EHAG Black and White Challenge!

What do you know... I was invited to join the Eclectic Hallowe'en Artists Group! What a great honor. There is an ongoing assignment to create black and white pieces (The Black and White Fright Challenge) from May 1rst to the 7th. I have listed some things on ebay. This is my first time on ebay, so we'll see how it goes. Reserves are set low, so see if it works to your advantage! Below are photos with links to the auctions.


See the legend of the vaudeville circuits, juke joints, and even tent revivals...
Han'some Jack, the Banjo Man
(all the  ladies' hearts will be a-flutter)
Click link under Han'someJack's photos to view auction

http://cgi.ebay.com/EHAG-B-W-Fright-Allen-W-Cunningham-doll-OOAK-Banjo-man-/180501456322?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Folk_Art&hash=item2a06b9a5c2

Jeannine O' Lantern
What secret  lies behind Jeannine's alluring Mona Lisa Smile?  Click the link under her pictures to view her auction and find out the answer...

http://cgi.ebay.com/EHAG-B-W-Fright-Allen-W-Cunningham-doll-OOAK-candy-box-/180501463043?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Folk_Art&hash=item2a06b9c003

Spring Spree Update

After a bleak winter up and down the east coast and Midwest, a bright day of socializing and shopping was in order. April 17th turned out to just the day to fit the bill. Paul Gordon and a few of his artist friends hosted a day of fun, sales, and delicious refreshments. The weather even lent a gentle hand by holding back the winds and rain... for most of the day, at least!

If you haven't paid a visit to Mr. Gordon and his little wonderland of a shop, please put this trip on the top of your "to-do" list. Paul is a delightful host and words hardly describe the enchantment of his little (and quite large) creations. Martinsburg seems the perfect setting for an early 1900's movie and there are also some nice alternate shopping areas within 10 - 20 miles.

An invitation was extended for an "after-event" gathering at Paul Gordon's house. This was the highlight of the trip. Outside, the house is an impressive Second Empire-style in brick , with a mansard roof. Inside it's as if you step into the artist's mind. Curiosities and whimsies fill all nooks and crannies. Antique photos, paintings, posters, and tapestries hang from the walls. Dolls, mannequins, and decorative objects beckon for your attention from tabletops and shelves. What a joy it all is to be hold!

So, without further delay, please have a look at a few photos from the Spring Spree...

Paul Gordon's shop window on Queen St. in Martinsburg, WV

Upon first entering the shop...flower arrangement

Flower ladies by Paul

Little mousie by Paul

Leslie McCabe rug hooking

Cathy Shamel quilted creations

Dara DiMagno jewelry

Deborah Hartwick mohair soft sculpture

Deana Ellis needle felting

my things...'nuff said

and various photos from Paul's shop follow.

Paul Gordon and Friends Spring Spree

In just a few weeks, I'll be off to.....

Paul Gordon and Friends Spring Spree
April 17th 9am - 2pm
204 South Queen Street Martinsburg, WV 25401
304.260.0020

...a full report will follow

A "Famous" Gottschalk Dollhouse

The story of a treasured find.........................................................

Before

After

Several years ago I attended a private doll sale, hosted by a dear doll-dealer friend of mine. The sale consisted of the collections of another friend, recently deceased. With so many wonderful things available at this sale, a humble little dollhouse sat forgotten on a table of odds and ends. Of course, I always take pity on humble little houses and recognized this particular dollhouse as a Gottschalk-in-the-rough. It was "priced to sell," so I purchased it, despite a few puzzled glances.

Upon doing some research, I was pleased to find that this (formerly) crumbling grand lady is "famous." This dollhouse appears, as purchased, on page 31 of Evelyn Ackerman's The Genius of Moritz Gottschalk. According to the text, the delightful balcony dome is a very rare Gottschalk architectural element.

Almost as long as I have owned this house, it has been packed away. Recently, I decided to unpack and re-examine this little gem. Though the former owner and Ackerman didn't seem to think restoration was neccessary, I couldn't help thinking this house "just seemed sad." With intentions of being as gentle as possible, I began some restoration work.

