"Tweener" Dolls of Porcelain from the 70s and 80s; Between Waldas and Artist Reproductions

“Tweener “Dolls; All Dolls Pictured are from Dr. E's Doll Museum

 

Modern Porcelain Interpretation of  Jumeau Triste

 

We’ve all seen them languishing in thrift shops, those porcelain dolls between the Walda and the artist reproductions once so popular at 70s and 80s doll shows.

 

They don’t have the hideous, pathetic charm of Walda and her sisters, and they aren’t as pretty or well made as the reproductions that were so expensive, the divas of the doll shows about 30 years ago. 

 

You could find them in Kmart, Walmart, Tuesday Morning, T.J. Maxx, Aldi, Dollar General, Pier I, big box stores, Cracker Barrel, and even major department stores.  They could be pricey, some sold at $100 or more.  Their clothes were lavish, usually forth and lace.  A few were clowns with bright, silky clothes.   The Kmart dolls had outfits that could be purchased separately.  A few were sold undressed, so that they could inspire young fashion designers.

 

Some had poignant stories;  a young murder victim in Florida was remembered for her love of these dolls and Barbie.  Whole groups of them decorated the set of The Tonight Show Christmas Special during the 80s, and a few were given as prizes on game shows.

 

Some of these modern porcelain dolls were made by companies like Dynasty Dolls, Geppeddo, Seymour Mann, Gold Key, and Delton.  A few were made from molds of Bru bébés or A. Marque dolls.  They were colorful and fun, and many little girls had large collections of them.   They weren’t exactly reproductions, and they were assembled in Asia, usually China, of porcelain that was very fragile and broke easily.

 

A group of various dolls; top row includes a "Tweener" in white hat, and a Walda

I’ve met many collectors who dismiss these dolls that I call “tweeners.”  They seem as the weeds of the doll world.  I wrote several posts about them and Waldas for About.com and Ruby Lane, one involved dolls left as gifts in a gated San Clemente neighborhood.  Their story made Inside Edition.

 

We’re told “serious” collectors take no interest in them.  They are considered cheap, and appear for two or three dollars at thrift stores, and even less at yard sales.  Ironically, I see them for $30-$40 or more on certain online auctions.  A few were in museum exhibits in Canada during the late 80s.  There, even Waldas sold for $65 Canadian dollars in antique stores.  There are many examples on the site, Thriftyfun.com.

 

My take—well, I think they are pretty.  They have a place in doll history.  Many cross over as celebrity dolls, advertising dolls, storybook dolls, or national costume dolls.  I’ve seen some that come from France, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden.   Their clothes are often beautiful, and they have sweet expressions.  For some one on a budget, they could make a very nice collection.  A lot of them were featured in an Amason.com film, The Creepy Doll, and more appear Last of the Summer Wine, Who’s the Boss, and other TV shows.  Teri Long of Etsy’s Long Gone Dolls redesigns them as Halloween dolls or Goth dolls.  She gives them a whole new life, and they are gorgeous. One or two belong in general collections of dolls that tell the story of the 70s and 80s.  More importantly, they existed because people liked antique dolls, but could not find or afford them.  They indicated that there was an interest in old dolls, even if the supply could not fill the demand.

 

I’ve never been a doll snob, much to my detriment, I suppose, but, dolls are still everywhere.  As I type, I have an episode of vintage Will and Grace on; a Cher doll and a dolls’ tea party played a role in the episode.

 

Even weeds serve a purpose and can be beautiful. 

 

 

 

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Scenes from a Doll Exhibit: Metal Heads, Metal Dolls, Mechanical dolls and AutomatonsScenes from a Doll Exhibit: Metal Heads, Metal Dolls, Mechanical dolls and Automatons

These photos are of my own dolls from exhibits and programs done in January 2014.  Photos are by Dino Milani and Jerry Lowe.  The dolls are from my collection.  We also did a reading of doll poems and literature in February 2014.  The dolls are mechanical, metal, metal heads, or have metal parts.

Notes for my Book, and a copy of  the Book and some of my articles

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William Hertling and The Singularity Series; Could Dolls in the Sense of Robots run the World?

"Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto," Indeed!  Here is a description of Avogardo, one of William Hertling's early books of the singularity series:

Public Domain

David Ryan is the designer of ELOPe, an email language optimization program, that if successful, will make his career. But when the project is suddenly in danger of being canceled, David embeds a hidden directive in the software accidentally creating a runaway artificial intelligence.

