Antique DOLL Collector December 2011 Vol. 14, No. 11
December 2011 Vol. 14, No. 11 $595 / $695 Canada www.antiquedollcollector.com
This Old House –
A Cunning Cottage Just for Two By Michael Canadas
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Classic Georgian symmetry defines the façade of Dolly Varden Cottage, while large glass windows provide a marvelous view of the interior.
The origin of this pair of German all-bisque dolls is a mystery to us. We are fascinated by their amazing details, including fashionable-for-the-time, molded clothing. Here they pose with their canine friend Rufus.
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everal years ago, when annual trips to England were part of our regular travel schedule, on one occasion my partner, David, and I were invited to visit an ancient private home in the countryside. The invitation was extended by the owner of the home, in order that we could view some things she was offering for sale. Actually, a visit like that is something that I really don’t like to do on my very rare pleasure getaways, because they tend to turn into all-day events. Although some of these home visits can be fun, most usually turn into a cat and mouse game where we are shown things that the “seller” has no intention of parting with. If I am going to give up an entire day, I want to find a treasure in exchange. I was more than a little worried when we arrived and discovered that there were English wooden dolls on display, which were already sold, and some marvelous dollhouses that were not for sale. In addition, there were some fixerupper items that were not of interest, even though I have to admit I have a soft spot for neglected old houses, both dollsize and life-size ones. Happily, we found a few projects to purchase, but nothing worth sacrificing the day for, that is until I spotted a cottage with a name plaque on its front – a feature that is not uncommon with English dollhouses, and a feature of which I am particularly fond. That fondness could be based in part due to the fact that I grew up near a village that is filled with cottages that are named instead of bearing street numbers. In Carmel, California the lack of house numbers (along with the absence of streetlights and sidewalks) lends the village old-fashioned charm, and although the delivery truck drivers are not so thrilled by that challenge, they seem to manage. Many of the older houses in Carmel are built of stone, are on the smallish side, and are infinitely charming – not unlike many English dollhouses. Those characteristics probably had a lot to do with my attraction for the dollhouse that stood in front of me that day in England. Then of course, there was the house’s nameplate that added to my attraction. Many houses in Carmel have clever names such as Wits End, Sticks and Stones and Happy Ending, while others take their names from the village’s seaside location - names such as Sandbox, Periwinkle, and Sea Urchin. The names do help lost visitors locate the houses they are searching for, but they also say a lot about the people who live in the homes. So when I spotted this four room, “stone” cottage that proudly bore the name Dolly Varden Cottage along with the date 1876 A.D., in gilt lettering, I knew it had to be ours. The seller seemed to be very pleased to move the one-ofa-kind dollhouse along, as it probably wasn’t an impressive enough example for her mostly London-based clientele. We were offered the dollhouse as it stood, which was empty, but when I opened the doors, I was met with a blast of vivid red, blue, green, gold, and pink! Obviously, the person who papered the house possessed a strong color sense and they were not afraid to express it in all things
In this view with the two doors open wide, the four rooms are ready to be explored. What is not seen in this photo is that on the inside surface of the doors, an ormolu birdcage is suspended in front of each window.
great and small. But I instantly loved it, as the palette increasingly curious about the name “Dolly Varden.” As reminded me of the classic Vincente Minnelli movie Meet a dealer in antique dolls, I vaguely remembered it being Me in St Louis.. With that inspiration, I decided on the spot attached to a cloth doll, a paper doll – maybe a children’s that the dollhouse should be furnished and accessorized book and perhaps other toy examples, but I hadn’t ever in “high Victorian Technicolor” and I was definitely given the name serious thought. But it was time for me up to the challenge. So, we settled on a selling price to get to the bottom of the Dolly Varden story and for the house, took a break for tea and cakes learn whom this “Dolly” really was. with the lady of the manor, and afterward Well, she wasn’t at all hard to find. All I had instructed our London-based shipper to pick to do was ask my local reference librarian if the dollhouse up for crating and eventual she had ever heard of a character named delivery to California. Honestly though, Dolly Varden. The lady looked at me once the cottage arrived States-side, it as if I were a creature from another sat empty in our living room for a few planet. “Dolly Varden is a character years, but we really didn’t mind that, as born from the mind of Charles Dickens,” the exterior is not only handsome, but also the librarian answered as she peered at quite decorative. me over her glasses. She then marched me The first week of every New Year is the over to the nearest set of books by the great time our staff at Carmel Doll Shop is given their nineteenth-century English novelist. “Yes, it is true winter vacation, so for me, it is a great time to work that I haven’t kept up with Victorian literature.” I said on projects of my own. I spent an entire week in my defense, hoping she would stop looking doing the basic furnishing of Dolly Varden at me in such a sympathetic manner. The dollhouse’s nameplate features stylish gilt lettering and is Cottage. I knew I had one concrete given Barnaby Rudge was the fifth of Dickens’ complete with the year the cottage to work with, the date 1876, due to the novels to be published, and is considered was constructed. nameplate on the house, so I decided to do his first attempt at a historical novel my best not to put anything pre-1876 in the because it was set in revolutionary times. cottage. Instead, my working era was going to encompass Even more in my defense, Barnaby Rudge is one of the period 1876 to 1895, give or take. Dickens’ lesser known novels and has rarely been adapted While I worked on the dollhouse, the nameplate stared for film or television. Without going into great detail about me in the face every time I opened the doors, and I became the plot, let it suffice to say the tale includes the Varden ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Come Celebrate with Rose Percy, Duty’s Most Faithful Child and Commemorate Her 150 Years of Charitable Service The Event Please join the members of the Doll Scholars of Southeastern Wisconsin for a premier charitable fundraising event. A limited number of registered attendees will be treated to a very full day of festivities that include a luncheon, a specially created program about Rose Percy, deluxe helpers and shopping opportunities, plus each attendee will receive a copy of the beautifully illustrated book about Rose, her possessions and her life. Please note that the exclusive book will only be made available to registered guests at Rose’s events.
