DECIDEDLY DOLLY 5
Hello Everyone
This run-up to Christmas is, I always think, a strange time of year. Routine is disrupted as we dash to the shops at every given opportunity for yet another last-minute gift, spend our days writing cards, wrapping presents, baking cakes and mince pies, and stockpiling with enough food to feed an army, should one happen to be passing on Christmas day. Usual chores and work are put on hold, until things return to normal in the new year.
From the collectables point of view, Christmas can be an exciting time, with many unusual or special festive items on sale. For the doll enthusiast, provided you think a little ‘out of the box’, you can find many interesting pieces to add to your collection. I have discovered that garden centres can be a great source of quirky type dolls, from angels to santas, and from carol singers to skaters. Though some might be a bit ‘tacky’, many are attractive and well made, especially those created by local crafts people. I also keep a look out for ‘props’ – small items which will look good when displayed with a doll. This year, I have discovered a doll-sized brightly decorated tin sleigh, which will make an ideal centre piece when filled with fairy dolls, miniature Christmas trees, a button-jointed plush reindeer very reminiscent of the style of toy made in the 1920s/30s era, and a Santa doll wearing white, rather that the more traditional scarlet – which means he won’t out-dazzle any doll standing next to him!
Christmas dolls are available in many toyshops, though, as usual, the best of the bunch tend to be available in America rather than in the United Kingdom; major manufacturers such as Madame Alexander, Tonner and Adora all produce Christmas specials, but most of them aren’t stocked by our stores. Christmas dolls for British collectors tend to be found in toyshops and gift shops, and very often are of the Barbie/Bratz type of doll. This year’s festive Bratz dolls wear santa-inspired red outfits trimmed with white fur, which they have teamed with red high heeled boots and, for some rather strange reason, sparkly tiaras.
A few of the more exclusive Christmas shops are stocking the Byers Choice range of Christmas Carollers, which are collectable doll figurines in a variety of themes, such as 18th Century London traders, Victorian, Georgian and, my favourite, Salvation Army, all with open mouths, singing lustily. These delightful dolls are handmade in the USA by a family concern who now export some of their creations to Britain.
One of the nicest Christmas dolls available in Britain is the sleeping baby Jesus sold by Ashton-Drake Galleries. This delightful baby, ‘Away in a Manger’, was sculpted by Waltraud Hanl, and is 21" long. He comes complete with a straw-filled wooden manger, so you need quite a bit of space to display him – but what a wonderful centrepiece he would make, as well as a very special heirloom.
Speaking of heirlooms, many families save their Christmas decorations from one year to the next, and often, amongst them is a fairy doll. Sadly, the Christmas fairy seems to have gone out of fashion – in fact, this year Woolworths have decided not to stock any at all. Years ago, it was a Christmas highlight to visit a shop to choose the fairy, and the counters used to be full of them, all arrayed in crisp net gowns, carrying their sparkly wands. Some of these fairies are handed down over the years, and I have several which have been lovingly wrapped away in tissue, maybe fifty years or so ago, to be brought out each year to crown the festivities. No doubt, in a few year’s time, the idea of the fairy doll will be rediscovered and will be the must-have designer feature on top of every Christmas tree once more.
Meanwhile, I will be very unfashionable, because to me, a tree without a fairy, is like Santa without his whiskers – not properly dressed!
Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year,
Sue X
This run-up to Christmas is, I always think, a strange time of year. Routine is disrupted as we dash to the shops at every given opportunity for yet another last-minute gift, spend our days writing cards, wrapping presents, baking cakes and mince pies, and stockpiling with enough food to feed an army, should one happen to be passing on Christmas day. Usual chores and work are put on hold, until things return to normal in the new year.
From the collectables point of view, Christmas can be an exciting time, with many unusual or special festive items on sale. For the doll enthusiast, provided you think a little ‘out of the box’, you can find many interesting pieces to add to your collection. I have discovered that garden centres can be a great source of quirky type dolls, from angels to santas, and from carol singers to skaters. Though some might be a bit ‘tacky’, many are attractive and well made, especially those created by local crafts people. I also keep a look out for ‘props’ – small items which will look good when displayed with a doll. This year, I have discovered a doll-sized brightly decorated tin sleigh, which will make an ideal centre piece when filled with fairy dolls, miniature Christmas trees, a button-jointed plush reindeer very reminiscent of the style of toy made in the 1920s/30s era, and a Santa doll wearing white, rather that the more traditional scarlet – which means he won’t out-dazzle any doll standing next to him!
Christmas dolls are available in many toyshops, though, as usual, the best of the bunch tend to be available in America rather than in the United Kingdom; major manufacturers such as Madame Alexander, Tonner and Adora all produce Christmas specials, but most of them aren’t stocked by our stores. Christmas dolls for British collectors tend to be found in toyshops and gift shops, and very often are of the Barbie/Bratz type of doll. This year’s festive Bratz dolls wear santa-inspired red outfits trimmed with white fur, which they have teamed with red high heeled boots and, for some rather strange reason, sparkly tiaras.
A few of the more exclusive Christmas shops are stocking the Byers Choice range of Christmas Carollers, which are collectable doll figurines in a variety of themes, such as 18th Century London traders, Victorian, Georgian and, my favourite, Salvation Army, all with open mouths, singing lustily. These delightful dolls are handmade in the USA by a family concern who now export some of their creations to Britain.
One of the nicest Christmas dolls available in Britain is the sleeping baby Jesus sold by Ashton-Drake Galleries. This delightful baby, ‘Away in a Manger’, was sculpted by Waltraud Hanl, and is 21" long. He comes complete with a straw-filled wooden manger, so you need quite a bit of space to display him – but what a wonderful centrepiece he would make, as well as a very special heirloom.
Speaking of heirlooms, many families save their Christmas decorations from one year to the next, and often, amongst them is a fairy doll. Sadly, the Christmas fairy seems to have gone out of fashion – in fact, this year Woolworths have decided not to stock any at all. Years ago, it was a Christmas highlight to visit a shop to choose the fairy, and the counters used to be full of them, all arrayed in crisp net gowns, carrying their sparkly wands. Some of these fairies are handed down over the years, and I have several which have been lovingly wrapped away in tissue, maybe fifty years or so ago, to be brought out each year to crown the festivities. No doubt, in a few year’s time, the idea of the fairy doll will be rediscovered and will be the must-have designer feature on top of every Christmas tree once more.
Meanwhile, I will be very unfashionable, because to me, a tree without a fairy, is like Santa without his whiskers – not properly dressed!
Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year,
Sue X
posted by Decidedly Dolly at
8:28 AM
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