Monday, January 26, 2009

Blue Monday: Dutch Treat

For this week's Blue Monday offering, I thought I'd post another sampling from my doll collection. The two Dutch dolls pictured here are by Vogue Dolls, and are even older than I am (no, I didn't believe it was possible, either), having been issued around 1942. They're about 8 inches tall, made of composition, with painted eyes, and mohair wigs glued over molded curls. As you can see, their outfits have definitely seen better days. There are products available to clean and restore old fabric, of course, but I've just never wanted to take the chance. I believe the little girl would originally have had more of a pointed "Dutch" cap on – the lacy one she's wearing is definitely old (probably older than the doll), but also probably a replacement.

These two dolls have always been special to me. For one thing, they're precursors of the Ginny Doll, which was a favorite doll of my childhood. And also, these are two of the last dolls I bought, back ten years or so ago, when I was still actively collecting. But I think I've always liked them especially because of the "Dutch doll" tag. When I was a child, my grandmother always used to call me a "little Dutch girl" and when I got old enough to look things up in encyclopedias, and found out all about the costumes with their wooden shoes and starched white caps, I fell in love with the idea. Of course, decades later I realized that my old German Granny was saying I was a "Deutsch" girl – a little fraulein – and nothing to do with Holland at all!

For more Blue Monday photos and stories, please visit Smiling Sally's blog.

16 comments:

  1. Love your blue dolls... what cute faces....

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  2. Sweet story and precious little pair.
    HBM, Candy

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  3. lol The mix up of Dutch for Deutsch girl is a good one. The dolls are terrific; I especially like those wooden shoes. Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday.

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  4. Your dolls are adorable and you can be a Dutch girl if you like. Your story is so cute about your Granny.

    Hugs...Jeanne

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  5. Very sweet story Joy and I love the shoes!
    My aunt used to have a pair of those shoes at her front door when I was a chid. I used to put them on and clunk all over her hard wood floors. I remember they hurt like heck!!
    Happy Blue Monday
    Love Claudie
    xo

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  6. Oh my what sweet little dolls... I just love their vinatge face and those shoes.... they have the most charming blue outfit... so precious...
    Hugs
    Linda

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  7. Joy! Look how precious they are with their little wooden shoes! I had a pair of wooden shoes when I was little (don't know who gave them to me), but I was always fascinated by them! These are just too cute for words, and I'm glad you shared them with us. :-)

    Happy Blue Monday...

    XO,

    Sheila

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  8. I always wondered what it would be like to walk around in their wooden clogs *smiles*

    Happy Blue Monday!♥

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  9. Love the dolls. I got a doll for Christmas in 1942 that I still have. I was 6 years old. Now that is old. lol
    Charlotte

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  10. Ha! What a fun story to go with your great dolls! Made me smile :0)
    Happy blue to you!

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  11. I love your dolls, and their sweet outfits. Such a sweet story with you and your grandmother. Happy Blue Monday..have a lovely week.

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  12. Oh Joy, I love your precious little dolls. What a neat collection.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. Your Dutch dolls are absolutely awesome. Such a wonderful childhood remembrance. I am glad that you referred to your Ginny dolls as it brought back memories of my Ginny doll. Happy Blue Monday!
    Sweetie

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  14. Little Dutch Girl looks to me like she thinks Little Dutch Boy is a tad sketchy!

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  15. I love old dolls.Thanks for sharing yours. I don't know if we had Vogue dolls, but the name is familiar. I did have Ginny dolls. My aunt gave me hers. When she had her own daughters, we had to give them back. :(

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