Antique DOLL Collector February 2012 Vol. 15, No. 1
February 2012 Vol. 15, No. 1 $595 / $695 Canada www.antiquedollcollector.com
A group shot of the family Jumeau shows the range of faces and sizes of the bebes produced by the firm.
A Jumeau Journey by Janet Gula
F
or many collectors of French bebes, their first introduction to that world was through the dolls of the firm of Jumeau. The first Jumeau purchased by beginning collectors is often the Tete Jumeau, a later doll created by the firm and fairly easy to find. There is something about the faces of the dolls created by Jumeau that attract the collector of today in the same way that they drew the attention of the young girls (and their mothers) who purchased them when they were brand new. Jumeau produced hundreds of thousands of dolls in their history so availability also makes them attractive to the novice fan and depending on the rarity of a specific model they are also available in a variety of price points as well.
18
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
An early Premiere Bebe bears a great resemblance to the brown eyed poupee. The eyecuts are large but slightly uneven giving a more naïve expression to the doll.
A portrait Jumeau poupee shows the quality of modeling and painting that marked the dolls of Jumeau throughout their long history.
The face of this late poupee was used on the early premiere bebes produced by Jumeau. The bisque head is mounted on a leather body. This example boasts an all original ensemble.
T
here has been a lot of research done on the Jumeau firm and there are several excellent and thorough publications available for the novice collector to learn about the history of the company and the dolls produced by them. The firm was founded by Pierre Francois Jumeau in 1844 and ended in name in 1899 when it joined a society of French doll manufacturers who were trying to survive the influx of German produced dolls. Jumeau produced dolls in what has been called “the golden age of doll making”, in the years between 1860 and the 1890’s. While not the first to produce dolls resembling young children, Jumeau was certainly the most successful at marketing this new type of doll when it appeared on the
Two Portrait Jumeaus show how different eye cuts and color can give the basic model a variety of looks. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
19
The Game of La Poupée Modèle By Sylvia Mac Neil
A
ny doll collector, any admirer of antique dolls, their endearing wardrobes and attendant miniature accessories, has at the least some knowledge of the monthly, French periodicals devoted to every aspect and pastime of a young girl’s life, which, naturally enough, included dolls. Printed in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century, these publications were children’s versions equivalent to the popular ladies’ books in America, for example, “Godey’s Ladies’ Book” and “Peterson’s Magazine,” and in France, Journal des Demoiselles, and Les Modes Parisiennes. Beginning in 1863, La Poupée and Gazette de la Poupée, were printed for a few, short years, while a third magazine, the most successful and most celebrated, La Poupée Modèle, was printed until 1923. Known best for its patterns, included in each issue was a fold-out, yellow
sheet of tissue paper containing such patterns. Printed on both sides, one side was devoted to dolls, while the reverse contained patterns and diagrams to construct any manner of household decorative arts and little niceties to be given to family members and friends for birthdays, various holidays, as well as Étrennes, gifts given for the New Year. Of special interest today is the “The Game of La Poupée Modèle.” The game markers were offered first, in the “Annexes” of the September, 1866 issue. “Colored Engraving … These pretty, little girls in blue, green, red and yellow, are the markers for the game that will be sent to you next month: le Grand Jeu de La Poupée Modèle, perfect for use by our nice little subscribers. These little figurines are glued back to back after they are cut out. The base is folded and glued just as the large figurines with costumes which
Chiffonnette, a size 4 doll attributed to Huret, is wearing a charming dress inspired by that worn by the figurine, Bleuette. It was created using only a simple sketch, before a detailed description of the game and markers was available. Made up in antique yellow taffeta, the dress features a low, squared neckline on a fitted bodice with a full skirt, laid in box pleats. Pointed lappets, set on a belt round the waist, as well as those on the shoulders, create a decidedly coquettish and whimsical effect. On the lappets are set tiny, yellow, silk buttons. All is trimmed with bands of narrow, black velvet ribbon. Her hat is of yellow straw, the low crown decorated with yellow primrose, reminding one of the wild primrose growing abundantly along the lanes and country roads in Normandy in early spring. Like the figurine, she also sports yellow boots and white gloves, and her antique, tin watering can is similar to the one that Bleuette carries. 26
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
The “GRAND JEU DE LA POUPÉE MODÈLE” was given in the ““Annexes” Annexes” in the October, 1866, issue. Like the figurine markers, the game is securely attached in the volume. Most edges of the pages are dry and brittle, and very fragile, but the game, printed on heavy paper, is nearly intact. It is a large, fold-out page, and measures 20 1/2” X 14 1/2“.
