Topsy Turvy doll does anyone know the age of this doll? 13 inches long

Discussion in 'Textiles, Needle Arts, Clothing' started by Kingjoker, May 12, 2016.

  1. Kingjoker

    Kingjoker Well-Known Member

  2. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    With the "pinked" edges and the graphics of the printed fabric, I'm thinking homemade, roughly mid-century. Say 1940-ish.

    Is the brown side a cat?
     
  3. GaleriaGila

    GaleriaGila Hola, y'all!

    Well, I do know that these dolls appeared around 1900... there are various theories as to their origin/meaning. They reached kind of a hey-day in the 1040s-50s. During the mid 1900s, McCalls, Vogart, Redline and Butterick pattern companies began producing their own Topsy-Turvy Doll patterns. Vogart's pattern in the1940s was titled, "Topsy and Eva Doll--One doll with two changeabout faces." Redline's pattern in the 1940s was called Topsy and Eva. So there were lots of home-mades. They were actually still made up into the 60s. Controversial, obviously. My guess would be that yours is pattern-made, mid-century, unless somebody knows better. You might research those patterns and names... to see if you have a match, but... that would be a real challenge.

    EDIT
    We can agree on that, Abuela!!!
     
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  4. Kingjoker

    Kingjoker Well-Known Member

    I think it is little red riding hood and the wolf
     
  5. GaleriaGila

    GaleriaGila Hola, y'all!

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!
    That sounds like a good diagnosis!

    EDIT
    Annnnnnnnd... they're out there. Time frame probably similar.
     
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  6. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Ohhhh. That would make sense.
     
  7. all_fakes

    all_fakes Well-Known Member

    Just as a historical note, the "Topsy and Eva" reference is to a 1927 movie, featuring the Duncan sisters, Rosetta and Vivian, based on their vaudeville act of the 1920s. With Rosetta in blackface they performed an act loosely based on the characters from "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
    The 1940s patterns based on the characters could probably be customized to suit the maker, and I can't tell if these were intended to be a cat, wolf, or what.
    One of them does have a distinct Red Riding Hood appearance, so wolf might be a good guess.
    See http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/onstage/duncanhp.html

    Topsy_and_Eva_poster.jpg

    (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsy_and_Eva
    original copyright United Artists)
     
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  8. GaleriaGila

    GaleriaGila Hola, y'all!

    Thanks, Fakesie... I didn't know the whole story.
    Yeah, I think we have a custom RedRidingHood and Wolfie (What Big Ears You Have, Grandmother!).
     
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  9. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    I've seen one that's the Prince and the Frog so I would also guess Riding Hood/Wolf
     
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