2008 Fall - Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
OF THE
ROSALIE
W HY E L
MUSEUM
OF
Vol XVII, No 4
ART
Fall 2008
Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art
1116 - 108th Avenue NE ❖Phone: (425) 455-1116 ❖Fax: (425) 455-4793
Bellevue WA 98004 USA
www.dollart.com ❖dollart@dollart.com
The Little Doll with a Big
ancy Ann Dolls
Story: N
Nancy
October 25, 2008 – February 1, 2009
Nancy Ann Abbott’s fondness
for dolls, especially for sewing
clothes for dolls, began in
childhood but remained one of
her
greatest
passions
throughout her life. After
attending the College of Arts
and Crafts in Oakland,
California, Nancy pursued an
acting career, while also working
as a dress designer for other
actresses. She also loved to
dress dolls as gifts for her
actress friends, in outfits
replicating the costumes worn in
their movies.
"American Girl Series Colonial Dame"
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
U.S. 1930s-40s Painted bisque
Nancy’s bir th name was
Rowena Haskin and while
working as an actress, her stage
name was Nancy Phipps. When
SMALL WONDERS
DOLL
she decided to leave the acting
world behind to open a booklending shop in 1935, she
“To Market, to Market, To buy a Fat Hen"
"Pirate"
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
U.S. 1930s-40s Painted bisque
changed her name to Nancy
Ann Abbott. From her apartment
in the evenings, Nancy
continued to design and sew
clothing for dolls, but now it was
for the purpose of selling them.
And sell, they did! In 1937 she
created a partnership with Allan
“Les” Rowland, and by 1942,
their corporation (originally
known as Nancy Ann Dressed
Dolls) was realizing a million
dollars in gross sales. In the
Continued on Page 2...
from the director
So many collectors have said
to me over the years “If I only
lived closer to the Museum…” I
agree with them and wish they
did also. We just celebrated our
16th anniversary at the Museum
in September and many who
have longed to visit, even planned
to visit over the years, have yet to
come through our doors. As with
anything in life, it is all about
priorities and setting goals. Each
year we put on our calendars the
dates for events we know we will
attend like the UFDC Annual
Convention or Regional
Conferences, doll shows,
auctions, family reunions,
vacations, medical checkups,
school conferences, doll club
meetings and on and on. These
are all priorities in our busy, lives.
Maybe this year, or 2009, is
the year you should put on your
calendar a date to visit the Doll
Museum. So far you have missed
over 40 changing exhibits not to
mention temporary exhibits like
the Schoenhut exhibit that is on
display for the Schoenhut
Convention that is meeting here
now – their first time in the
Northwest – a priority they
Continued on Page 2...
PAGE ONE
from the director
...Continued From Page 1
decided on two years ago and
put on their calendars.
With the dollar around the
world not doing so favorably and
our economy needing a boost,
perhaps spending our travel
dollars in our own country would
be a good idea and the beautiful
Northwest couldn’t bring you
more to enjoy – mountains, water,
city, country, culture, great food
and wine, and wonderful people.
Let us know if you are traveling
this way and we would be happy
to give you some travel tips about
our area and also, of course, the
latest news of our upcoming
exhibits or doll shows in the area.
And if you just decide to jump
on a plane or in your car
tomorrow and head this way, we
are open 360 days a year! We
hope to see you soon, and if you
can’t make it, you can always
reach us on the web or through
our emailed newsletter if you
subscribe – it’s free!
For those of you who live
nearby and frequent the Museum
and Rosie’s Too, we surely thank
you for your patronage and
support. We work each day to
bring you the best of the doll
world – memorable exhibits of
broad interest, exciting inventory
in our stores, and up to date
information and research and all
at affordable prices. We also try
to provide a clean and welcoming
environment for your enjoyment
and your guests’ as we know so
many of you love to introduce
SMALL WONDERS
friends and family to your special
interest in dolls, too.
Helping you identify your
dolls, connecting you with
restorers and repairers, if needed,
providing space for your own life
events, or just a friendly doll chat
is what we are all about. So--The Best Things Come In The
Littlest Packages, they say. And
our holiday exhibit is all about
“THE LITTLE DOLL WITH
THE BIG STORY: NANCY
ANN STORY BOOK DOLLS”.
Many of us remember fondly that
sweet little face and chubby little
body dressed to the nines in her
fancy ribbons and lace. And oh,
the polka dot boxes…what
nostalgia they evoke. And our
Christmas décor that goes up after
Halloween of course, will delight
you with our Nancy Ann theme.
