Why We Collect What We Collect: Your Favorite Dolls

Hi, everyone. I thought I'd start at the beginning: why we collect what we collect. Do you focus on dolls from a particular era, a certain country or region, made from a specific material or, simply, those you loved as a child? And how did this begin for you...inheriting a beloved family heirloom, an unexpected gift from a friend, a fascination with costumes? In my case, I was an art history student (long, long ago) and my love of period portraits lead to an interest in antique bisque dolls. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Permalink Reply by C & J Vintage Treasures on February 13, 2012 at 4:35pm

SolAnge,

Please don't leave.

I think you would contribute so much to the group.

Sometimes there are misunderstandings, but in this community, I'm sure no harm was intentionally meant.

I think we all have our personal reasons for the things we collect. Some of those reasons are near and dear to our hearts.

I collect costume jewelry, especially old beads. They remind me of the jewelry and the time and places of people I love.

I was especially interested in your work of remaking doll bodies and giving the dolls "new" clothes with vintage fabrics and laces.

I am taking a jewelry class to learn how to make "new" jewelry from vintage jewelry that has fallen apart with age.

I hope I didn't upset you in any way. I'd love to read more from you.

C & J Vintage Treasures

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 13, 2012 at 7:04pm

Thank you for your heart-felt response to SolAnge. Perhaps this member will rejoin us soon.

C & J Vintage Treasures said:

SolAnge,

Please don't leave.

I think you would contribute so much to the group.

Sometimes there are misunderstandings, but in this community, I'm sure no harm was intentionally meant.

I think we all have our personal reasons for the things we collect. Some of those reasons are near and dear to our hearts.

I collect costume jewelry, especially old beads. They remind me of the jewelry and the time and places of people I love.

I was especially interested in your work of remaking doll bodies and giving the dolls "new" clothes with vintage fabrics and laces.

I am taking a jewelry class to learn how to make "new" jewelry from vintage jewelry that has fallen apart with age.

I hope I didn't upset you in any way. I'd love to read more from you.

C.

C & J Vintage Treasures

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 13, 2012 at 7:13pm

And a related thought, inspired by Gwen's post...will interest in dolls decline over the next generation? Anecdotally, I've heard many people say that their (adult) children are simply not interested in their collections. I think this goes back to the question of why we collect what we collect.

Permalink Reply by Barbara Kull on February 13, 2012 at 8:30pm

Greetings from the outback of eastern Oregon!

Thank you Debra for inviting me to this group! Already I have learned that there is a doll variety out there that I have never heard of, within the first few paragraphs of this blog. I will have to research Izannah Walker dolls! :-) Maybe I shouldn't know about these dolls, but I will inform myself and join in with the search! ;-) I have very little knowledge about dolls in actuality! This is an entirely amazing world, this world of doll collecting and appreciation of and for dolls! It amazes me how many different dolls exist! The infinite variety, the range in values, the materials, the garments, the history of how they were made, where they were made, it is all overwhelming! They are a touch to the past for me. I wish that the dolls could speak of who they once belonged to, the occasions for which they were given to the recipients, the location of the recipients and so forth! If dolls could talk! :-) The expressions of dolls fascinate me. Some dolls have serious expressions and other with the flirty eyes, or the pouting faces are attractive to me! I am especially drawn to dolls with teeth! I have met the most wonderful people who are connected to dolls! Dolls have always held an interest for me. In recent times that interest has led me to purchasing some dolls in this last year. Of course there are budget limitations, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy looking at the rare, expensive dolls that are offered for sale! Always learning things about dolls when reading descriptions, looking at photos and on occasion emailing the sellers for more information. While caring for my mom, who has cancer, looking at dolls on the Internet, became a way for me to distract myself from the sadness of my mom's suffering, after tucking her in for the night. There is a photo of my mom as a child holding a composition doll that was given to her in about 1934. It is a long story, but I decided to find a doll that looked like mom's doll, to give to her for this past Christmas. What a journey that was! Finding a destroyed composition doll, which led to a restoration by a wonderful gal, who I met through a doll purchase earlier in the year, searching for clothing, shoes, hat etc. etc. to recreate mom's doll led to more wonderful contacts, all eager to help make my mom's Christmas joyous! So many people offered to pray for mom as well! Doll people are the best! Mom was thrilled with her surprise! We continue to pray that mom has a long future. We are so grateful that we still have mom. Mom said she felt like a child all over again when she saw her Christmas doll, a touch to the past that brought her joy! That is what I love about dolls, they remind of more innocent, simpler times, where kids could be kids for much longer than they seem to be in today's world. Thanks again for the invitation to join! Barb

Permalink Reply by Gwen Martin Morris on February 13, 2012 at 9:30pm

Well thank you very much Sunday Dolls!

Who deals with Antique dolls in this forum? I have a dear friend who is in her 80's and she has a collection of antique and collectible dolls. I have been trying to help her sell them for several years but nobody is interested during these years of economic decline. She has several Patsy dolls and a collection of Patsy ornaments for the Christmas tree, just to mention a few. Is anyone interested?

Sunday Dolls said:

Hi, Gwen. What a 'rich' contribution to our discussion! Precious family gifts, interest in popular culture ("Gone with the Wind"), and childhood friends. Thank you!

