Newsletter

EIt will be with the usual mix of regret and anticipation that we pack up and bid adieu to our Tasha Tudor Christmas exhibit, and begin installation of the Museums first changing exhibit of 2006. We will be changing gears entirely to present exposition dolls and other memorabilia from worldwide and country fairs; along with other very special, rare dolls representing the crème de la crème of some of the finest doll makers of the past two centuries.
Alongside manufacturers of industrial and commercial products, and of other fine arts, doll makers marketed their finest models at regional, country and worldwide commercial fairs. The dolls made for exhibition purposes would often travel from expo to expo, sometimes for years.
The treasures highlighting this exhibit include a life-size bisque head boy and girl, made by Jumeau for the World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. Prior to finding their home here at the Museum, the dolls were in separate collections. They were “reunited” in 2001 by Richard Wright.
Also made famous at the Columbian Expo, was a cloth doll made by Emma and Marietta Adams, which came to be known as the “Columbian Doll”. We will present documentation of the making of the Columbian Dolls, including doll-making tools, patterns, parts…and of course dolls.
Although we must say good-bye to the homespun charm of our Christmas with Tasha Tudor, we are looking forward to bringing into the spotlight a unique convergence of world-class dolls. Don’t miss it!

May this New Year 2006 be a bright and shining collection of days memorable for accomplishment, fun with friends and family, something learned new, something shared with others, and time for just you and, of course, your dolls.
Sharing is the subject of our newest exhibit “From World Expos to Country Fairs”. One can only imagine the excitement of a world exposition in your own hometown in the mid 19th century! We are challenged today to recreate the scene of it all. The marketers of every possible manufactured product went to every length to have their products shown at these monumental showcases of goods. The best of the best from countries around the globe came to this marketplace of marketplaces to compete for the prizes awarded there, and afterward the products proudly wore the labels of distinction that set them above their competitors.
Dolls and toys were some of the products that made their way to these expos and fairs to compete for prizes, and only the most beautiful and the most innovative were sent. Still today we see their labels visible on bodies and clothes, the emblems of stiff competition.
Let us take you back to some of those amazing days in Europe and America to the grandness of World Expositions and the charm of the Country Fairs where manufacturers and artists vied for the market through the most extreme and exciting of venues.

We would like to thank the following people for their generous
donations during the last quarter:

Linda Baker Japanese lady doll	Barbara Kemis Handmade cloth dolls; wooden blocks
Eleanor Jane Bittner Baby quilt, bonnet, crib sheet and two blankets	Betty Kranz-Sinclair Mannequin baby with basket
Deborah Davis China head doll; Campbell’s Kids vinyl doll	Mrs. Ruth Matthews Patsy Joan doll
Maylee Donaldson RWMDA ephemera; doll and collecting magazines	Maryann R. Osterman Doll poster
Jan De Felice Composition, hard plastic and cloth dolls; doll crib; doll clothing	Eileen Penny Clark Children and doll clothing
Linda Jo Greenberg Collection of ethnic dolls	Agnes Sura Souvenir doll
Mary Ann Griffin Multi-face Trudi; sewing manikin doll	Marjorie M. Sutherland Armand Marseille doll body and clothing; Schoenau & Hoffmeister doll
Dorothy Heltness Eight Norwegian dolls in original boxes	Norma Rolla Collector’s History of Doll’s book
Joyce Hoffer Ethnic dolls	Jack Del Vaglio Fabric

Call or stop by for more details or call the Museum Store:
(425) 455-1116 or toll free at 1-800-440-DOLL.