"Annie at the Garden Gate Eating cherries
off a plate" "Goldylocks & the baby bear"
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
U.S. 1930s-40s Painted bisque
What a perfect way to spend a
day with a grandchild or best
friend as we celebrate all the
winter holidays – Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Christmas,
Hanukkah, New Years, AND
Valentine’s Day with little Miss
Nancy Ann Story Book and all
her friends.
Rosalie Whyel, Director
...Continued From
Page 1
1950s,
top
production of
the
dolls
r e a c h e d
12,000 per day.
"Debbie" walker doll
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
U.S. Mid 1950s Hard plastic
Storybook dolls were one of
Nancy Ann’s main doll lines.
Marketed as “Wee Dolls for Wee
Collectors,” they were inspired
by nursery rhymes and jingles.
The bisque storybook dolls were
produced from 1936 to 1948. By
1943 there were as many as 125
different characters created.
Identifying a Storybook doll that
does not have her original wrist
tag or box can be difficult, as
Nancy often changed her dolls’
outfits, using different materials
from year to year.
These sweet little dolls have
such a big story to tell, and
thanks to the research of Elaine
Pardee and Jackie Robertson,
via their Encyclopedia of Bisque
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
(and stay tuned for volume II,
available in December) as well
as Marjorie Miller’s book on the
Continued on Page 5...
PAGE TWO
From the Museum Store...
Why Get Your Dolls Anywhere But
at the Doll Museum?
BABIREVES by Corolle
$32.95
12” Girl or Boy perfect for a newborn and up
with their soft bodies and adorable faces.
For the best selection of dolls for all ages
including clothes galore, accessories,
and trunks! Begin a tradition and give
the gift we love best to share the
glorious feeling of receiving your very
own doll. The holidays are upon us,
come and get your shopping done
early- we even have easy parking! Or
call us to put together the perfect
present for any occasion.
LES CHERIES by Corolle
13” All vinyl doll with brushable and stylable
hair. She also has the cutest outfits for hours
of playtime fun!
Dressed Dolls $30 Outfits $15-18
MISS COROLLE by Corolle
14” Have fun dressing me and styling my hair!
Dressed Dolls $54 Outfits $18-22
POUPETTE by Corolle
12” Great for the adventurous toddler or older
in your life. Fun to carry and dress.
Sweet Dressed Dolls $25 Outfits $15-18
GINNY by Vogue
8” A tradition for over 80 years this
hard plastic little cutie is a great doll
to go anywhere for fun anytime!
Basic Dolls $30 Outfits $20
Dressed Dolls $40-65 Complete
Trunk $140
MADI the MAGICAL FAIRY
12” Soft bodied mystical children with vinyl
head and limbs. Great for the imagination!
Dressed Dolls $49.99 Outfits $18-25
A Wonderful Variety by
MADAME ALEXANDER
10” Belle Encantress $110
10” Femme Fatal $150
8” Grandma’s Favorite Cameo $80
8” The Little Princess $95
8” Wendy Visits Grandma $85
Dressed Dolls $45 and up
EUROPEAN DOLL TOUR FINALE
Our summer newsletter left us about to embark on yet another new
adventure – a visit to the yet unopened MUSEO DELLA BAMBOLA, the
collection of the lovely and vibrant Marie-Paule Vedrine Andolfatto in
Bologna, Italy. It is sad that the government has not allowed her to open
her beautiful museum though it has been completed since May of 2007. One of the many darling dolls of the
Museo Della Bambola, Bologna
There is hope it can open as the historical site that it resides in.
Marie-Paule and Marco Tosa, the Curator of the Borromeo Museum in Angera and consultant to
this museum met our group at the museum and provided a marvelous tour of the fabulous collection.
Both speak English fluently so we were blessed despite our ignorance of the Italian language.
The collection is that perfect balance of German and French bisque antiques interspersed with
googlies and spectacular dolls in ethnic dress and modern artist dolls from world wide artists. MariePaule especially loves the child-size ones so it is as if the children of the world are visiting the antique
dolls. The museum is not large but the visual delights compensate for that and we never felt
overwhelmed – each doll had her own space for appreciation.
After ample time, we were invited downstairs to the coffee shop to imbibe in an afternoon coffee
with our hostess and host. Doll and museum chat abounded. It was hard to pull ourselves away from
Continued on Page 4...
