Antique DOLL Collector August 2014 Vol. 17, No. 7
The Complete Guide to Antique, Vintage and Collectible Dolls
August 2014 Volume 17, Number 7
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AIDS TO BEAUTY
by Melanie Luther During the late Victorian era, fashion dictates required special undergarments to properly shape a woman’s body.
FRENCH CARIBBEAN DOLLS
by Samy Odin A strong tradition of doll making goes back to the 18th century in the French colonies. Their costumes are representative of their cast in Creole society and suggest they were made by local craftsmen.
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A VISIT WITH ANN MEEHAN
by Donna C. Kaonis We visit this longtime collector who specializes in large, one-of-a-kind dollhouses and their furnishings.
About The Cover
The islands known as the French West Indies had a highly structured caste system. The “câpresse,” a person of black and mulatto parents, were perceived as very good-looking. Five all leather “Popotes” from the Musée de la Poupée, as well as other dolls that exemplify European’s fascination for Caribbean costumes, showcase their fascinating history.
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Auction Gallery Emporium Calendar Classified
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THE TLC GRAND TOUR... LAGO MAGGIORE
by Donna C. Kaonis Exquisite gardens and an outstanding collection of 18th century marionettes add to the charm of Italy’s Isola Bella and Isola Madre in Lago Maggiore.
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JEAN RAY – PRECURSOR OF THE FRENCH ART DOLL MOVEMENT
by Dominique Pennegues A renaissance in French doll and toy making began prior to World War I.
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THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF Mother-of-Pearl French Fashion Doll Accessories by Laurie Baker This natural substance offers the promise of luxury at an affordable price.
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ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
AUGUST 2014
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APRIL TOLEDO DOLL & BEAR SHOW
French Caribbean Dolls by Samy Odin
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ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
AUGUST 2014
he term “French West Indies” refers to Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélémy, Saint-Martin and the smaller islands of La Désirade, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes. Due to their geographic and cultural proximity, these islands are often associated with the French Guiana, situated on the coast by South American continent. The tradition of doll-making in these French oversea colonies is strong, even today. It goes back to the 18th century, when the leading colonist society brought new protocols that regulated the relationship between colonizers and local populations. Dollmaking seems to have been influenced by the complex social reality of these islands, where Europeans were interacting with natives or slaves coming from Africa and Asia. It is interesting to remark that interbreeding, in that part of the world, was highly codified. In fact, each individual, depending on the race of his/her parents and grandparents, fit into a precise racial category, where each skin color corresponded to a particular term. For example, a “mulâtre” (mulatto) descended from Caucasian and Negroid parents (50% white and 50% black), but a “métis” (mixed-race) had a slightly paler skin because the parents were Caucasian and mulatto (75% white and 25% black), also a child with Caucasian and mixed-race parents was called a “carteron” and had an even paler skin tone (87.5% white and 12.5% black). Among the varied shades of skin color, the one called “câpre” or “câpresse” was perceived as particularly good-looking. It is the result of black and mulatto parents (25% white, 75% black). Reading through the famous “Mémoires d’une poupée” by Julie Gouraud (alias Louise d’Aulnay), in the first edition dated 1839, one can read the following sentence: “Tous les jouets viennent de France; la poupée seule a son caractère national; ce qui prouve, soit dit
en passant, que tous les peuples reconnaissent une valeur sociale à la poupée. On les appellee “Popotes”: les plus remarquables sont les câpresses de la Martinique” (All toys come from France, with the exception of dolls, that have a national character, that proves that all peoples acknowledge a social value to the doll. They are called “Popotes” and the most remarkable ones are the câpresses from Martinique). Today the term of “câpresse” seems to have disappeared from the West Indian vocabulary, but at the beginning of the 20th century, this category of creole citizens was clearly identified, as seen on an antique postcard, showing a câpresse wearing a traditional costume. Research hasn’t gone deep enough yet to be able to determine if the crafting of these all leather “Popotes” occurred only in the French West Indies or if they were also manufactured in the metropolis. We ignore, for example,
Circa 1830’s – 1870’s, the construction of these leather Popotes suggest local craftsmen. Characteristics include black leather pupils, painted lashes and eyebrows. Embroidered mouths, applied ears and human hair. Their costumes are representative of their cast in creole society.
ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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