Gwen Martin Morris said:

Hello and thanks for inviting me!

I was born during the Depression years <Yes, I am old!> and didn't get many dolls for Christmas or birthdays so I learned to appreciate the few dolls I received. One year, I got the most beautiful bride doll and I still have her today, even though one side of her face is damaged. When my daughters were born, I started collecting Madam Alexander dolls for them. Each of the two daughters have a complete set of the Little Women collection. My oldest daughter fell in love with anything that was Gone With The Wind, and she has several Scarlett dolls. The oldest daughter has a passion for dolls and recently I gave her Tressie doll with growing hair because she had one in the 1960's and frequently talked about it.

I will be watching the forum to see what other people have an interest in.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Gwen Morris

Treasure Corner

Permalink Reply by Gwen Martin Morris on February 13, 2012 at 9:34pm

Solange left? I too, was interested in the remaking of dolls and was going to look at some of my dolls that might fit the description. Sorry I didn't mention it before. Please come back, Solange......

Permalink Reply by Cybermogul Dolls on February 14, 2012 at 5:44am

Good Morning Gwen - I handle antique dolls on Ruby Lane as Cybermogul Dolls as does our moderator, Debra at Sunday Dolls

Permalink Reply by Cybermogul Dolls on February 14, 2012 at 5:47am

Good Morning SolAnge, please do not leave the group. I am sorry if I have said something that upset you. I really do love the Izannah Walker dolls too. I hope you will reconsider, please?

SolAnge said:

Hi Debra,

Unfortunally i must to leave this group and it's cause of the discrimination that i feel over the comments related to my comments.

Perheps my english didn't help others to undertand my reasons of collecting dolls head , but notice that it

doesn't give anyone the right to judge me, i have education.

Holy is the spirit of time and all the things that money can not buy.

Best, to you all

♥☼

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 14, 2012 at 9:28am

So glad you have joined us! The story about your Mom's doll is touching and highlights the emotional importance dolls can have...we hope she continues to do well.

I think you have expressed (much better than I could) the connection we have to these representations of human experience.

Barbara Kull said:

Greetings from the outback of eastern Oregon!

Thank you Debra for inviting me to this group! Already I have learned that there is a doll variety out there that I have never heard of, within the first few paragraphs of this blog. I will have to research Izannah Walker dolls! :-) Maybe I shouldn't know about these dolls, but I will inform myself and join in with the search! ;-) I have very little knowledge about dolls in actuality! This is an entirely amazing world, this world of doll collecting and appreciation of and for dolls! It amazes me how many different dolls exist! The infinite variety, the range in values, the materials, the garments, the history of how they were made, where they were made, it is all overwhelming! They are a touch to the past for me. I wish that the dolls could speak of who they once belonged to, the occasions for which they were given to the recipients, the location of the recipients and so forth! If dolls could talk! :-) The expressions of dolls fascinate me. Some dolls have serious expressions and other with the flirty eyes, or the pouting faces are attractive to me! I am especially drawn to dolls with teeth! I have met the most wonderful people who are connected to dolls! Dolls have always held an interest for me. In recent times that interest has led me to purchasing some dolls in this last year. Of course there are budget limitations, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy looking at the rare, expensive dolls that are offered for sale! Always learning things about dolls when reading descriptions, looking at photos and on occasion emailing the sellers for more information. While caring for my mom, who has cancer, looking at dolls on the Internet, became a way for me to distract myself from the sadness of my mom's suffering, after tucking her in for the night. There is a photo of my mom as a child holding a composition doll that was given to her in about 1934. It is a long story, but I decided to find a doll that looked like mom's doll, to give to her for this past Christmas. What a journey that was! Finding a destroyed composition doll, which led to a restoration by a wonderful gal, who I met through a doll purchase earlier in the year, searching for clothing, shoes, hat etc. etc. to recreate mom's doll led to more wonderful contacts, all eager to help make my mom's Christmas joyous! So many people offered to pray for mom as well! Doll people are the best! Mom was thrilled with her surprise! We continue to pray that mom has a long future. We are so grateful that we still have mom. Mom said she felt like a child all over again when she saw her Christmas doll, a touch to the past that brought her joy! That is what I love about dolls, they remind of more innocent, simpler times, where kids could be kids for much longer than they seem to be in today's world. Thanks again for the invitation to join! Barb

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 14, 2012 at 9:34am

So excited to report that we have 19 members after just one day! With so much interest and expertise, please use this forum to post questions you may have...a "mystery" doll, a mark you can't identify, restoring dolls (and when not to)...anything vintage and antique doll-related!

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 14, 2012 at 11:26am

Happy Valentines Day Everyone !

This is a couple of very old marionettes offered to me from friend.

She asked me if i could do someting with them even on that bad condition...

They made me laugh at the instant and i hugged them with much love.

Now they are naked, i am thinking about washing their body and repaint their face just the way they are. :)

Much love for today.

Solange

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 14, 2012 at 11:28am

I didn't go, i am here and i have a lot to share.

Thank you

Gwen Martin Morris said:

Solange left? I too, was interested in the remaking of dolls and was going to look at some of my dolls that might fit the description. Sorry I didn't mention it before. Please come back, Solange......