1934 Ideal 18 Shirley Temple Doll Composition, Horsman Clothing, Original Shoes

  
1934 Ideal 18 Shirley Temple Doll Composition, Horsman Clothing, Original Shoes. Original 1934 IDEAL First Generation Debut Shirley Temple Doll Released to coordinate with her then current movie Stand Up and Cheer. " She is 18" tall with a fully jointed composition head & body. Features include her terrific 52 ringlet blond wig, glass hazel sleep eyes, dimples, and that precious smile with six teeth showing. When I first saw this doll I thought to myself: She looks nothing like Shirley Temple!

" But, I soon discovered that this is the original "chubby version of Shirley which actually matched her appearance at that time. She was later slimmed down as both she and the doll franchise aged. This Shirley has rather loose joints and her face has some crazing (as happens).

One eye is a little cloudy. Otherwise she is in very good condition. She is outfitted with her original oh-too-cute buckle shoes, knit bobby socks, a blue hair ribbon, and a contemporaneous bobby pin!

This Shirley was found wearing some nice linen undies and a very rare Horsman sundress, both of which fit perfectly and are most likely contemporaneous. Some spot staining on both. Things to Hug and Love. Yes, I remember my favorite teddy bear with a warm feeling that has never faded. He was probably an ideal companion for me in many ways.

I loved the feel of his coat and petted it as if he were alive. His glass eyes were lifelike and always kept me in view. And, he had cute ears to carry him by.

But, best of all I could wind him up and he turned somersaults! I don't remember who gave him to me but I do know my parents were relieved that their squirrelly little kid had something to keep him occupied.... There was a point in my life when I slept with all my animals (somersault teddy among them) and felt safe. At times I had about a dozen animals lined up and tucked into bed with me at night. Of course, my brother made fun of this (ours was not a Beaver-Wally/Ricky-David relationship) but I kept it up for years.

Of all those companions it is only Teddy I can remember; I did not let go of him until I was married and gone. Remarkably, as Portland Pandemonium grew and people became familiar with our sincere desire to help find new loving homes for their treasures, we started getting calls to take on large personal collections which frequently included dolls and bears. The downsizers had to let go them, but did not for want them in a common garage sale, or worse, Goodwill. For me, this took on the flavor of becoming an adoption agency and fit right in with my shop's tenets of Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle, Repurpose, Repair, Up-Cycle.... An excellent example of this synergistic process is taking place with my shop's current batch of.

Last year just before Christmas I got a call from my neighbors who had been giving me various interesting odds and ends they were letting go of during their slow downsizing process. However, this time I was shocked to find they wanted to give me nearly the entire doll collection that had belonged to their aunt, Janie Sturtevant, a famous International Grand Master Doll Maker during the 1980's. When I entered my neighbor's parlor I was overwhelmed: there were dozens of tubs stacked two and three high filled with dolls and doll accessories including clothing and parts. There were dolls Ms Sturtevant had made along with dolls she had collected, as well as dolls that were handed down to her through several generations.

It was like being in a museum. Since then, I have facilitated many adoptions with many more ready to go; come visit and see who might be waiting for you.. And, while visiting those lovely dolls, be sure to give some time to the other many orphans like the ones below who have had a rough life and are hoping to find their comforting and loving.

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