Kimberly, 17 in., by Tomy, 1981-1985, looks like a little schoolgirl. She has long thick nylon hair, painted blue eyes, a five jointed and strung body, and many outfits sold separately, such as the roller-skating one shown. In 1984 the smiling Gettin’ Fancy Kimberly was introduced. Both are in their original outfits.
Various sized wooden beads can be wired together to create bendable bodies. The beads are left natural with only the facial features painted and hair is formed from flax. The 9.5 in. doll on the left was made in Germany. On the right is a 5.5 in. basic bead doll that has been waiting many years for attention. Both can stand by themselves on sturdy feet. They date to 1986.
This 1989 booklet for World Friends by Loretta Daum Byrne contains the patterns and history of seven different national outfits.
World Friends, 1989, is a series of mother and daughter dolls to dress in their national outfits. They were designed by Loretta Daum Byrne along with patterns and instructions for crocheted or no-sew felt costumes.
These six 1 in. Trouble Dolls from Guatemala in their original box are from Parkville Imports Inc., 1981. The native Indians tell this story about the dolls. When you have troubles, share them with your dolls. Remove one doll for each problem and tell them about it. Do this before you sleep and the doll will try to solve it while you sleep. No more than six problems a day or you’ll run out of dolls!
My son brought this 18 in. folk doll back from China circa 1985. She is made of hollow, pliable vinyl. The face is beautifully painted and her hair is drawn back into a partial pigtail that hangs below her waist. A little girl would love to play with her.
In the 1980’s Fred Laughton carved reproductions of Queen Anne type dolls to be sold in the Williamsburg historical district. This colonial man is 12 in. with painted face and flax wig. His legs are peg-jointed but his arms hang from a string around his neck. He is dressed in a Ken Prince outfit from Mattel. The little tricorne felt hat also came from Williamsburg.
Shown here are a couple of 5.5 in. peg-wooden dolls, 1980’s reproductions by Shackman of dolls that were popular in America in the 1850’s. They have the hinged joints of the originals. Even Princess Victoria of England was interested in such dolls. At the age of 14, she and her sewing teacher were dressing these carved wooden dolls. Thirty-two of them were dressed in hand sewn outfits by Victoria herself; some of which are now in the London Museum. The dolls were 3 to 9 in. tall, jointed at knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders. Their painted faces had the addition of a little pointed nose. They were dressed like popular celebrities of the day – dancers, singers, actresses, and members of the Court.
Left to right we have the 1986 Orange Girl from the Cries of London series, House of Nisbet; 7.5 in. Jane Seymour by Odette Arden, Rexard Ltd.; and 8 in. 1986 Marie Antoinette, House of Nisbet.
The Japanese company Takara made this 1985 11 in. Barbie (on right) under license from Mattel. She is fully jointed with bendable arms and legs, light brown hair, brown eyes, and a Japanese animee face. Everyday Kimono describes her outfit. The second Takara doll, Jenny, was made 1981-1987. She is the same size and construction as the Barbie. Her box was labeled Jenny’s Club as there were six other dolls in the series, all bendable for posing.
