Antique Doll Collector

Antique Doll Collector
In Our May 2011 Issue...

The noted researcher François Theimer has graced Antique DOLL Collector with an array of extraordinary early Huret poupées in their original costumes. Mr. Theimer and his wife Danielle, are the authors of The Huret Book. When Mademoiselle Adélaïde Calixte Huret introduced her ground-breaking creation, it was after long reflection and study of children’s playtime. The result was a doll in perfect proportion – exactly one third the height of the average six-year old girl. His article discusses the company under the leadership of Mademoiselle Huret and the innovations she brought to the doll world.

Bodil P. Meleney, daughter of Norwegian doll artist Ronnaug Petterssen, recounts her mother’s life and the dolls her mother made beginning around 1932. In 1934 Petterssen opened her atelier in Oslo, quickly winning approval and prizes for her dolls dressed in Norwegian costumes. As a little girl, Bodil spent countless hours in her mother’s shop, observing first hand the doll making process. This is an important pictorial account of these dolls, which, by the 1960s, had gained international fame and today enjoy tremendous interest from the doll community.

The National Museum of Play at the Strong, formerly known as the Strong Museum, has made significant changes since its opening in 1982. Once a quiet place for the study of Margaret’s Strong enormous collection of dolls and miniatures, in recent years, its emphasis is on interactive children’s play. On a recent visit Judith Armitstead photographed portions of the museum’s vast holdings and interviews the curator about the current goals of The Strong.

Alicia Carver shares with dolls from Simon Halbig’s early years of production, ranging from their inauguration in1869 to the early 1880’s. The company’s earliest dolls (note Simon Halbig did not make doll bodies, excepting all bisque) were made at a time when china dolls still dominated the industry. Their lady dolls show this influence with molded hair and often molded decorations. Also discussed are the factory’s early all bisque, glass eyed one piece shoulder heads, closed and open mouth socket head dolls. Their fine modeling and painting techniques made them the premiere choice of major doll companies who relied on Simon Halbig for their quality doll heads.

In honor of Mother’s Day, it is fitting to honor the person who, in many cases, inspired our love of dolls. Jennifer Craft-Hurst recalls the box stored in the attic filled with dolls from her mother’s childhood. Someday they will be yours, her mother would say. Her mother encouraged Jennifer’s collecting and they shared many shopping and auction adventures together. Sadly, after her mother’s passing, Jennifer received her mother’s dolls, reminding her of the special bond they shared.

In this issue we also bring you a look at the March Gaithersburg show, plus the exciting results of Theriault’s recent auction featuring the Billie Nelson Tyrrell collection.

Happy Collecting!

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		The noted researcher François Theimer has graced Antique DOLL Collector with an array of extraordinary early Huret poupées in their original costumes. Mr. Theimer and his wife Danielle, are the authors of The Huret Book. When Mademoiselle Adélaïde Calixte Huret introduced her ground-breaking creation, it was after long reflection and study of children’s playtime. The result was a doll in perfect proportion – exactly one third the height of the average six-year old girl. His article discusses the company under the leadership of Mademoiselle Huret and the innovations she brought to the doll world.
	Bodil P. Meleney, daughter of Norwegian doll artist Ronnaug Petterssen, recounts her mother’s life and the dolls her mother made beginning around 1932. In 1934 Petterssen opened her atelier in Oslo, quickly winning approval and prizes for her dolls dressed in Norwegian costumes. As a little girl, Bodil spent countless hours in her mother’s shop, observing first hand the doll making process. This is an important pictorial account of these dolls, which, by the 1960s, had gained international fame and today enjoy tremendous interest from the doll community.
		The National Museum of Play at the Strong, formerly known as the Strong Museum, has made significant changes since its opening in 1982. Once a quiet place for the study of Margaret’s Strong enormous collection of dolls and miniatures, in recent years, its emphasis is on interactive children’s play. On a recent visit Judith Armitstead photographed portions of the museum’s vast holdings and interviews the curator about the current goals of The Strong.
	Alicia Carver shares with dolls from Simon Halbig’s early years of production, ranging from their inauguration in1869 to the early 1880’s. The company’s earliest dolls (note Simon Halbig did not make doll bodies, excepting all bisque) were made at a time when china dolls still dominated the industry. Their lady dolls show this influence with molded hair and often molded decorations. Also discussed are the factory’s early all bisque, glass eyed one piece shoulder heads, closed and open mouth socket head dolls. Their fine modeling and painting techniques made them the premiere choice of major doll companies who relied on Simon Halbig for their quality doll heads.
		In honor of Mother’s Day, it is fitting to honor the person who, in many cases, inspired our love of dolls. Jennifer Craft-Hurst recalls the box stored in the attic filled with dolls from her mother’s childhood. Someday they will be yours, her mother would say. Her mother encouraged Jennifer’s collecting and they shared many shopping and auction adventures together. Sadly, after her mother’s passing, Jennifer received her mother’s dolls, reminding her of the special bond they shared.
	In this issue we also bring you a look at the March Gaithersburg show, plus the exciting results of Theriault’s recent auction featuring the Billie Nelson Tyrrell collection. Happy Collecting!