JANUARY 29 - 31 2004 Doll Appraisal Clinic at Rosie’s Too During Regular Hours	NOVEMBER 22 2003 - FEBRUARY 29 2004 “A Path Through Black History in Two and Three Dimensional Art”
FEBRUARY 28 2004 “The Shades of Mourning” Program by Atha Kahler Display by Atha Kahler & Joyce Coughlin (see Museum Tidbits)	MARCH 6 - MAY 16 2004 “Those Dashing Men and Adorable Boys”
MARCH 6 2004 “Elmer” Program by Michael Langton (see Museum Tidbits)	MAY 22 - NOVEMBER 2004 “Dazzling Couples In Cultural Dress” Traphagen School Dolls Part III
APRIL 11 2004 Easter Day Museum CLOSED

As I left you last newsletter, we were winding down the Swiss mountainside to Italy in our comfortable bus. We knew exactly when we reached the Italian border as everything suddenly turned “Technicolor”. It was amazing. As we wound around the beautiful lake area of Lugano, the colorful pastel homes dripping with wisteria were in sharp contrast to the whites of Switzerland. But it was 5 o’clock traffic and our bus was going against the traffic around the lake on a narrow road meant for single file cars….Little ladies from second story windows who were actually at our big bus level blew kisses to us as we inched our way by each car. Yes, we were definitely in Italy. At one point Eric had to get out of the bus and travel ahead of us to stop the cars so we could get through an intersection. “Aren’t you going to clap for my Daddy?” admonished Alec. At which point I definitely clapped along with everyone else on the bus. A memorable ride! It took us eventually to the Grand des Iles Borromees Hotel in Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Aaaaah! Bellisimo! A 5 star hotel that looked out on the Island of the Borromeos, the summer home of the Borromeo family whose doll museum we were going to see the next morning. What could be more perfect?

Some chose to dine in the hotel that evening, others couldn’t wait to walk out on the lake front to the many restaurants that awaited us.
But it was the next morning that I personally had anticipated for so long, the visit to the Museo Bambola e Moda Infantile – Rocca Borromeo, The Borromeo Doll Museum and Childrens’ Clothing Museum. Ever since my friend Susan Dunham had met the Princess Borromeo and toured her museum several years ago, she had encouraged me to go. I had been in contact with the curator Marco Tosa and we have communicated and worked together over the years. Finally, I was going to see the exhibits and, better still, with part of my family and the tour we had brought with us and, as we were to find out, the first American doll tour to attend the museum.
As we walked the cobblestone drive to the ancient Borromeo castle where the museum is housed, the view of Lake Maggiore and Stresa stretched below us. We felt like fairytale princesses, yet little did we know what awaited us just a few steps away. We were to assemble in the gift shop, we were told at admissions, where our guide Marco Tosa, the curator would meet with us! Ellie and I had written ahead that we were coming, of course, and it was my dream that Marco would be there, but that doesn’t always happen with museum schedules, so it was a thrill to know that we would finally meet in person. And there he was. I knew him immediately. But then, all eyes drew to a beautiful lady in a bright green coat as Marco Tosa presented to me the Princess Borromeo! I don’t know whether I fell to a bow automatically or because all the blood ran out of my head, but everyone there later said I did, as did all her employees in the gift shop.

What a delight! The Princess had traveled from her home in Milan and the curator from Venice to join us and personally guide us through the two museums. We
couldn’t get enough of them; their charm, knowledge, and stories they had to tell of the collection - some items dating back to the family’s 15th century beginnings.

The castle, its’ frescoes, history, and setting was a museum by itself and leaving was terribly difficult. But the trip there was everything I had hoped it would be and much more and Ellie had arranged a viewing of “The Last Supper” in Milan to follow. How sublime was this day?

After our viewing and visit to the Duomo, the beautiful cathedral in Milan, we had much to contemplate on our ride back to our inviting hotel rooms. More good Italian food, a good night’s sleep and the next morning photo ops of the gardens, (George had hiked the beautiful botanical gardens just above us) lake, Iles, and the hotel itself. We vowed this wouldn’t be the last time we were here. Then we were off to the Riviera and Monaco!
I could write another newsletter about our stay in Cannes, France and Monaco. No one knows how to fill two days without exhausting you like Ellie. We checked into our beautiful Sofitel Mediteranee on the beach at Cannes after our bus driver treated us to a visit to the perfume factory Fragonard along the Riviera coastline. The next day was filled with a trip to the popular Musee National De Monaco, the museum noted for its’ automata and fashion dolls, in particular. We took a guided tour of Monaco including the Monte Carlo Casino where we got to try our luck a bit, the Palace, Cathedral where Princess Grace’s tomb is and since Prince Rainier had just passed away, his also, and then a tour of her beautiful Rose Garden. The small country was all aflutter with preparations for the Grand Prix which made a grand impression on Alec (among other male members of our party) who gave a running commentary of the upcoming event as he opened his Grand Prix outfit - something for everyone on this tour.
Alas, tonight was the night we would meet on the roof of our hotel to say farewell to each other. Gazing out at the blue Mediterranean at the myriad of water born vessels from around the world just as we were, it seemed impossible that our tour had come to an end. In a way it seemed it had only begun yet we had been friends for a lifetime.