David and his team are initially thrilled when the project is allocated extra servers and programmers. But excitement turns to fear as the team realizes that they are being manipulated by an A.I. who is redirecting corporate funds, reassigning personnel and arming itself in pursuit of its own agenda.

"A fictional world where Portland is the hub for the most exciting advancements in technology... Jam packed with great references to deep Portland culture...and Portlandia-type references"
--SILICON FLORIST (Amazon.com, 2018).

Public Domain [Note, he authored Rosemary's Baby, too]

This blogger heard Hertling talk about his books, and how he believes there is a very real possibility robots, though computers, and computers themselves, can be programmed to imitate humans so well, that we won't know to whom we are speaking.  This is the basic plot of the novel Dark Net, and of films like Matrix, and Automaton, and the plot of the Dr.  Who adventures with David Tennant featuring the clockwork figures.  It is the world of The Stepford Wives, of Westworld, and of Star Trek's The Borg.   These works of art are just the tip of the iceberg.

Sophia Automaton, Public Domain

These objects are part figure/part machine, or they share human characteristics, like capability of thought.   Machines like The Chess Player, proved to be a fake, have been suspected of no good behavior form the first.

1818 Ad for The Chess Player, 200 years ago!  Public Domain.  Maelzel
invented both the metronome and the mamma doll. he had dealings with P.T. Barnum as well.

The Chess Player, Reconstruction  Public Domain

In my book on metal dolls and mechanical figures, With Love from Tin Lizzie . . .  I've noted that early automatons were often destroyed, or their owners were forced to answer to The Holy Inquisition.  Mary Shelley saw an exhibit of them before Frankenstein, and workers feared they would lose their jobs to machines even before Kurt Vonnegut wrote Player Piano.

We've discussed The Uncanny Valley and the role of robotics and dolls that "come to life" before in this and other blogs.  No where is the concept of robotics/computers  used to replace human labor truer than it is today.  Computers take on a life of their own in all kinds of media, including Lost in Space,  Tracy and Hepburn's Desk Set, Rose of The Jetsons,  Computer on Star Trek and Red Dwarf,  Don't forget I, Robot.

"The Girl in the Fireplace", Dr. Who, Public Domain

When will we have androids that can bread like humans, a Data, or Rhoda of TV fame, that are real.  Pinocchios  of all kinds of materials and circuits that can create , what?  Bionics and computer chips are already sued in medicine, and they were foretold by The Bionic Woman and Six Million Dollar Man.  Children could be created not just in test tube, but as robot tots as in Small Wonder.

Small Wonder, Public Domain

What of the Japanese robots so real we can't tell what is human and what is not in photos, and of Sofia, the automaton now a citizen of Saudi Arabia?

Public Domain

You can probably tell I'm ambivalent about the whole idea; Wall-e,  The Tin Man, and other characters have made us love robots, but do we want them deciding anything for us?  On the other hand, laugh at us doll, toy, automaton collectors, will you?!! Not Any more!!

The Tin Man or Woodman from Oz, Public Domain Image

Some of Plath's Paper Dolls, Public Domain

Perhaps these cousins of dolls, albeit distant, could take over the world.  To paraphrase my favorite poet, Sylvia Plath, (who had quite a paper doll collection herself, now in the Lilly Library), their foot's in the door.

Sylvia Plath, Public Domain

French Fashion Dolls with Stanhope Jewel Necklaces by Rochard of Paris | Stanhope MicroWorks

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An Apologia for Countess Erzebet Bathory: 2017 Lights On Tour at Terror at Skellington Manor...

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Snow People Gallery

I think right now snow people are the only positive thing I can connect with winter. It is -19 degrees in the mornings when I go out.  It warms up to -3, if we're lucky.  No pun intended, but not cool!  In fact, it's downright frigid!  I never could handle winter or cold.  I like sunny, cold days, but within reason.  Mainly, I just like the sun.  So, to cheer us all up, on this the 7th Day of Christmas and New Years Day, I offer a gallery of snowmen and women, public domain images or my pics, unless otherwise noted.  Enjoy!

Public Domain Image. Frozen Charlotte Living Dead Doll

Snow Babies, Courtesy Theriault's