|
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a D.A.G. member and have a competition question, please email to: seeleyguild@aol.com. We would love to hear from you.
Question:
Can you enter a boxed set of Kestners in competition, and if so, in which category?
Answer:
Unfortunately there is no category for boxed dolls with extra heads. The best would be to take the completed doll and enter it in German dolls category.
Question:
I have two questions about costume color. Does doll underwear have to be white or is off-white OK? Can baby doll costumes be off-white or do they have to be white?
Answer:
Underwear and baby doll costumes can be white or off-white.
Question:
I really love the Sweetheart mold from the Atlanta convention. Is there a different size composition body I can use for her because I think that the body recommended (GB16) is a little small. If I dress her like a lady, do I have to put her in the Fashion doll category for competition?
Answer:
The body for Sweetheart might seem small because on antique dolls, sometimes heads seem large in proportion to the body. (The head was created in 1922.) There is also a lady body available from Seeley’s (item #LB190S) if you dress her as a lady. If you can find a slightly larger German body that would be fine, otherwise you can put her on any body that you want and enter it in the Imagination category.
You may dress Sweetheart as a lady and enter her in the Fashion category if you wish. Then you need to find an appropriate lady body, cloth with shoulder plate, or composition. Or you could dress her as a young lady in a twenties dress and leave her on a German child body. (Another example with a lady doll on a child body would be Simon & Halbig Oriental doll, costumed as a lady but on a child body.)
Question:
In which category would I have to enter a French doll with a bebe (child) body, if she is dressed like a lady? In Fashion Dolls or French Children?
Answer:
It would be best to enter it in the French Children category. There are antique dolls on children bodies and costumed in long, lady like dresses. An example is our E.J. Camille that is shown on her Dollmaker’s Worksheet in her antique long dress and hat. Do document the costume by entering the doll with pictures of the antique costume your copied.
Question:
Can material shoes be used for dolls that are entered with affidavit for Grand Master title or Tripe Crown title? Also, the A. Marque boy, traditionally he does not wear a hat with the costume I have made, so my question is, is this acceptable for the Triple Crown or must I make a hat? And last, for the Modern Grand Master title, are handmade acrylic wigs acceptable?
Answer:
Material (cloth) shoes are accepted for all titles. The material should match the outfit and the shoes be handmade with leather soles. For Triple Crown you must make a hat: “Hat must be constructed from scratch. You may use straw, but it has to be sewn into a hat from straw-by-the-yard. Excluded are knitted/crocheted hat/cap and one-piece felt hat. Hat to be created in harmony with the rest of the costume. Wig must be constructed from wefted mohair or human hair. Skin wig is not acceptable.” So acrylic wigs are not acceptable for either GMDM or TC title.
Question:
Can I use a MB140S modern composition body or a GB15S German composition body for Oliver (S881)?
Answer:
For Oliver in competition, please use the matching shoulder plate, arms and legs. The MB140S would be allowed as it is a modern body, but it seems too full. The GB15S is a reproduction body for antique dolls and not acceptable in any modern doll category.
Question:
For a modern doll, can you use a handmade crown for a head piece? I am entering for the Grand Master title.
Answer:
Dolls that compete for the Grand Master title can be entered with a so called headdress instead of a hat. A handmade crown seems fine.
Question:
When a Milette doll is entered in competition, does it compete for the Aurora award? If a doll has 100 points and is a rosette winner, will it win the top award over a 96 point doll?
If the judges choose the 96 point doll over the 100 point doll for the top award, what would the incentive be for the person making the 100 points to enter again?
Answer:
No, a Milette doll competes for the Millie. The Aurora is chosen from the best-in category rosette winners in categories for All-Bisque, Doll House Dolls (repro.) and Small Modern Dolls.
A 100 point doll is a wonderful achievement. Any dollmaker should be very proud. But 100 points does not guarantee a top award, or even a rosette. In a group of rosette winners for a specific top award, every doll has an equal chance. When picking the top award, the judges do not look at the score but for the doll that stands out, the doll with the most presence and with the highest excitement factor. So the judges could very well pick a doll with less than 100 points for the top award.
The incentive to enter again? The fact that the person would have a good chance for the top award next time. It always depends on who you are competing against.
Question:
I noticed a doll in competition, costumed in a Japanese costume. The fabric was Chinese; that does not seem authentic.
Answer:
I know the doll you are talking about. Everyone thought it was very nice that someone has recreated this traditional Japanese bridal costume on a beautiful French child doll. My Japanese source tells me that there are no restrictions to where the material would come from; and as the red and gold tones were very authentic, the all-over result was great. These dolls are traditionally handed down to first-born girls from their parents. The bride is often part of a group; at least the wedding couple is given, sometimes a larger set. In Japan, these dolls are brought out on Girl’s Day on March 3. I’d like to add that in general in competition, costumes on dolls in regional dress are judged quite liberally, as many costumes on antique dolls were inspired by people’s folk costumes rather than a precise replica of one.
Questions:
For DDP dolls, should all body parts of the doll be cast in the white slip? Is it acceptable in competition to cast the body parts (limbs) in Seeley’s French Bisque® or other skin tone color? Is judging done strictly according to the worksheet – i.e. for Oliver, or is there some leeway for originality?
Answer:
It would be best to cast body parts in the same porcelain as the head. If you use a different slip for some parts, you might have problems with different shrinkage and in matching the colors. In general, limbs on DDP dolls should preferably be cast in porcelain. This way they may also be shaded and blushed to enhance the appearance of the doll. Worksheets for specific DDP dolls should be studied for guidance. Painting does not have to be done strictly according to the worksheets. Dollmaker’s Worksheet, Guidelines for Dimensional Doll Painting (Seeley item #GIM1) is your best source for information about this technique.
The best DDP references available are:
General Guidelines for DDP (GIM1)
Worksheet for Oliver (WSMD19)
Worksheet for Cherry Ripe (WSMD16)
DollPro magazine, April/May 1995, pgs. 4-7 - Angel
DollPro magazine, July/Aug 1997 – Fawn pgs. 12-19 and Dawn pgs. 6-11
DollPro magazine, July/Aug 1998 – Oliver pgs. 18-23
DollPro magazine, Nov/Dec/Jan 1998 – Annika pgs. 12-15
(Published by Seeley’s, Oneonta, New York)
|