Because there is paper-loss above the "window-trio," I had few misgivings about altering this area. I recreated a triple keystone trim above the windows using layered cardboard (and a creative, patina'd paint job). There is some warpage in this area and the cardboard, while appearing to be wood, had just enough give to follow the bowing. I also used layered cardboard to create the two middle window divisions. These divisions are covered with a print-out of a scale photograph of the existing brick paper. Regarding the roof, only the front right section was missing blue paint. I decided to go ahead and paint it in a custom mixed, matching color. I roughed it up a little, so the finish would mimic the back roof panel. A little beeswax polish was applied to all painted areas. This wax gives the painted portions a slight lustre and lubricates the dry wood.

Lace curtains were the only alteration to the interior. Overall condition considered, the interior floor and wallpapers remain beautifully intact. Restored nearer it's former splendor, I doubt this "famous" dollhouse will be packed away anytime soon.

.... dollsbyallenwcunningham.com ....

Highlights, End of 2009

Well, well, well, where to begin? With a blog update, seems to be the answer to that question! First of all, I'd like to wish you all health and happiness in 2010. This new century is just flying by, isn't it? With that said, I am going to break with my blog mission and briefly relate the events of 2009.

If I said the last half of 2009 was hectic, that would be an understatement! In August, I travelled to Sacramento, CA to participate in the Golden Glow Christmas Convention. What an experience....crazy Christmas collectors, as far as the eye could see and some of the most amazing new and old Christmas collections one could ever imagine. The members of this organization set-up a massive "museum hall" to showcase their collections. This was simply amazing! There were also themed dinners, lectures, an auction, and sales rooms. I sold my creations at the Christkindl Market and from my hotel room. I also caught-up with many of my old California friends.

My favorites in the museum room, antique Santa costumes

Introduction of new Christmas tree ornaments

Upon returning home from Sacramento, there were six weeks to prepare for for Halloween and Vine in Petaluma, CA and Ghoultide Gathering in Northville, MI. Also around this time, I found out I was was accepted by the jury for a show called Christmas in the Woods, at Columbiana, OH. So, it was work and more work and a little more work, on top of that! I kept things in perspective and did my best to enjoy what I love doing. I had a ball creating this group of Halloween pieces. I incorporated several antique props in this group, including a 1920's Kewpie lamp, a 1920's platform horse, Edwardian shoes, and 1930's salt and pepper shakers. It sounds like quite an unlikely collection of items, but it all made sense in the end....cross my heart

Hallowe'en Family Portrait (Parents have 1930's salt and pepper shaker heads)

Table at Ghoultide Gathering (in the Old Inn...loved it!)

After travelling cross country twice and setting up at three shows in seven weeks, my head cleared a little and it was time for Christmas in the Woods. Columbiana, OH is only about 20 minutes away and I was pleased to be a part of a local show. This show takes place literally "in the woods." It's really a charming venue in which every vendor has an interesting little "cabin" for merchandising and sales. This show takes place on the the second and third weekends of October. Approximately 30,000 people attend....charter busses arrive daily! I made many wonderful new acquaintances. Pittsburgh-area collectors seemed especially fond of my work.

Cabin/sales booth at Christmas in the Woods

So, by the end of October, you guess that my year was winding down? Oh, no....not just yet! I still had obligations to meet for the Toy Shoppe and Doll Masters Christmas catalogues. I also was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's Christmas decoration of the Arms Family Museum home. The museum home is a wonderful circa 1900 arts and crafts style mansion which was named Greystone, by it's original owner, Olive Arms. Many local collectors loaned all kinds of wonderful things for the display. I even got caught up in the loaning, with antique dollhouses and dolls. What a treat...didn't even seem like work! Now, sometime in this time frame, I recieved an invitaion to sell at a holiday open house, hosted by Paul Gordon in Martinsburg, WV. I would not pass on an invitation from Paul, for anything! Paul is an amazing talent and one heck of a host! Visiting him is always such a pleasure, so accept his invitation if ever given the chance. His studio and his home are wonderlands....outward reflections of the workings of his imagination, I suspect.

Paul Gordon's shop display window

Some pieces that made the trip to Martinsburg, WV

So, there you have it! That is my rambling, whirlwind summary of the last part of 2009. After a little "collapse-time," I am back at it. Please check out my website dollsbyallenwcunningham.com for more information and photos.

