Doll
Object number2019.148.1
Manufacturer
Ideal Novelty and Toy Company
Date1934-1936
OriginUnited States of America
MediumComposition material; Paint; Satin; Fabric; Paper; Ink; Metal; Plastic; Leather
Credit LineGift of Gary W. Becker
DescriptionEighteen-inch doll in the form of a young girl. Doll is made from composition material that has been painted. Doll head and limbs are articulated and are mounted with metal fittings. Doll has chin-length curly blond hair with blue satin bowed ribbon headband. Doll has open and close eyes and dimpled smile. Doll wears hip-length light gray pleated dress with embroidered flounce collar; dress is attached to blue satin ribbons tied around each wrist; dress has blue satin bowed ribbon on chest with pinback button attached; pinback button has sepia-toned image of Shirley Temple on front; dress has two plastic buttons down back opening. Underneath dress is light gray slip and body suit combination garment, each layer has needlepoint trim along bottom hem. Doll wears a pair of beige knit socks and pair of light beige Mary Jane shoes with gray metal snap around ankle, gray metal buckle on front, and brown leather soles. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (Laying down): 18.125 x 9 x 4.5 in. (46 x 22.9 x 11.4 cm)Height x Width x Depth (Seated): 11.5 x 13 x 12 in. (29.2 x 33 x 30.5 cm)
MarksPinback button mounted on front of doll's chest has brown text around the perimeter "THE WORLD'S DARLING / GENUINE SHIRLEY TEMPLE AN IDEAL DOLL", on the bottom edge "HER SIGNATURE", and on the top edge "IDEAL NOVELTY & TOY CO. MADE IN U.S.A."
Dress has white fabric tag on reverse at top with blue and red embroidered text "Genuine / SHIRLEY TEMPLE / DOLL DRESS / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / IDEAL NOV. & TOY CO. / NRA / [eagle] / U.S. / CODE / MADE IN U.S.A."
Dress has white fabric tag inside back near bottom hem with black text "18".
Slip dress has white tag inside back near bottom hem with black text "18".
Historical NotesThis Shirley Temple doll was the prized possession of donor Gary W. Becker's mother, Caroline (Nikolaus) Becker. Born on April 11, 1926, Caroline grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, but the doll was a gift from Mrs. Virginia Duncan of Dormont, Pennsylvania. Every Christmas, Mrs. Duncan would take Caroline to downtown Pittsburgh to see the store windows. The Shirley Temple doll hit toy stores just in time for Christmas in 1934. A creation of the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, the doll was heavily advertised in newspapers throughout the country. The NRA tag tells us this doll was made before 1936 when Roosevelt dissolved the National Recovery Administration. The doll could be purchased in various sizes ranging from 11 to 27 inches. This one is 18 inches tall.
Related person
Shirley Temple Black
Previous owner
Caroline Nikolaus Becker
(born 1926)
Related person
Virginia Duncan
On View
Not on view
c. 1955
