Friday 30 May 2014

Dol-Toi Dolls Galore-Have Never Seen So Many-Some Quite Rare!

Yesterday,  Marion Osborne's wonderful old Dol-Toi Doll Collection, was put up for sale on KT Miniatures website, which has been collected over many years, and all of which appear in Marion's amazing  THE BOOK OF DOL-TOI.
It has been a real treat to handle various dolls that I had only ever seen before in pictures! Over 90 dolls were listed yesterday alone and I shall highlight some of the more unusual ones on here. 
This handsome little couple may not look anything special but they are amongst the very first of the button head Tomac dolls that were made by Miss Thompson ....probably in the 1940s. The poor father has lost his feet but mother still has her original clothing and shoes which are made out of sealing wax would you believe! Real collector items.
These are the more recognizable Tomac dolls with lead feet. My favourite is Daisy May (who is quite rare) in the middle...her shoes may have lost quite a bit of paint but she is gorgeous. Tomac dolls are easily confused with Grecon dolls....they are so similar, but in Marion's Book Of Dol-Toi, she gives good advice on how to spot the difference -  basically Tomac dolls have a button head which creates a pronounced jaw line and round face,  big luscious lips and big eyes plus seams down the centre of their lead painted feet. I must admit, even I still have problems sometimes in identifying, particularly if the dolls are really battered and worn. But aren't they gorgeous!!!

Then come the more labour saving plaster head Dol-Toi dolls with lead feet.....I understand that they were made just for a short while, in the very early 1960s, and then they were replaced by plastic heads. My favourite is the nurse, she is quite rare and simply does not come along very often. The Grandpa and Schoolgirl are still in their original packets and never been played with. However, some of the heads look a bit scary and enough to give little girls from any generation nightmares...haha!
These are plaster head dolls from the Children Of All Nations range. There is a Welsh doll,  a Tyrolean doll (she has lost part of her costume), a magnificent Persian doll (just look at that costume) and a Dutch doll. Lovely!

Then there came the plastic headed Dol-Toi dolls and then much later the Figertoi dolls. These Dol-Toi dolls seen above are still in their original packaging.
There are little toddler boys....
There are little toddler girls....
There are bigger boys....
There are bigger girls....
There are even children in coats and hats!
 There are quite a few father dolls....here are just some.
There are also various mother dolls in different outfits....I like the one in her posh coat and handbag!
In this photo above, you can see some of the more unusual plastic headed dolls......the one on the end is Little Red Riding Hood!
Amongst this collection too are some rare "Figertoi Family" doll sets. Above is the "Figertoi Afro Family"which consists of four dolls, all in original packet and never been played with.

 Then there is this double "Figertoi Oriental Family" pack consisting of 8 dolls, still unopened so consequently are in immaculate condition. 
Finally, there is this little "Figertoi Asian Family" group...the little baby particularly is delightful.

To View This Complete Collection....
CLICK HERE

3 comments:

Troy said...

Wow, lots of history there - quite a collection!

Giac said...

Hello Celia,
How wonderful. I envy all the incredible antiques you have seen and handled. They are just lovely and I agree that the nurse is superb.
Big hug,
Giac

KT Miniatures said...

Cheers Giac and Troy for your comments. It certainly is some collection and fascinating to see how the different style of dolls changed over the years. Celia