Samy Odin lecturer and author of numerous books on dolls joins host Louisa Maxwell to share the story of the magazine La Poupée Modèle. The magazine charts the golden age of 19th century French dolls. Each issue of La Poupée Modèle is a treasure trove of childhood history, a special moment in a child’s life full of magic and imagination.
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The Spice Girls
Celebrity dolls you really, really want!
The Spice girls bounded on to the music scene with their hit “Wannabe” and their catch phrase ZigaZigAhhhh! They took over TV and music channels, and had multiple worldwide number one singles as well as a movie.
The Spice girls had their likeness cast in a series of dolls that charted their costume and career history. Adam has over 500 dolls in his collection and has assembled an archive of costumes and prototypes documenting the band. Adam has interviewed many of the artists and designers that contributed to the dolls and hopes to produce and book or documentary about them.
Adam and podcast host Louisa Maxwell share their mutual admiration for the band and the dolls that any celebrity doll collector will really, really want.
The Strong Museum Toy Hall of Fame!
Learn More: Designing Barbie with Bradley Justice Yarbrough and host Louisa Maxwell
Surresh
Barbie, Deboxing & Fashion Forward Dolls with host Louisa Maxwell
Samy Odin
joins host Louisa Maxwell to discuss the history of Bleuette and La Semaine de Suzette. Samy Odin is a lecturer and author of numerous books on dolls and was the director of the Musée de la Poupée Paris for 25 years. Now, Samy shares his expertise and passion for Antique dolls through Chérubins in Paris.
Bleuette and her brother Bambino with La Semaine de Suzette.
Image Courtesy of Bradley Justice Yarborough.
The original idea for Barbie came from Ruth Handler who headed Mattel toys at the time with her husband Eliott. The team that brought Ruth Handler’s vision to life included Fashion designer Charlotte Johnson, who designed Barbie’s original wardrobe. A more unusual member of this team was engineer Jack Ryan - whose back round included inventing missiles for the the military.
Engineer and innovative designer Jack Ryan in front of his castle.
Designer Charlotte Johnson. Image Courtesy of Bradley Justice Yarbrough
The First TV commercial featured the result of all the design teams hard work and creativity resulting in Barbie doll and her detailed range of costumes.
Bradley discusses the number one Barbie doll with Rachel Hoffman of the Virtual Doll Convention.
This years hottest fashion doll drop is sure to be Ellowyne Wilde!
Robert Tonner’s Ellowyne Wilde.
Photos: Robert Tonner and Dolldom Photography
Dolls, Centuries of Style
with Bruce A. deArmond
Throughout history, dolls have told the story of fashion. As early as the fourteenth century the courts of Europe showcased the latest fashion trends using dolls called Pandoras. In the nineteenth century elaborate fashion dolls taught girls about fashion and society. After the ravages of World War Two, Paris couturiers, used dolls in the fashion exhibition Théâtre de la Mode, spreading the word that Paris Haute Couture was back in business. Now, during the pandemic dolls have once more taken to the catwalk for Dior and Moschino with miniature, detailed versions of their couture collections.
Bruce A. deArmond: The Barry Museum Exhibition, Karen LaMonte: Théâtre de la Mode | VIP Virtual opening
After the ravages of World War Two, Paris couturiers, used dolls in the fashion exhibition Théâtre de la Mode, spreading the word that Paris Haute Couture was back in business.
Dolls have once more taken to the catwalk for Dior with miniature, detailed versions of their couture collections.
Robert Tonner
Model Behaviour the first digital model fashion doll!
Designer Rober Tonner
Olivia Chase
The basic doll is Olivia Chase who can transform her look with different shoulder length wigs in blonde brunette and auburn.
Mixed Media Moire
Mixed Media Moire is a dressed doll limited to an edition of 250. Moire is ready for the club in a black and silver dress. Dramatic make up and flame red hair tcreate an unforgettable look. The Mixed Media Fashion is also sold separately .
Moire
Star Gazing is an elegant evening look for Moire. Her auburn hair is swept up in a sophisticated updo and she wears a shimmering a blue gown. Limited to an edition of 250 dressed dolls.
The Star Gazing Fashion is also sold separately .
Romantic Notion Moire
Limited to an edition of 250 dressed dolls. Moire is a vision in white tulle, trimmed with pearls. Her long blonde hair adds to the air of ethereal romance.
The Romantic Notion Fashion is also sold separately.