SMALL WONDERS
PAGE THREE
Area Doll Show Dates
ANTIQUE DOLL & TOY
MARKET*
Bellevue Inn Red Lion
Bellevue WA
Sunday November 16, 2008
11am - 4pm
ROSIE’S TOO SALE*
Rosie’s Too
Bellevue WA
Saturday November 22, 2008
11am - 4pm
CROSSROADS DOLL, TEDDY
BEAR & ANTIQUE SHOW & SALE
Nat’l Guard Armory
Portland OR
Saturday February 14, 2009
8:30am - 4pm
CROSSROADS DOLL, TEDDY
BEAR & MORE*
Puyallup Fairgrounds
Puyallup WA
Saturday March 41, 2009
10am - 4:30pm
Sunday March 15, 2000
10am - 4pm
NADDA*
Nat’l Antique Doll Dealers Assoc
Embassy Suites LAX
Los Angeles CA
Saturday April 4 &
Sunday April 5, 2009
*Look for the Museum Sales Table
N
E
W
S
Rosie’s Too Sale
Saturday 11 to 4
November 22nd
ROSIE’S TOO APPRAISAL CLINIC!
Saturday November 15th
During our open hours. These
are complimentary, verbal
appraisals, limit three dolls per
person please.
Continued from Page 3...
our new found friend and this lovely new gem in the heart of Italy but Stressa and the Borromeo
Castle called us. We boarded our bus for a wet drive north.
A few hours later we disembarked at our beautiful hotel on the
shore of Lake Maggiore. It was like being home again, yet we oogled
like googlies at all the architecture of our art deco era hotel. Of
course, everyone had to see everyone else’s room – the colors, the
fabrics, the paintings, the furniture, the balconies, the views – all so
romantic.
Members of our last tour soon led the way to our favorite restaurant
in town and our delightful waiter led us in a night of merriment
and real Italian pizza.
Twin Bru, boy & girl, and an Automata
Morning saw us camera-happily riding around the lake to the
“Pierrot & the Moon” by Vichy.
enchanting Rocca Borromeo, the perfectly preserved Medieval Castle
France c1880
Photo by R Vada
once the property of the Visconti family of Verbano. It was purchased
by the Borromeo family in 1449 and within its walls is displayed the vast and rare collection of the
Princess Borromeo. Those of us who have visited prior are thrilled to realize even more improvements
have been made since our last trip. We are again provided an articulate, entertaining, and
knowledgeable guide for the duration of our tour. With the collection, automata, videos, castle, and
gardens, we realize a full morning still isn’t enough. But our last day
of shopping in Stressa awaits.
It is also our last night in Europe and we have a lovely farewell
dinner planned at the Verbano Restaurant on the Isle de Borromeo
in the middle of Lake Maggiore. A scenic boat ride around the
gardens of Isola Bella –unfortunately our planned walking tour was
rained out- still provides temptation for a return trip. Long goodbyes, many photographs, and a Heavenly atmosphere leave us all
The entire group on the last night of this
sentimental and resigned to stay in touch with new and old friends
great European doll tour.
and wonderful Italy. Ciao!
SMALL WONDERS
PAGE FOUR
We would like to thank the following
people for their generous
donations during the last quarter:
Avani and Maya Casey
$10 Donation
Susan Cullor
Ethnic doll collection
Alison B. Duxbury
Bed dolls, ethnic dolls, cloth dolls
Mei Futonaka
Kimekome doll and ball
L. Lee Maxwell
Doll parts
Jan Miller
1950s baby doll, clothing and blanket
Welcome To Our New
& Returning Members:
Emily Anderson
Suzanne Blanchard
Mary Kay Brancheau
Vanetta Upshaw Cash
Hap Crawford
Kari Donaldson
Frances Ann Edmonston
Marilyn Ham-Kay
Shirley Husband
Ellen Jenkins
Janet Johnson
Vicki Johnson
Mary Kelloniemi
Dolores Laughlin
Joe Leysath
Judy Lofall
Eva Mader
Marsha Marquardt
Yola Modena
Ann McClain
Margaret Pierce
Diane Robbeloth
Elise Stokes
Olga Tarassova
Anne Tyvand
Aurora Valentinetti
Virginia Vinton
T.C. Vollum
Judy Walsh
SHE’S BAAACK!
