Adler Barbie Doll
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Barbie Collector Jonathan Adler Doll Sale Price: $34.98  |
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Jonathan Adler's fresh, modern ideas about interior design have established him as a true design visionary. Introducing Barbie Loves Jonathan Adler Doll, a modern doll embodying the Adler lifestyle brand... |
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Barbie Collector Jonathan Adler Room Pack Sale Price: $34.99 |
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Jonathan Adler's fresh, modern ideas about interior design have established him as a true design visionary. This accessory pack brings Adler's design sensibilities to Barbie® doll! Inspired by real pieces, Barbie can now recline in style on a stylish pink sofa with white trim and accompanying pillows... |
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Barbie Heidi Klum Barbie Doll Sale Price: $20.50 |
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Part supermodel, part reality show diva, Heidi Klum has proven she's more than a pretty face. And now she's a living doll, designed by Robert Best no less! Gorgeous and glamorous, Barbie® doll as Heidi Klum wears a fab glitter print mini dress, showing off those legendary legs... |
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4" Mattel Barbie Doll Pink Glitter Cell Phone Christmas Ornament #BA0137 Sale Price: $4.99 |
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Mattel Barbie Pink Cell Phone Christmas Ornament From the Kurt Adler Christmas Collection, Item #BA0137 Features a pink cell phone with a picture of Barbie on the top and a Barbie logo in red glitter Material(s): Resin Dimensions: 4"H x 1... |
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Kurt Adler Barbie Glass Holiday Ornament Sale Price: $19.99 |
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Kurt Adler Barbie Glass Holiday Ornament - Hand-crafted and hand-painted glass holiday ornament, styled in the traditions of European mouth-blown glass! |
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Barbie Holiday Ornament Sale Price: $12.50 |
Today, the Mattel Toy Company employs approximately 25,000 people worldwide. Their vision is to be the world’s premier toy brands – today and tomorrow.
The famous Mattel Toy Company: How did it all begin?
Ruth and Elliot Handler and Harold “Matt” Matson started a new company named Mattel in 1945. They started this company out of a garage workshop in Southern California. Their first Mattel products were picture frames.
Elliot developed a side business in dollhouse furniture made from the picture frame scraps. Harold Matson sold out to his partners, Ruth and Elliot Handler. The Handlers experienced great success with their doll furniture business and turned the companyÂ’s focus to toys.
In 1947, the first in a line of musical toys was produced. It was the Uke-A-Doodle.
In 1955, Mattel began advertising their toys through the Mickey Mouse Club television show and introduced another extremely successful toy call the “Burp Gun.” The Burp Gun was an automatic cap gun based on a patented mechanism.
Barbie is born:
In 1959 the ever so popular Barbie made her debut. Barbie was inspired by Ruth Handler’s daughter’s fascination with cutout paper dolls. She was a doll in which little girls could play out their dreams. The name “Barbie” is after Ruth Handler’s daughter, Barbara’s nickname.
Ken was introduced in 1961. Ken was BarbieÂ’s only boyfriend, and named for the HandlerÂ’s son, Ken. Soon Barbie and Ken were joined by friends of the Midge doll in 1936 and Skipper in 1965.
Christie, an African-American doll was introduced in 1968. Christie was the first of many ethnic friends of Barbie that included Theresa in 1988 and Kira in 1990.
Ruth and Elliot Handler, founders of Mattel, left the company in 1975.
Candy Fashion Dolls
The Candy Fashion dolls were originally produced in 1962, and reintroduced by Charisma, Marie Osmond’s company in January of 2006. In the 1960’s, Candy Fashion dolls were “the dream of every girl.” They could be found in supermarkets across the country, and were best known as having “the most exquisite clothing.” Candy Fashion dolls came with four complete ensembles and matching accessories.
The Charisma Company has faithfully reproduced the original dolls using more quality materials to last for generations of enjoyment and stylish play. Charisma has also created a replica of the vintage box to display Candy and her four original fashions that include mannequin stands and accessories.
Annalee Mobilitee Dolls, Inc.
Annalee Thorndike made her first doll as a young girl in 1934. Doll making was her hobby. She turned the hobby into a commercial enterprise in the early 1950Â’s. Annalee selected a theme and created a collection of dolls surrounding that theme. Today, the Annalee Mobilitee Dolls Company has become one of the countryÂ’s premier makers of collectible dolls.
Annalee is known best for her pose sable dolls that feature a variety of mice, bears, rabbits, and other stuffed animals, along with human figures. Her line of collectibles are about everyday events and occupations, seasons such as Christmas, ValentineÂ’s Day, Irish Celebration, Spring, Halloween and Harvest Days.
Ginny Dolls
The Ginny dolls represent a great American tradition and go back to the year of 1922. Jennie Adler Graves established Ye Olde Vogue Doll Shop in her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. The story behind her start is of a friend, who knew Jennie’s skill in sewing children’s clothes, and asked her to dress some dolls for a charity event. Jennie did not know the “friend” was actually selling the dolls rather than giving them to charity. Soon, Jennie Graves began dressing and selling imported German dolls to Jordan Marsh, which was a well-known Boston department store.
Jennie Graves was extremely successful until 1948. A sales dip in her line of existing dolls inspired Mrs. Graves to introduce an 8” plastic doll, the forerunner to Ginny. Department store owners and consumers all loved the new doll. In 1951, Ginny was official, and named after Jennie’s daughter Virginia. The doll Ginny was so popular that many tried to copy her. By 1957, Ginny had reached over five million dollars per year in sales, and was a dear staple in most American households.
Mrs. Graves retired from the company in 1960. There began a series of management and ownership changes. Ginny underwent some difficult years of change.
In 1995, the “New” Vogue Doll Company pledged to restore Ginny to her deserved place in the world of modern dolls. Ginny, the engaging little girl of the 1950’s and known best for her love of fashion and fun attitude once again rises in the limelight of fine collectible dolls.
Kewpie Dolls
Ah, those ever adorable Kewpie Dolls, they are a much-loved classic and based upon 1912 illustrations of Rose OÂ’Neill. Kewpie dolls are today produced by companies such as Effanbee and Charisma.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com
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