The Fix
Robert Tonner
Robert Tonner reveals the story behind his new Model Behaviour Fashion Dolls Moire and her alter ego Olivia Chase.
Robert Tonner will be at Wonderland Of Play
JUNE 4, 2022 - BRUGGE, BELGIUM
In 2020 British company Kid Kreations, launched a range of six Sindy Dolls for Collectors. The dolls are based on 1980’s Sindy with the orginal Pedigree face sculpt and a new posable body. Each doll wears a fashion reminiscent of Vintage Sindy looks - like Weekenders. The dolls are limited to editions of 1,963, the year Sindy was launched.
Now in 2021 Sindy has returned to the British High Street with a new range of dolls suitable for Sindy collectors of all ages. The Sindy Play Range includes six dolls each with their own themed playset; a fashion boutique, a bakery, a hair salon, a pet parlour, a ballet studio and a riding stable. Each doll comes in a box that can be transformed, with some paper crafting, into a set for the doll we still love to dress and collect.
In Great Britain Sindy is available now at Sainsbury’s and Argos stores. At the present time Sindy is not available internationally - for now, those of us who live outside the UK will have to rely on British friends to help us add the new Sindy to our collections. Kid Kreations are working hard to bring the new Sindy Play Range to international fans. Collector Sindy is available from: The Sindy Collectors Club
In the UK Sindy is priced at:
Fashion Blogger - £20
Sweet Treats - £20
Salon Stylist - £20
Ballet Studio - £25
Pet Parlour - £25
Riding Club - £35
To find our more about Sindy:
Facebook: @sindyplayofficial
Instagram: sindyplayofficial
Website: www.sindyplay.co.uk
Learn more about Rachel’s work at :Rachel Godfroy
Crafting with Sindy
Film star and doll collector Jane Withers with Stuart Holbrook President of Theriault’s . Image courtesy of Theriault’s
A hot topic this year has been the discussion of the doll, not just as a historic object but as a piece of art in its own right. Stuart Holbrook and host Louisa Maxwell discuss landmark doll collections with unique pieces of such quality that they cross the line from antique to fine art. Stuart explores the Barry Art Museum with it's world class collection of art at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia, in the USA. The Barry Museum’s doll collection spans three centuries of fashion and society. The dolls are shown alongside great works of art challenging the viewer to see the doll in terms of art and the society that created them.
For more details about the Barry Museum:
Collection:https://barryart.emuseum.com/groups/dolls/results
Visit the blog of Bruce A. deArmond : http://www.dolledition.com/about
Historical Dolls and Automatons in the Barry Art Museum Collection
We lost a remarkable collector recently, Hollywood Star Jane Withers. She was one of the most famous child stars of the late 1930’s and starred in many movies with Shirley Temple. Jane always played the naughty to Shirley’s nice. Jane Withers amassed a legendary doll collection she even had gifts given personally to her by Eleanor Roosevelt. Stuart shares his memories of Jane Withers and tells some insider tales about her movies and friendship with Shirley Temple.
SHIRLEY TEMPLE'S LEGENDARY ITALIAN FELT SALON DOLL KNOWN AS "PINKIE" BY LENCI Pinkie Featured in the film Bright Eyes, starring Jane Withers and Shirley Temple. Image courtesy of Theriault’s.
Stuart also predicts that the work of today's doll artists will soon be the much sought after collector prizes of tomorrow. Stuart discusses market trends and the rising interest among collectors in artist dolls. To learn more about these artists and see their work go to the website of The National Institute of American Doll Artists : https://www.niada.org
TWO GERMAN CLOTH MINIATURE DOLLS "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" BY BAPS. Germany BAPS, late 1940s.image courtesy of https://www.theriaults.com
The Doll Podcast host Louisa Maxwell with guest Stuart Holbrook.
Louisa Maxwell and Stuart Holbrook enjoying Café society in Vienna Austria.
Stuart Holbrook, president of Theriault’s Auction house, has made a welcome return to Vienna, Austria. A year ago Stuart joined Host Louisa Maxwell for the first Doll Podcast and here they are, one year on, enjoying coffee and delicious Viennese cake while talking about one of their favourite topics, dolls.
Stuart has a years worth of adventures to cover, so this episode comes in two parts: Part One Thursday October 14th and Part Two out a week later so be sure to subscribe at Apple Podcasts, I heart Radio or where ever you find you podcasts to get the whole story.
