popular as small gifts.
  2. Antique valentines featuring children and cupids: The antique shows start up again in February, and that means sales of vintage and antique valentines.  Price ranges I’ve noted range from $.25 to over $100.00 for the elaborate honeycomb style.  Modern boxes of Barbie, Care Bears, Monster High, Bratz, Strawberry Shortcake, and other doll themed valentines are for sale nearly everywhere.
  3. Cupid and Angel figures.  Just as I display snowmen for January, I  display angels, cherubs, and cupids for February.  Vintage mechanical cupids that move and play music might be in antique malls, along with Enesco cupids mounted on red heart boxes.  Doll Charms and jewelry made with vintage doll parts is popular online, at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and in local boutiques.  Angel figures are popular everywhere, and there may be fantastic deals on angels leftover from Xmas.  Jewelry is also popular with these motifs, as are framed prints, paintings, books, soaps, fingertip towels, and pillows. If you are near Beloit, WI, visit The Angel Museum, and shop the local antique malls.
  4. Buy someone a subscription to a magazine.  Doll Castle News is my favorite.  Another I like is Antique Week. Somerset Studios includes free vintage papers and features handmade art dolls, as does its sister publication, The Art Doll Quarterly. Etsy and eBay often sell vintage copies of Kimport’s Doll News, National Doll World, and Doll Designs.  My friend, late collector and author Mary Hillier, wrote articles on old valentines. All her books and articles about dolls are searchable on The Internet.  Try Amazon, Powell’s Books, Alibris, and Barnes and Noble online.
  5. Crafty folk will find valentine fabric for sale.  Create doll fashions, doll pillows, or valentine dolls.  Or, just buy a few yards for someone to drape in an exhibit or fold into table runners and cloths.
  6. Vintage or new candy boxes often sport dolls on top of them.  I used to love getting candy Kewpie dolls, complete with wings.  These can be preserved with a coat or two of clear nail polish.  You can also pint them with acrylics.
  7. Hankie couture is popular with doll collectors.  Hankies are perfect for dressing small dolls.  Buy some new or vintage hankies as a gift; look for those embroidered in hearts.
  8. Order some stands, doll supplies, wigs, shoes, socks, for collectors refurbishing their dolls.
  9. Is there a museum exhibit featuring dolls in your area?  Take a collector friend and yourself.  Have lunch and make it a day.
  10. Make your own valentine candy box.  Buy a box of your friends’ favorite candy; top it with a DVD about dolls, a Beanie, PVC character figure, small bisque or celluloid doll, and tie it all together with a red satin ribbon.
Vintage Valentine, Public Domain

Valentine Display, Bears and 20th c. Porcelain, PD

A.T. with Puppies.  Courtesy, Theriault's


 

Happy Valentines Day!!

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