Harriet and Michele sang a song about doll collectors that Harriet had ingeniously written making us laugh through our farewell tears, as doll collectors do; and so I say farewell to you and thank you for joining us vicariously on our European Doll Tour 2005.

TOYS FOR TOTS AT THE MUSEUM THIS CHRISTMAS

Good friends Tana Greenberg, Susan Newman and Nancy Brown celebrated “Girls Night Out With A Twist” at the Museum December 1 in their usual way, by donating toys collected from guests to Toys for Tots and a lot of cash, too, from the vendors set up in the Museum that evening. What began several years ago as a fun get together with a few friends had out grown Tana’s home and we were lucky enough to become the new venue for her holiday party. With the able catering of Epicurean and valet parking even the flurry of snow threatening that night didn’t scare the dedicated philanthropists away. Eight, that’s 8, huge boxes of toys were carried away by our Marines the next morning to be distributed to boys and girls less fortunate than ourselves. Thanks Tana, Susan and Nancy and all your friends for including us in a very worthy cause.

A very Special Thank You to Eric Shalit for facilitating our beautiful 15' Tasha Tudor Christmas Tree in the atrium this Holiday Season and to his family, friends, and the teacher and art classes of the West Seattle Elementary School for the handmade clothespin dolls that decorate the tree.It has been a true Christmas blessing, Eric. We hope you got the chance to enjoy it as well!

In Memory of Jeanne Venner
The Museum and the Seattle Doll Club, both of which Jeanne was a member, all felt the same; we hadn’t had enough time with Jeanne since she came to us from her home in Chicago. It was because she had become such a good friend so quickly. She shared her dolls, her knowledge and her lovely smile. Jeanne was shy about her own accomplishments. Few of us knew she was a talented watercolorist. She was one of us yet we knew we shared her with her loving family. Jeanne will be greatly missed, as a fellow collector and as a friend too soon gone.

François Theimer Program and Book Signing

The Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art is proud to be welcoming François Theimer from France! A legendary researcher, François will be joining us in February to present a program on beautiful French dolls. Beginning with the Polichinelle publications, he has now authored nine books currently available, some exclusively at the Museum* in the U.S.; The Encyclopedia of French Dolls Volume I & II, The Bru Book (Revised Edition), The Jumeau Book (Co-authored with Florence Theriault), Mademoiselle Mignonnette- Poupée de Poche*, Encyclopedia Polichinelle (Volume 1-7)*, The Ultimate Book on Bleuette*, and two French Christmas Catalogs*. Each of which will be available for purchase in limited quantities at the Museum. Don’t miss this rare opportunity with a dynamic speaker and researcher.

February 11 11am Museum Rose Room

Seating is Limited. Reserved seats required.
Museum Members $3, Non-Members $5.
Theimer books may be reserved for purchase.
Call the Museum at (425)455-1116.
Regular admission charged to tour Museum.

	From World Expos to Country Fairs
	January 21 thru May 21, 2006

ANTIQUE DOLL & TOY MART* Bellevue Inn Red Lion Bellevue WA Sunday February 8, 2003 11am - 4pm	CROSSROADS DOLL & TEDDY BEAR SHOW* Puyallup Fairgrounds Puyallup WA Saturday March 13, 2004 10am - 4:30pm Sunday March 14, 2004 10am - 4pm
CROSSROADS DOLL & TEDDY BEAR SHOW* Washington County Fairgrounds Hillsboro OR Saturday February 21, 2004 10am - 4:30pm