Many of you already
Connie Pearce
Ethnic doll collection
know that our oldest
daughter Roslyn has
Kathy Rau
returned to the
Ethnic doll collection
Northwest, to get
married, actually, to a
K. Roberts
Madame Alexander dolls dressed as bride and groom, former
Alaskan
English guard, Irish outfit
classmate
since
kindergarten, and now
Allan Venner
a Northwesterner, also. We are delighted that
Two celluloid doll ornaments, one long baby slip
in addition to her continued horse career,
Lloyanne Wallien
she is back at work at the Museum, also.
Wooden miniature spinning wheel
Roslyn was an original Museum employee
when we first opened and had just graduated
Jane White
from college. We are grateful also that she
Antique baby clothing, shoes, photographs
no longer has the long commute – from
Florida.
Continued from Page 2...
Debbie, Miss Nancy Ann,
subject,
Nancy
Ann
Storybook Dolls, and the
many “wee” and not so “wee”
collectors who lovingly cared
for these little dolls, we are
able to bring that story to you
in our Changing Gallery.
Several of Nancy Ann’s other
dolls, including Muffy,
SMALL WONDERS
and Nancy Ann Style Show
THANK YOU!
dolls, will also be coming out
Dawn Jarvis
Lleana Davison
of their polka dot boxes to
Jackie Zorbist
join in on the Christmas Kathleen Genis
festivities at the Museum.
Helen Shannon
Best holiday wishes to you
For loaning your wonderful Schoenhut dolls
and yours.
Jill Gorman, Curator and toys for our Exhibit. They were truly
enjoyed by all!
PAGE FIVE
SPOTLIGHT ON THE GALLERY
1116 - 108th Avenue NE
Bellevue WA 98004 USA
www.dollart.com
dollart@dollart.com
425.455.1116
fax 425.455.4793
MUSEUM HOURS:
Mon-Sat
10 to 5
Sun
1 to 5
ROSIE’S TOO HOURS:
221 106th Ave. NE Bellevue
(425) 455-0363
Thurs
11 to 8
Sat
11 to 4
Or by Appointment
Schoenhut Family descendents, along
with Rosalie, Shelley, and Evelyn,
enjoying the rare Santa and Reindeer
commissioned by Wanamakers
Department Store as a holiday display.
With the advent of the Schoenhut Collectors
in our midst, we had good reason to enjoy our
Schoenhuts even more, recently. The
Conventioneers were a delightful group from
all over the country with interests in the
wonderful dolls and toys that the Philadelphia
toy making company produced over its long
history. It was fun to see our dolls through
their eyes. And we thank the local collectors
who shared their dolls and toys for the
temporary exhibit we staged.
We thought it a good time to Spotlight two of our dolls that
reside in the Ethnic Gallery on the Second Floor
and one we have added alongside them. Many
people do not realize that the two little Chinese
babies dressed so beautifully and authentically
are wooden Schoenhut dolls and the only ones
of their kind. Their skin tone is even varnished
a different color. They are both the 12 1/2”
size, from c1918, and can also be seen in our publication The Rose Unfolds.
Now joining them is another rare Schoenhut, a Filipino Girl. Many passed by
her on the search for Schoenhuts because her features are
painted so differently with high slanted eyebrows and a
tiny bow mouth. She is dressed in a typical early Filipino
dress and head wrap and wonderful footwear.
Next time you visit come up and take a second and first
notice of these very special dolls, a tribute to the artistry
and craftsmanship of Schoenhut.
Coming Events at the Museum
MAY 31 - OCTOBER 19 2008
“Pale By Comparison:
Untinted Bisque Dolls”
Changing Gallery Exhibit
OCTOBER 25 2008 FEBRUARY 1 2009
“The Little Doll with a Big
Story: Nancy Ann Dolls”
Changing Gallery Exhibit
NOVEMBER 15 2008
Doll Appraisal Clinic
at Rosie’s Too
During Regular Hours, 11 to 4
SMALL WONDERS
NOVEMBER 22 2008
Rosie’s Too Sidewalk Sale
Saturday 11 to 4
NOVEMBER 27 2008
Thanksgiving Day
Museum CLOSED
DECEMBER 24 2008
Christmas Eve Day
Museum OPEN
Special Hours 10am to 3pm
DECEMBER 25 2008
Christmas Day
Museum CLOSED
DECEMBER 31 2008
New Year’s Eve Day
Museum OPEN
Special Hours 10am to 3pm
JANUARY 1 2009
New Year’s Day
Museum CLOSED
FEBRUARY 7 - MAY 24 2009
“Two Neighbor Ladies Who
Made Cloth Dolls;
Kruse & Scavini (Lenci)”
Changing Gallery Exhibit
PAGE SIX