Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: In Honor of Mary Hillier

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: In Honor of Mary Hillier: The birthday of my friend and noted doll author and historian Mary Palmer Hillier was April 30th. Mary died in 1999, on Valentine's Day at ...

From Laura Starr; Black Dolls as signs for Pawnshops

In Chapter XVII, Starr writes of a shop in London, "A Dolly Shop," which sells, nto dolls, but an unlicensed "apwnshop where old clothes form the principal stock in trade . .. A black doll is always used and some writers contend that this is an image of the black virgins that are common in Catholic countries. " Starr goes on to describe the origins of this type of doll, "In NOrton Falgate . . there was a shop for the sale of toys and rags. One day an old woman brought a large bundle of rags to sell. Shea sekd the proprietor not to open it until she should return and see it weighed As the woman did not return, the budle was opened . . to the ragman's surprise he found ablack doll enatly dressed, wearing a pair of gold earrings. HE hung it over his door that the woman might see it and ocme to claim her porperty" (Starr 176). The woman saw the doll and returned; she settled with the shop owner, but left him the doll to use as a sign. Another legend Starr writes about is that the black doll came about because old clothes were traded to African peoples and tribes. I've seen dolls used as signs in old thrift shops, and in front of a radiator repair shop once. In Carmel, a wooden doll carved as a flapper was used as a sign, and had to be taken down because of an oridnance. The owner then put a $20,000 price tag on the doll; this way, she could use her log. Nuts, if you ask me.

Not Chronological, but Great Lit often is not! Some images of Favorite Black dolls

Perkins booko nt he subject is excellent, as is Laura Starr's. I also bought a book on African Myth that is illustrated by art, including statues and dolls. Max von Boehn and Carl Fox have fantastic examples, as does Loretta Holz in The How to Book of International Dolls. Janet Pagter Johl also has great examples. And, there are Pam and Polly Judd's books. There is a great museum of BLack Dolls in Philly, and a Holiday Festival of Black dolls which used to be sponsored by the Rev. C. Laverne Williams, a lovely lady and gracious hostess. Floyd Bell, Carry Lisle, Shindana Toys, so many other gifted artists create them, too. Finally, the former Me Dolls site had amazing images of all kinds of dolls of color and ehnicity. O. Winfrey supposedly had a big collection, and the late Patrick Kelly, designer, had over 6000. His logo was a tiny black celluloid baby doll, sometimes made into a pin. Bette Davis loved him. Enjoy!

Figures of the MIddle Ages with Wardrobes from The Doll Book

Starr writes of statutes and figures from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance that were bequeathed jewelry and outfits as part of their adoration. For example, she writes that in 1509, Beatrice Krikemer left her best beads to a Madonna statute in St. Stephens, Norwich, England. Later, Alice Carre bequeathed the statue coral beads, and King Henry II left it an emerald and a ruby.

Above is a photo of Our Lady of Walsingham as she is today. Starr continues with Catherine Hastings, who in 1506 left several items of clothing to a whole series of Madonnas as follows: "to our Lady of Walsingham, my velvet gown; of Doncaster, my tawny camlet gown; of Belcross, my black camlet, and to our Lady of Himmingburgh a piece of cremell and a lace of gold of Venus set with pearl" These are lucky doll figures indeed; they are also historically valuable records of fashion and customs of their day; like fashion dolls, they were adorned with contemporary outfits, not religious garb, though creche figures of the day were dressed in elaborate clothes created by artists and seamstresses.

Copper replicas of medieval gingerbread

Molds

Mannekin Pis of Brussels

On this St. George's Day, the anniversary of the death's of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Joyce, I would like to write about Mannekin Pis of Brussels, or the "famous mannikin of Brussels, Belgium" as Laura Starr calls him in her excellent The Doll Book (1908). Starr writes that the mannikin was created by a sculptor named Duquesnoy to honor the victory of Ransbeck. When star was writing the little statute was nearly 300 years old, and even then, he had a wardrobe. As happens with other statues and talismans, the mannikin has been carried off and has traveled. Gnomes have nothing over him. The English took him to Britian after the Battle of Fonteony, according to Starr, but the people of Belgium took him back. The French also stole him, but they, too brought him back. There is a story from 1817 associated with him as well. A convict took him and Bruseels went into mourning for their most famous and cherished citizen. It was found and recovered, however, and the thief had to go to the pillory. According to Starr, an iron railing has been placed around the little boy ever since. Starr delicately neglects to tell us that the statue of the little boy is, of course, relieving himself, hence his name. Many honors have been conferred on him as well, including one by Archduke Maximilian whom star writes actually gave him expensive clothing and a servant! Starr goes on to say tat "Louis XV made him a knight of his order, and, later on, Joseph II, of Austria, conferred on him the same honor. In 1908, Mannekin Pis was dressed in the robes of the Louis XV order, and similar outfits exist today. Rick Steves featured the statute on one of his TV shows, as well as the museum that houses his many outfits, one of which is shown here. The little boy is a cultural icon the world over, and he is reproduced in miniature as keychains, chocolate pops, lawn ornaments, jewelry, etc. My father-in-law has a fountain of him, and I have a tiny metal corkscrew, one of my more unusal portrait "dolls" done in metal, this time bronze.

