The History of Dolls in 19th Century Images by Jennifer Craft-Hurst

Jennifer Craft-Hurst uses images from her own collection of early photography to give a brief history of dolls in the 19th century. From early dolls of papier-mâché and wax to the finest bisque dolls in the Golden Age of doll making, this presentation follows the growth of the beloved child's toy and photographer's studio prop to the loveliest form of art in competition at the Universal Expositions. Craft-Hurst, though relatively new to early photography, has been collecting dolls for over 40 years. The daughter of antiques collectors, she was that rare 8-year-old who begged for the Madame Alexander doll, then kept her mint-in-box, wanting to ensure she never lost her value. After college, she moved to Paris, where she spent her weekends at the Marches aux Puces learning all she could about the French bisque, Golden Age dolls she dreamed of owning. Craft-Hurst has worked in radio and television advertising for over 20 years. She co-wrote a book on French art glass, has written numerous articles for "Antique Doll Collector" and "Doll News" magazines, and has been a featured speaker at the United Federation of Doll Clubs Annual Convention. After realizing that daguerreotypes and ambrotypes were easier to fit in a cabinet, she expanded her collecting interests into the world of early photography. Presented on January 20, 2021.