we give you, from time to time. … Now, have a little patience, to wait until October, for the large game board on which are the pretty little girls who came to dispute the prize for the game: a sugared almond or a doughnut! Never money! That would dirty your hands!” There appeared in many issues, on the inside cover of the back, pink page, a feature titled, “A Little Correspondence for the Mothers.” In the September issue, the Correspondence presented a detailed description of the ensembles worn by the figurines; each one had been assigned a name. “Correspondence For The Mothers. Explanation of the costumes of the figurine markers for the Game of La Poupée Modèle. These costumes can serve as models for the mothers of our dear, little friends.” The game board appeared in the following issue, October, 1866. “Large Colored Engraving. JEU DE LA POUPÉE MODÈLE. You received the explanation previously. I hope, little friends, that this charming surprise closes our year properly, and helps you to become likewise well-behaved, as this nice doll, the heroine of our game. A few among you have no fear of doing that, because you are already, a little well behaved…but for certain others…I won’t tell you which ones! …what a difficulty! … Don’t let this reflection discourage you, dear, little friends. All children your age have faults, I know that, I highly agree; but also, all children work to correct that, because they know, it is at this moment,
A colored engraving of the figurine markers for the Game of La Poupée Modèle was included in the Annexes of the September, 1866, issue. This example is still attached in the bound volume. It measures 8 3/8” X 7”. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
27
“The Hardy (a.k.a. Steadfast) Tin Soldier” dolls by Alice Jorgensen
“The Shepherdess and the Chimney-Sweep”
Alice Jorgensen and Her Hans Christian Andersen Dolls
O
by Elizabeth K. Schmahl and Carmen C. Farrell
nce upon a time there lived a princess…. oh, the charm of fairy tales! Who among us has not read a wonderful story by Hans Christian Andersen? Remember the Ugly Duckling? The Little Mermaid? The Princess and the Pea? The Steadfast Tin Solider? The stories of this Danish author have a been a source of inspiration for dollmakers for over two hundred years. Perhaps one of the most successful makers of dolls based on Andersen’s writings was Alice Jorgensen during the 1940s. Our journey to Denmark will examine the artistry of Jorgensen’s delightful little dolls intermingled with a literary lesson of Andersen’s magical stories! We cannot begin our study without paying homage to the author, Hans Christian Andersen, who, himself, lived a bittersweet fairytale. As a consequence of his life, many of his stories are autobiographical in nature and reflect a certain sadness that he carried within himself. Andersen was born in 1805 in Odense, Denmark, a small town near Copenhagen. Born in a slum, this cobbler’s son yearned for a life beyond the poverty of his family. Had it not been for the kindness of a patron who paid for his schooling, these stories might never have been written. While some of his tales are optimistic and happy, others are 34
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
sad and end tragically as he often identified with those less fortunate. The dollmaker, Alice Jorgensen, was able to remarkably capture both the sweetness and the poignancy of the characters in his stories through her little dolls. She began to make dolls in the small town of Odense during the 1940s as gifts for her friends and family. Although she was a mother of two boys, she loved dolls and was quite skilled in this craft. She began by making small pixies, elves, and gnomes at Christmas. During this time in Odense, the Hans Christian Andersen home had been one of Denmark’s most beloved tourist sites for over 100 years. Had one been a tourist there during the 1940s, one could not have missed the Klods Hans (often translated as, “The Little “Jack the Dullard” or “Numb Skull Jack”), Mermaid” a charming little souvenir shop across the street (and, remarkably, still a thriving tourist shop today!) In 1945, Alice Jorgensen was asked by the owner of Klods Hans to make dolls based on Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales to sell to tourists. Certainly, it must have been a delight to peek into the window of the Klods Hans and see Alice Jorgensen’s tiny treasures in the window! How difficult it must have been to choose a doll among all the classic redand-white-striped boxes on the shelves! Inside these
“The Red Shoes”
“Little Ida’s Flowers”
“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
An original paper label found under the wooden bases of Alice Jorgensen dolls.
“Thumbelina”
boxes were Alice’s little dolls carefully wrapped in tissue. A miniature story booklet that corresponded to the fairy tale was tucked inside each box. What more precious an Odense souvenir could one possibly have purchased during the 1940s than Alice Jorgensen’s dolls? In August 1945, an article from the Danish newspaper, Fyns Socialdemokrat, described Alice Jorgensen’s dolls as having sold “like fresh baked bread” (or more modernly, “sold like hot-cakes!”) While Mrs. Jorgensen made all of her little dolls by hand, she soon had to employ several ladies to help make arms, legs, and assemble the dolls. The final touches, such as the painting of the faces, however, were always completed by Mrs. Jorgensen herself as she was very particular about the expression and posture of the dolls. From the Klods Hans shop archives, it is believed that Alice Jorgensen made approximately 18 different Hans Christian Andersen dolls to sell in this quaint little tourist shop. Dolls were sold individually or in sets, depending on the story. They were typically 2-5 inches tall (with some sets being as much as 7 inches tall). They were made of wool, cotton, iron thread, as well as any materials that were readily available at this time. Alice herself told the Fyns Socialdemokrat that during World War II, she had to make the dolls’ faces from parachute material in lieu of the thin cotton that she preferred as cotton was too difficult to obtain. Regardless of the materials, she made every doll with love and creativity, attracting much attention from the tourist community. In 1949, she received an honorary prize from the Danish Tourist Association for her work. According to a 1955 Fyns Socialdemokrat article, ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
35
A NEW LOOK FOR
THE VILLAGE DOLL SHOP By Donna C. Kaonis
Becky and Andy Ourant share the newly renovated shop with Teddy, a very photogenic Pomeranian. Gone are the glass showcases, replaced by open custom cabinetry with exquisite detailing and paint details.
