Doll News Winter 2018 - 17

In the 19th century, Eugene Barrois established
himself as an innovative businessman in the world
of dolls supplying the burgeoning doll industry with
high quality goods, striving to expand his product
lines and always embracing new ideas. During his
lifetime Barrois strove to be on the cutting edge of
the technology of his day. He was fascinated with
the construction, mechanisms and composition of
the beautiful Parisiennes. He looked critically at the
innovations of his peers, collaborated on new designs
and carefully oversaw the ﬁnishing touches of each
of the sculpts that carried his name. Excellence was
his goal and the glorious antique lady dolls that have
survived down to today are a testament to his success.
His meticulously produced antique ladies still play an
important role in the doll community, not only for the
sake of admiration and collectability, but as objects to be
studied, reproduced and to act as inspiration for today's
diverse community of doll artists. Just as the demand for
goods aimed at the middle class of the Second Empire
was fulﬁlled by Eugene Barrois, there is today a growing
demand for authentic reproduction goods that reﬂect
desirable antiques. A renewed interest in the "Golden
Age of Dollmaking," the era between 1850 and 1870, has
inspired many talented contemporary artists, sculptors
and seamstresses to produce their own interpretations
of the classic French fashion lady dolls, thus creating
a demand for the products which move dollmaking
forward.
THE JOINTED HURET BODY & DOLLSPART
SUPPLY COMPANY
oday, there are those who are following in the
footsteps of Barrois by making their mark in a
similar fashion. One such enterprise, Dollspart
Supply Company, has been in operation since 1940
and continues to fulﬁll the needs of the ever-growing
doll community of reproduction artists, seamstresses,
researchers and collectors. In 2015 the company released
the "Jointed Huret Body," designed and developed by
the team efforts of Barbara Frohlich of Dollspart
Supply, Robert Tonner of Tonner Doll Company and
Sheryl Williams, DAG (Doll Artisan Guild) Doctor of
Dollmaking artist and instructor. A whole new world
of cutting edge dollmaking was beginning to take
shape. Inspired by the classic beauty of the original
antique lady dolls, Dollspart Supply began to seek
out new techniques while striving for the same kind
of excellence which thrived in the mid-19th century.
New technologies were making possible the creation

T

Barbara Frohlich and Robert Tonner hold the
prototype of the "Jointed Body," created by the
development team of Dollspart Supply, Robert
Tonner and Sheryl Williams.

Posing from left to right are Barbara Frohlich of
Dollspart Supply Company, Danielle Theimer,
Francois Theimer and doll artist Darlene Lane.

of reproduction dolls which more closely resembled
the authentic antique dolls than ever before. It was
this dedication to the creation of beautiful, collectible
dolls that reﬂected the original designs of long ago
that moved Dollspart Supply Company forward. The
products resulting from these innovations have, in turn,
inspired many doll artists and enthusiasts to research,
learn and expand their knowledge and has re-stimulated
interest in the doll community today. Even dealers of
antique dolls are seeing a resurgence of interest in the
dolls of the mid-1800's as collectors, entrepreneurs and
students of history seek to familiarize themselves with
this fascinating period.
DOLL NEWS * UFDC.ORG

17
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Winter 2018
