The Harriston-Minto Heritage Gallery will be transformed into a world of antique and collectible dolls from Feb 27 to April 11.
Approximately 200 dolls owned by Marie Randall, of Holstein, will be on display, including china heads and wax dolls in original costumes from the 1870s, composition dolls from the 1900s to the 1940s, “magic skin” babies, walking dolls, and hard plastic dolls of the 1950s and vinyl and plastic baby and fashion dolls from the 1960s to the present.
The main gallery will centre on Canadian dolls and the Canadian doll industry since its commercial beginning in 1911. The two smaller gallery spaces will display dolls from around the world and “dolls for fun.”
Randall will be at the opening Feb. 27 at 7pm, and all are welcome.
She started to collect seriously in 1998 by trying to find her childhood doll, a “magic skin” baby from the 1950s. Magic skin was a rubber substance that deteriorated very quickly and few in good condition can be found today.
During the search an old composition doll caught her eye at a farm auction and she bought it. She later discovered it was a 1940s Eaton’s Beauty that was made in Canada.
Since that day approximately 100 other composition dolls and 150 to 200 plastic and vinyl Canadian dolls have made their home with her in Holstein. She now cleans, repairs, and restores them herself, dresses them making many of their outfits herself and styles their hair.
Just before Christmas 2008 she bought the doll she started seeking in “like new” condition with original clothes and hair bow and the original hang tag. But that was not the end of her doll collecting.
She continues to keep a basket of composition dolls waiting for restoration and many vinyl dolls await new wardrobes.
Gallery hours are Tuesday, 7 to pm and Thursday and Friday 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm, and Saturday 11am to 1pm.