When Saturday May 19, 2012 Registration – 8am to 9:30am Event – 9am to 2pm
Where The Historic
PFISTER HOTEL 424 East Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202 800.558.8222 Mention the Rose Percy Event for a Special Room Rate (Limited Room Block)
www.thepfisterhotel.com
To Register Complete the Registration Form below and mail it, along with the $145 per person registration fee To: Peggy Oberbeck Event Registar 6707 Maple Terrace Wauwatosa, WI 53213 pegoberbeck@gmail.com
www.rosepercy.org
The Remarkable Rose Percy Luncheon Event
Learning About American-Made Dolls
by Ursula R. Mertz Photos by Christopher Partridge
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he July 1924 issue of the trade journal Playthings carried the following announcement: “Brand New Item by Amberg. Louis Amberg and Son (of New York City) have begun to deliver their latest creation, the Sunny Orange Blossom; this is a rather unusual and appealing plaything in that the whole effect is orange in color and the hood surrounding the sweet little face is in configuration of an orange itself. The trim is exceedingly attractive, as the effects are orange and green throughout, including the flower, ribbons, silk braid, and even shoes and socks. As a popular priced item, there is no doubt it deserves its instantaneous success. As an added attraction, it is said that the doll makes a noise like an orange when you squeeze it!” Left: 8” Marks: L. A. & S. N.Y. // D.R.G.M. Ink stamp: Made in Germany. All composition, jointed only at shoulders. Molded shoes and socks. All original. Right: 14”. It has the same Louis Amberg markings as the doll below. All original except for shoes and socks.
Cloth tag: Sunny Orange Maid // Copyright // Louis Amberg & Son 1924 // Design patented. Composition shoulder head, lower arms and legs. Cloth body and upper arms and legs, stitched shoulderand hip joints. All original including shoes and socks and “orange blossoms” on cap. Sherryl Shirran collection.
It was assumed that this doll was created to promote the sale of oranges for some as yet unknown firm. When the first example of the larger doll was located, the ribbon attached to her dress only stated: ” Sunny Orange Maid // Copyright // Louis Amberg & Son 1924 // Design Patented.” Further sightings confirmed that the doll was called Sunny Orange Maid, not – Blossom, as mentioned in the quoted editorial. It took a while before additional information was found. In the meantime, other mysteries had to be solved concerning this doll. On close examination it was found that the lower legs were not the usual composition type that feature a groove at the upper end to which the upper cloth ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR
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Anita Ladensack: So much more than Googlies! by Jennifer Craft-Hurst
Anita Ladensack with “Candy Cooper”, her 16” Kestner 221 Googly. Photo by Charlie Cooper.
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here is a line in the film “The Sound of Music” that states, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” I was reminded of this quote when I recently had the opportunity to visit the home of and interview Anita Ladensack, author of The History and Art of Googlies and former UFDC Regional Director. Upon first entering the home of Anita and her amazingly supportive husband Joe, I was struck by how well everything flowed together. The visitor isn’t overwhelmed by the soon-to-be discovered phenomenal doll collection, but rather is gently welcomed by the happy, smiling faces peering through corner glass cabinets. Anita’s collection encompasses many genres of doll collecting, not simply the Googlies
Jumeau 203 from the Series Fantastique, called John Jumeau after resemblance to Anita’s son John.
John Cooper, Anita’s son, as a child. 46
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for which she has literally “written the book.” Somehow, she manages to make the different styles of dolls blend together. For example, the Bru and Jumeaux share space with Robert Tonners, and Bleuettes nestle near a bevy of Betsy McCalls. It works and is a wonderful display. Anita’s story is truly a tale that needs to be told. It is a tale of tragedy and rebirth; a tale of finding that open window when the door has been shut. Anita was not a doll collector. She had
17” unknown German black boy and girl Googlies.
purchased a few, but more as decorative additions to her home. Anita was happily married with two beautiful sons when her first tragedy struck; her husband Paul died of Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1993. Soon after, her dear friend Cleo Stolberg of the Tucson Doll Guild told Anita that she needed a distraction from the grief of losing her husband, and insisted on taking her to a gathering of antique doll collectors. As Anita says, this was the “gift that kept on giving.” The gathering was at renowned doll collector and author Mildred Seeley’s home, and Mildred truly changed Anita’s life. Anita laughed while recalling the large doll carved into Mildred’s front door. “My friend brought me there to distract me, and I was definitely distracted.” Anita became part of the monthly study group that met at Mildred Seeley’s home.
30” Bru marked “Jne 12” with original Chevrot body. 18” Voit papier-mache, all original with pink kid body from early 1800s.
17” Jumeau double-faced crying and smiling character, 200 series, all original.
Palmer Cox memorabilia
During this time, Mildred was working on her numerous books. The members of the club were all encouraged to bring their dolls to her home and give their insight and input into the books. Anita felt a kinship with Mildred. They were both elementary school teachers, and both lost their husbands to the same form of cancer. Mildred also introduced Anita to Darlene Lane, as Anita describes, “a very talented sculptor and doll artist, and a wonderfully patient teacher.” Anita’s mother had always encouraged her
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