A
damstown, PA is richly deserving of the title Antiques Capital, USA. Renningers, Black Angus, Shupp’s Grove, Morphy’s Auctions and Antiques Gallery plus a seemingly endless number of antique malls . . . in all about 5,000 antique dealers work out of this small town in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. Adamstown was an easy choice for Becky and Andy Ourant when they decided ten years ago to open their Village Doll Shop at Stoudtburg Village, a charming recreation of a quaint German Village with shops on the ground floor and living quarters above. The Village Doll Shop, open every Sunday and by appointment, has long been a gathering spot for doll collectors. Last spring, with their shop’s tenth anniversary coming up, they decided to celebrate by making some exciting changes. A huge fan of David T. Smith, a skilled cabinetmaker famous for museum quality reproductions, they turned to him to implement their ideas. Andy and Becky had worked with David before when he designed their American painted country kitchen and several of their display cases. 40
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
“We had a general design concept of what we wanted,” Andy said. “We wanted it to look old and to have a European flavor. Inspired by their favorite miniature toy rooms by Christian Hacker and Gottschalk, they conveyed their ideas to David. It was a new direction for Smith who is renowned for his American country furniture and his authentic paint finishes, replicating the look and feel of paint that has aged some 150 years. “We sent David the dimensions of the shop and he set up a web meeting where we could see his computer screen and watch him place cabinets and move doors. After several design meetings via the internet it began to take shape quickly,” said Andy. “Once we saw what David could do, there was no going back,” said Becky. It was our dream shop and we couldn’t imagine anything else.” As anyone knows who has ever built a house or done a room renovation, the decisions to be made can be daunting. Once they decided on the color of the checkerboard floor, a beautiful blue used for the Bavarian flag, the other color choices seemed to follow. Mock-ups with various “aged”
The Paris Bebes sign, on the door leading to Andy’s workshop, once hung in the shop of their close friend, the late Richard Wright. All things seemed to flow once they decided on the colors for the checkerboard floor. Drawers and cabinets contain many more treasures. Just ask!
David T. Smith built the table and chairs to complement the European feel of the cabinetry. For large groups the table can be easily folded down allowing for more seating space. The counter at left disguises a built in sink and refrigerator, another plus for entertaining doll groups. Raised panels on the cabinet drawers are accented with blue and gold, creating a beautiful harmony throughout the shop. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
41
44
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
Apache Boudoir W Dolls
by Dominique Pennegues
hen one reads about the “Paris Apaches”, we, doll collectors, think of those attractive Apache boudoir dolls from the 20’s; others might think of music, modern dances and fashion wear from the same period. However, where did this famous movement come from? How did this term come about? The answer is surprising. It takes us back to French colonialism in the Americas, to the well-known French concept of the “wild man” (homme sauvage), and to expeditions France undertook in Mexico, during the second part of the 19th century “to protect the country from the Apaches.” For the French authorities, the American Apaches were “irrecoverable savages, with no moral sense, nor possible progress in their behaviour, their greatest pleasure being dancing.” The conclusions were that only the complete disappearance of the Apaches would allow the country to live in peace.
Very unusual and interesting early Apache smoker doll, probably made by Gerb’s during the 20’s. This rare doll shows an adult male face, as do most Apache boudoir dolls, instead of a teenage one. Doll makers were inspired by silent films and photos of adult looking Apaches, although the real Apaches (pre WWI) were quite young. Gerb’s did produce a smaller Apache smoker boy during the 30’s which had the look of a young teen boy. The one here has a cloth face and body with bisque like hands. 38 inches. Courtesy Patricia Brill, USA.
Illustration from Le Petit Journal, 1907. Note the typical Basque belt made of red cloth with long fringes. Here the neck scarf is white; it could also be made of a printed cloth, even though the costume was a red one. Most of the time, newspapers would represent Apaches looking like men, with a knife (surin) in the hand. Private collection. France. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
FEBRUARY 2012
45