Antique DOLL Collector September 2018 Vol. 21, No. 8
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Top to bottom: Croquet outfits for adult women, like this September 1865 example from Cendrillon, often reached the ground. It was an ideal opportunity to hide a bit of cheating beneath the voluminous hooped skirt! (bornin1808.blogspot. com) Winslow Homer painted this peaceful landscape, “Croquet Players,” in the American Impressionist style. (wikimedia. commons.org) John Tenniel’s famous depiction of Alice with her terribly confusing flamingo croquet mallet. (artistsuk.co.uk)
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ladies weren’t disadvantaged by their clothing or lack of regular exercise. They could show off their skills, flash shapely ankles, and show some spirit without being admonished. Young men who felt awkward around ladies could practice their wit or simply play well and win admiration. Practically speaking, watching each other win and lose was considered a good test of character. According to the London Review, “There is no mood which may not be shown in croquet, the verb “to flirt” may be conjugated in every tense, and the entire grammar of enchantment gone through. The postures of croquet, and the costumes of croquet are irresistible.” (1865) Indeed, it’s the costumes which capture our interest here, as we present an undeniably French ensemble taken from the pages of La Monde Elegant in 1866, the height of the croquet craze. Its eye-catching colors of red, black, and white appear in both fashion illustrations and extant croquet outfits. Lifted skirts first became popular due to English royal practicality—hiking in Scotland was easier when the outer skirt was looped up out of the way. The exposed petticoat beneath became known as a “Balmoral petticoat,” and was often made of red wool with bands of black trim. In croquet it was similarly wise to hold one’s skirts away from the ball, so this outfit has a permanently lifted skirt. The heavily decorated underskirt isn’t the slightest bit practical, though; it’s just pure style. It’s also hard to imagine wearing a wool jacket in summer, but perhaps your doll is playing at the shore and there’s a cool breeze. She will find this jaunty short casaque with fluttering black fringe and rich gold accents is just the thing. Keep a careful eye on her, as the young men are certain to do the same! Sources Bornin1808.blogspot.com Oxfordcroquet.com
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Croquet Ensemble Pattern for the Dollspart Jointed Body By Nicki Burley • All Photos by Nicki Burley unless noted otherwise
Materials
1/8 yd red wool challis 1/8 yd ivory batiste lining 11”x 34” black & white striped cotton shirting 11” x 34” gray oxford cloth cotton shirting 2” x 34” lightweight cotton tarlatan 2.5 yds 1/8” black rayon braid trim 1 yd ½” black cotton trim 3 yds ¼” red cotton ribbon 1 yd ¼” gold metallic trim
1 yd 5/8” black fringe 3-4” of black lacy trim Gold beads Black embroidery floss 2 black hooks & eyes Needle & matching threads Tacky glue & small paintbrush Hemostats & Frixion erasable pen
Sources
Trims: minidolls.com Cotton ribbon: Etsy seller CraftyWoolFelt Wool challis: www.oldbdolls.com
If it’s too warm for a casaque, she can appear in just her modest banded collar chemisette.
Cotton fabrics: www.farmhousefabrics.com and eBay seller frenchfashions Boots: Patricia Hauser at 1sassyslippers@gmail.com
A lady needs just the right footwear! These tall sporty boots— bright red, of course-- were expertly cobbled by Patricia Hauser of Sassyslippers. Antique DOLL Collector
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Mold #238 was registered in 1914 and this model is 14 ½-inches long. His head measures 5 inches tall from the top of the crown to the bottom of the shoulder plate and has a 10-inch head circumference. He has blue glass set eyes with upper and lower painted lashes, single stroke eyebrows and an open crown with the original brown skin wig. His mouth is open-closed with a molded upper gum line. There is a fat role under his chin. His has large ears with the right being larger than the left. He has blushed cheeks and nostril accents. This doll is marked 238 JDK 8 high on the back of the head under the open crown and made in Germany at the bottom of the back shoulder plate. There are no sew holes on this model. The body is the original Kestner made leather stitched infant design with rivet joints at the shoulders, elbows and hips. The lower arms and hands are bisque. The original Kestner Company label is on the chest. I hope you have enjoyed seeing and learning about these wonderful character babies. It was a thrill every time I found one for sale and they are a joy to own. References: German Doll Mark and Identification Book by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik Kestner King Of Dollmakers by Jan Foulke 50
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Companion Dolls by Jane Foster
An original 36-inch Ideal Patti Playpal doll. (Author’s Collection) Right, a beautiful 36-inch Shirley Temple Playpal doll once belonged to Shirley Temple Black and was kept in her personal archives for several years before being sold. (Courtesy of Theriault’s)
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hat little girl would not enjoy having a doll their own size to play with—perhaps to enjoy a tea party together or maybe to just take a little stroll with, since many of the companion dolls were walkers. This is the concept behind the making of the these life-size dolls. The special thing about the companion dolls made in the late 1950’s and continuing well into the 1960’s was that they were basically the size of a toddler and could even wear each others clothes. Little girls were fascinated by these life-like features. In 1959 Ideal Toy Corporation introduced “ Patti Playpal” into the doll world. She was a blow-molded vinyl 36 inch tall doll, proportionally designed to portray a three-year-old child and to be her playmate. Patti was Antique DOLL Collector
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