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: McKim Studios and Kimport Dolls

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: McKim Studios and Kimport Dolls: Below is a biograpy of Ruby Short McKim, which I am posting after meeting her wonderful granddaughter Merrily. I saw a program given by Me...

Top Ten

Those who know Theriault’s, know that we don’t collect dolls. Not that we don’t love them, for how else could we be so deeply involved every single day in the world of dolls. But because we believe it would be a conflict of interest in serving our selling and buying clientele.

But – one can still imagine, one can still dream. And, so, here then are my top ten (okay, eleven, I couldn’t cut it down any further) picks from De Kleine Wereld Museum of Dolls and Dollhouses, coming up for auction this Sunday, April 1st at the Westin Market Street in San Francisco. “If I collected” these wonderful things would come to live in my home, or at least I’d make a try to win them.

They’re not in any particular order of favorites, and not necessarily the most expensive or the rarest, just some wonderful things that “spoke to me”.



Catalog #1. The Early Parfumerie. So dainty in size and so luminous in its presentation. The stair-step displays, the gilt-paper framed mirrors on the unusually-angled back, the rich cobalt blue all enhance the miniature perfume bottles and toiletries.

Catalog #16. The Chinese Tea Shop. It was love at first sight for me, and then I looked further and it got even better. Every niche and cranny of the shop is filled with rare tea tin canisters (there are 26!). The lacquered wall, floor and cabinet finish enhances the rich colors as do the brass-framed display windows. You could study this shop for hours and still see different and wonderful things.

Catalog #28. The Shoe Store. Every one of those little boxes has a pair of shoes, and that’s not to mention the extra shoes on display. The oval counter is very rare, and I really love the luxury green velvet chairs and the impossibly-rare slanted foot stools for trying on shoes. What a treasure!

Catalog #55. “Les Modes Parisienne” Millinery Shop by Christian Hacker. It’s difficult to say what I love most about this shop. Is it the wonderful original paint and stenciled decorations, the display window curtains that open and close (visible from the “street front”), the fact that it has original display legs, or is it the mystery of the store sign “Les Modes Parisienne, rue Bergere 20, Paris” which was the address of one of the most prominent Parisian fashion journals of the mid-19th century. Was this store commissioned by them as a promotional object? A beautiful store, a great rarity, a wonderful mystery.
Catalog #65. Well-Laden German Wooden Kitchen Cabinet. Designed for a child, yet perfect for doll display, the cabinet is abundantly laden with kitchenware and supplies, beginning with a large claw-foot tin stove and including numerous blue and white porcelain cooking supplies and dishes such as pie-crimper, sieves, ladle and rolling pin, a rare lithographed tin grocery list and much much more. An extraordinary child play object that I have never seen before.
Catalog #86. Beautiful and Rare Petite French Poupee with Sculpted Hair, with Two Early Chairs. From the kitchen to an elegant salon, I will admit that my tastes vary greatly. This dainty petite French bisque poupee in original lace gown over rose twill under-gown is offered along with her two early brass-framed chairs with original silk embroidered upholstery. I have a sense of tranquility just looking at these.
Catalog #88. Very Rare Late-19th Century Miniature Art Nouveau Jardiniere. The second I spotted the jardinière – just 8” tall – in the museum, I fell in love. Classically Art Nouveau, and of luxury-quality workmanship, it is doll room accessory, par excellence. Again, I have never seen another.
Catalog #123. French All-Bisque Mignonette with Painted Brown Boots in Wicker Egg Presentation. If you are the lucky winner of this all-bisque mignonette with rare brown ankle boots, original wig and antique silk costume, you can decide to let her live in her wicker egg presentation basket – or come out to play with your other mignonettes. Whichever you decide, she will be the star of your little ones.
Catalog #210. Fine Early Wooden Sleigh of Northern Netherlands with Oil-Painted Scenes. The coachman stood at the back platform with studded brass foot plates and blue velvet cushion, while a precious child (undoubtedly a princess) rode within. A carved wooden lion led the sleigh, and painted scenes decorated each side. The sleigh is only 13”l. and a superbly-crafted toy, indeed fit for the play of a real princess as it may well have been.
Catalog #315. Very Fine French Wooden Doll Bed with Silk Curtains. Look closely at the bed, made of finest walnut with well-chosen grains, and decorated with a bronze garland at the foot. The bed is fitted with soft emerald green silk covers and canopy curtains, edged with pale mauve velvet bands. I imagine a French bisque poupee or early wooden or china doll posed alongside.
Catalog #332. 19th Century Doll's Recamier with Original Tufted Upholstery. I call this a Recamier in honor of its French heritage. But you can name it a fainting couch, if you prefer. Its elegant lines are emphasized by the depth of the tufting on the original royal purple silk upholstery, faded just enough to inspire sentiment. Braided cording adds detail, and “if I collected”, the Recamier would have a place of honor with one of my favorite dolls.

Have you chosen your favorites? Even if you’re not planning to bid, it’s always wise to dream. Take some time, click here and browse through the De Kleine Wereld auction catalog. I’d love to hear about your favorites. You can email me at florence@theriaults.com and share your thoughts.