Oh, You Beautiful Doll. . . .

. . .you great, big, beautiful doll

Let me put my arms about you

I could never live without you

Oh, You Beautiful Doll, 1911, Seymour Brown and Nat D. Ayer.

You'll want to put your arms around these great, big, beautiful dolls by famed German doll artist Annette Himstedt. Named Pancho and Panchita, these wistful children were a limited edition issued in 1994. 

Himstedt is renown for her sensitive and realistic portraits of children in both porcelain and vinyl, as well as for the high quality of her creations. Typical of Himstedt's work, these vinyl dolls have warms brown complexions, beautifully modeled features, human hair wigs, and detailed ethnic costumes. 

Each doll is signed with its name and carries Himstedt's signature.

Himstedt was born in 1948 in East Germany, her family fleeing to West Germany in 1956. As a child, she loved to draw. At the age of 27, after divorce left her with two young children to support, Himstedt became a model in the fashion industry.  Himstedt began to experiment in doll making, with the goal of creating realistic portraits of young children. In 1982, she displayed 15 porcelain dolls at a Christmas market. Soon her dolls were appearing in magazines and other media and demand for her unique portrait dolls spread, making her one of the most famous contemporary doll artists. In 1985, UNICEF asked Himstedt to create five dolls representing children from different parts of the world to be auctioned off on a television charity event. The following year, Himstedt introduced her first vinyl doll. To meet both the growing demand for her dolls and her exacting artistic standards, in 1988 Himsteadt founded her own porcelain factory in Germany. Originally, her vinyl dolls were produced in Spain, but in 2000 vinyl production was also moved to the German factory. Himstedt produced her dolls as one-of-a-kind creations and in limited editions. As she aged, Himstedt cut back on her doll production and in 2008 closed her factory. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

8812-3022

I'm a Barbie Girl. . .

. . .in a Barbie world

Life in plastic, it's fantastic

Whether you want to make your own music video to the 1997 hit "Barbie Girl" by the Danish-Norwegian

pop group Aqua or want to be ready to act out your favorite scenes from the upcoming "Barbie" movie, this vintage Barbie and friends are just what you'll need.

The star of the show is of course Barbie (her full name, according the the backstory created by Mattel, is Barbara Millicent Roberts). Introduced in 1959 and designed by Ruth Handler, Barbie was advertised as a teen-age fashion model. However, this wholesome all-American girl owes her inspiration to a blond German bombshell, Bild Lilli. Lilli was the character of a cartoon drawn by Reinhard Beuthien for the German tabloid "Bild;" she was a frankly a floozy and gold digger, pictured in skin-tight dresses or various states of undress. The cartoon was so popular, in 1955 Bild introduced a Lilli doll. Originally she was marketed to adults, mainly to men as a type of mascot or gag gift. However, little girls, bored with child and baby dolls, were drawn to the curvaceous Lilli and soon German companies began producing additional outfits and accessories. In 1964 Mattel acquired the rights to Lilli, ceasing production of Barbie's fräulein predecessor. 

This ravishing red-haired Barbie has a hairstyle known to collectors as "bubble cut." The bubble cut Barbies were produced from 1961 through 1967; this leggy lass is marked on her bottom "Barbie ® Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.," indicating that she dates from 1961. Her hair color is know as "Titian" and she wears her original black and white swimsuit. Barbie comes with her vinyl carrying case that includes some clothing and accessories, including a "fur" stole, a tiny transistor radio, and a blue princess phone.

Midge, Barbie's best friend, was introduced in 1963 and produced in this straight-legged version until 1967. This Midge (full name Midge Hadley) has Titian hair and wears her original two-piece bathing suit.

And of course, there is Barbie's boyfriend, Ken (full name Kenneth Sean Carson). The first Ken doll, issued in 1961, had fuzzy flocked hair, but the following year he came with painted blond or brunette hair. This model was produced through 1968. Ken wears his original red swimming trunks, a red and white striped jacket with a white terry cloth collar, and cork sandals with red straps. Like Barbie, he has his own carrying case and some assorted clothing and accessories.

Barbie's little sister, Skipper, was introduced in 1964. This Skipper comes not only with her own carrying case with some assorted outfits and accessories. . . 

. . . she comes with her best friend Skooter, introduced the following year. 

Also introduced in 1965 was Ricky, sometime called Skipper's boyfriend. This Ricky retains his original blue swimming trunks, striped jacket with white terry cloth color, and cork sandals with red straps. Apparently, things between Skipper and Ricky didn't work out, because Ricky was produced for only two years. 

Come on Barbie, let's go party!

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!