Stuart is well known for travelling the world in pursuit of rare antique dolls and childhood playthings. During 2020 Covid clipped his wings but, as soon as it was safe, he took to the road in the USA to meet doll lovers and unearth treasures. One of the most remarkable discoveries was an English wooden doll and her trousseau dating from the eighteenth century. She achieved a record price of almost $300,000 at Theriault’s in May 2021.
In Part One of our conversation - Stuart fills us in on collector trends and how the demand for dolls rose to new highs in 2020. Covid kept collectors at home but, in these uncertain times, we are reassured by the fact that collectors around the world can meet a through online events, auctions, social media and of course - The Doll Podcast - to share our love of dolls, their place in history and of course our hearts.
The Value of Dolls
Join Billye Harris and host Louisa Maxwell on The Doll Podcast
Billye Harris is an appraiser for popular TV series The Antique’s Roadshow on PBS . Billye has had a rich and varied career in the world of dolls and has sought to educate and entertain about the study of dolls and their place in art, craft and social history.
Billye joins The Doll Podcast’s Host Louisa Maxwell to discuss her career in antiques and some of her favourite dolls, she also shares her admiration for the United Federation of Doll Clubs - or UFDC for short. The UFDC is an international organisation that promotes research, education, conservation and the appreciation of dolls. Billye is an active member of the UFDC serving on the Collections Oversight Committee at their renowned doll museum in Kansas City. Her contribution to dolls was recognised when Billye Harris was awarded the UFDC’s Ralph Griffith Award of Excellence for her work promoting dolls.
Billye Harris and the PBS Antiques Roadshow Team. Image courtesy of Billye Harris.
Billye Harris actively promotes the love of dolls through UFDC events and conventions. Here she shares some doll memories with: Sammy Odin, Bradley Justice Yarbrough and a doll friends reunion with : Valerie Fogel, Marshall Martin, Craig Rosborough and Pat Blyth. Images courtesy of Billye Harris.
Billye shares her love for cloth dolls on this episode of the doll podcast. The rare Maggie Bessie cloth dolls were made in the USA by sisters Maggie and Bessie in Billye’s home state of North Carolina. Images courtesy of Billye Harris.
Billye Harris appraiser on PBS's Antiques Roadshow.
THE DOLL PODCAST
The Doll Podcast brings you the latest news, views and interviews from the world of Dolls. Join us as we get up close and personal with doll experts, designers, creators, and collectors celebrating antique and modern Dolls
The Doll Podcast is presented by Photo Journalist Louisa Maxwell who is fascinated by dolls and their wardrobes as they chart social history in miniature. She has written for Doll Magazine and and presented features on vintage fashion and toys for the Britain’s BBC TV and Radio, ITV and Chanel Four Television.
"I first became fascinated by dolls as a child when my mother gave me her favourite childhood companion a bisque doll. This has been the foundation for my quest to find out more about these dolls and the lives of the children that played with them. During my own childhood I was fascinated by Sindy and Barbie with their fabulous homes and wardrobes. These dolls charted not only fashion history but my own history and this nostalgia continues to fascinate collectors as many wish to find that toy that brings back the magic of child hood."
The Grovian Doll Museum
Michael Canadas
in conversation with
Host Louisa Maxwell
Doll Museums are becoming more of a rarity but the Grovian Doll Museum has taken an innovative stance to make their collection a success. Museum director's Michael Canadas and David Robinson curate rare dolls, doll’s fashions, furnishings and accessories. They also organise lectures and workshops in the museum and online making their collection accessible to all. The museum is part of the Carmel Doll Shop established by Michael and David in 1989, in Carmel, California. They attract collectors from around the world who seek fine dolls, dollhouses and toys.
Michael and David also share their expertise through presentations for the United Federation of Doll Clubs at events and conventions. The Grovian Doll Museum is an opportunity for them to to help educate and entertain the doll collecting public and raise funds various charitable organisations.
In 1864 Miss Rose Percy started her career as a charity fundraiser during the American Civil War raising funds for wounded soldiers. Her stunning wardrobe included jewels from Tiffany’s and an extensive wardrobe of embroidered finery. Today she continues her charity work with the patronage of the Grovian Doll Museum.
Museum directors Michael Canadas and David Robinson
Michael Canadas of the Grovian Doll Museum.
Brook Ashley
author of the biography Dare Wright and The Lonely Doll
Dare Wright photographed and wrote the best selling series of The Lonely Doll Books. They tell the story of Edith, a doll that wants to find friends and when two bears enter her life, love and acceptance come too. Dare’s haunting and beautiful black and white images not only convey Edith’s adventures but also the moments of loneliness refecting the fears and isolation many of us face in childhood. Perhaps it is this honesty that has made the books so enduring.