Gottschalk, So Appealing

During the twenty years I have been collecting antique toys and dolls, I have come across many items that could set the heart racing. In the case of items from the Moritz Gottschalk firm, there is potential for coronary arrest! Well, perhaps this is a bit of exaggeration....or is it?!

Are you familiar with the the old German toys from the Moritz Gottschalk factories? The history of these particular toys begins in the year 1865. This was the year in which Ludwig Gottschalk began manufacturing cardboard and paper toys, as an extension of his bookbinding business. In 1866, he created a cottage industry of piece-workers and produced toy military helmets. By 1873, Ludwig owned a large factory in Marienburg, Germany. The factory complex housed, among other things, a lumber mill and lithography facility utilized in the production of tiny structures. The 1870's were the beginning of a golden age for miniature toys. With his fully equipped factory, Ludwig Gottschalk made some of the finest dollhouses, doll rooms, doll furniture, toy stables, and toy grocer shops ever available. The business grew and thrived throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ludwig died in 1905 and his son, Wilhelm Moritz, assumed company ownership. Though there was subsequent handing-down of the business, it retained the name Moritz Gottschalk until all production ceased in 1942.

What is it about Gottschalk's delightful little creations that is so appealing? American-made Bliss dollhouses possess similar construction methods and details in wood, cardboard, and lithographed paper. Overall, Bliss dollhouses are fanciful, if not overly sentimental, depictions of their full-sized counterparts. With Bliss toys, fairy-tales come to mind and I believe this impression leads to the roots of the Gottschalk appeal. The little Gottschalk houses seem more "real." While Bliss is a fashion plate, Gottschalk is every day attire. When ever I see a Gottschalk house, the experience is that of identity and coming home.

With such strong feelings about these toys, you may imagine that they often have influence in my creations. I am fortunate enough to own a few Gottschalk pieces- 3 dollhouses, 2 stables, 1 train station, 1 fortress, and the ultimate, 1 toy caravan. In the following two pictures, you may view my red- roofed stable and train station. Both date after 1915.

Last winter, while preparing for Paul Gordon's Friends in Christmas, I had an 8" Santa that needed some appropriate toys. What better playthings could Santa possess than a stable and platform horse? You may view the results in my blurry photo 3. Santa cradles a Gottschalk-influenced red roof stable which I created using painted illustration board. I enjoyed the construction of this piece, but it was soon time for this Santa to serve his purpose. He caught the eye of a collector and was whisked away to a new home where I hope he brings joy for many years to come.

........ please visit dollsbyallenwcunningham.com ........

From My Studio to You.....

Here on Hazelwood Avenue, we're waiting for Spring to show herself. Yesterday was partly sunny and 70 degrees. Today the rains came and it is forty nine degrees. Well, what better way to spend a rainy day than in creating a new blog?

In this post and future posts, I would like to share some of the things that inspire me. Often, the work that appears from my studio begins with an idea from that "muse" I call my collection.

As an example, I would like to share my antique fortune telling doll. This doll is a fascinating delight and a chronicle of a gentler time. She is categorized as German parian-type (Parian-type refers to white porcelain. In the 19th century, this unglazed white porcelain was produced in imitation of Greek marble). At some point circa. 1870, she was made up in a fanciful costume of velvet and glass beads. She also wears an underskirt of folded paper sheaves. These sheaves are the truly fascinating part of the presentation. Probably following a ladies' magazine instructions, each paper was cut and folded into a sort of petal shape. The lower end of each sheaf has a tab. When the tab is pulled and spread, a fortune is revealed. Clearly this little lady resided in France (or at least with French speakers), as each fortune is written in the "language of love."

I tried my hand at at recreating this type of doll with my Poupee Bien Informee (well informed doll). The fortune papers took some time to figure out, as did forming a secure and sturdy skirt-base. The actual doll more closely resembles some of the antique milliner-type dolls from my collection. My witch is dressed in vintage cottons and wears a laced girdle and a double neck bow (shades of recently viewing Marie Antoinette). As a finishing touch, I mounted my doll on a turned wood base for ease of handling and fortune viewing.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip into my experience. Please watch for future posts and have a great day.

.... check out dollsbyallenwcunningham.com ....