Dare Wright’s goddaughter, actor and writer Brook Ashley featured in several of Dare’s books and has now written a biography of Dare Wright. Her book is a unique and intimate portrait with more than four hundred of Dare’s own photographs, self portraits, family snaps and stills from her books. The book reveals the story behind the enigmatic images that have cast a spell over generations of children and adults.
Photographer Dare Wright.
Brook Ashley
Dare Wright’s Goddaughter.
Brook and Edith
Photograph By Dare Wright
Dare Wright’s mother, Edith Stevenson Wright (Edie), was one of the 20th century’s most accomplished American portrait artists.
Dare photographing her Madame Pompadour Lenci Doll for Lona, A Fairy Tale.
Dare and her brother Blaine.
Edith and Little Bear. Photography by Dare Wright.
Since their launch in 1991 Robert Tonner’s dolls have captured the imagination of collectors worldwide. His dolls have won numerous awards and have the distinction of being exhibited in the Museum of Decorative Arts at the Louvre in Paris.
Robert Tonner is about to launch a new edition of a firm favourite, Ellowyne Wilde with an all new sculpt and range of costumes. Ellowyne will be launched in March 2021 and we can’t wait to hear all the exciting details.
Petal Pusher 16" Dressed doll with rooted saran hair.
LIMITED TO 200 DOLLS | PRICE $250.00 | Available to registered participants of the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention
Robert Tonner creates magical worlds with his dolls and tells stories of haute couture, literature, action and adventure. Not only has he created chic fashion dolls but realised meticulous sculpts of Hollywood film heroes: Scarlett O’Hara, Harry Potter, Superman, Spiderman, Laura Croft and many more iconic characters.
He brings a fresh perspective to doll making breaking down barriers with the first transgender doll Jazz Jennings. He celebrates style at any age with his doll of super model Carmen Dell'Orefice, still strutting the catwalks in her 80’s. He created Emme the first plus size fashion doll reflecting contemporary discussions about our perception of beauty and whether size matters?
To Robert Tonner doll making is just like fashion design - he recognises the need for dolls to be setting trends rather than following them.
TAKING SHAPE
16" Dressed doll with rooted saran hair
LIMITED TO 150 DOLLS | PRICE $235.00 | Available to registered participants of the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention
TURNING HEADS OUTFIT
LIMITED TO 125 OUTFITS | PRICE $125.00 | Available to registered participants of the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention
FACE TIME OUTFIT
Face Time Outfit
LIMITED TO 125 OUTFITS | PRICE $125.00 | Available to registered participants of the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention
The new Ellowyne Wilde Doll is available to registered participants of the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention.
will be giving a Sewing Class and FREE Pattern at the Shoot for the Stars Virtual Doll Convention. You can learn more about her patterns:
Robert Tonner will be returning to The Doll Podcast later in the year to reveal his new dolls for ‘Sideshow”
Samy Odin served as the director of the Musée de la Poupée-Paris for twenty five years, during that time he was fortunate enough to curate exhibitions with some of the world’s most beautiful and precious dolls .
Samy is an author of numerous books on dolls and shares his expertise lecturing at conventions and exhibitions. He also host’s doll tours of Europe, with exclusive access to collections not normally available to the public. Now with his new venture Chérubins Samy not only explores the world of dolls but of artefacts representing the lives of children through history.
Samy joins us on The Doll Podcast from Paris to discuss the beautiful and chic French Fashion dolls and tell us about his life and work.
Podcast Link: https://thedollpodcast.buzzsprout.com
Above: Violette and her extensive wardrobe and accessories.
Above : Lilas a Rohmer doll from the Napoleon III Era .
Above: A Bru Fashion Doll with a wooden body and a fabulous trousseau by the Haute Couture designers Maison Worth.
Samy is the author of numerous books including the Bilingual book "Brimborions" accessories and other trinkets for fashion dolls. A Chérubins edition.
It is the first in a collection of books "Les Friandises". The book pays tribute to the miniature world and the trinkets of times past that thrill so many doll collectors today. The treasures are based on the private collection of Marie-Claude Wagner.
To find out more about Chérubins, Samy’ Odin’s books, and doll tours:
https://www.facebook.com/cherubinsparis
