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In the 1930s, lovable Shirley Temple became a symbol of happiness and hope in the midst of the Great Depression. A wave of merchandising followed, including a series of high quality and now highly prized Shirley Temple composition dolls (composition is a sawdust-based wood pulp, which can crack easily, so many did not survive). Later Shirley Temple dolls, from the 1950s, were made of vinyl and are therefore more common.

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Interviews & Articles

Katsina or Kachina? Barry Walsh on the Spiritual Roots of Native American Dolls

Katsinas are representations of spirit beings, so they should convey a certain amount of spirituality. The old ones generally do t… [more]

An Interview on Antique Dolls With Museum Curator Noreen Marshall

We have a very small team here at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, so we all have to do lots of different things. I do… [more]

What a Doll: 1940s Arranbee Southern Girl

I started to collect dolls around the age of 12, when I found this doll in a dresser drawer at my grandmother’s. She was in a pret… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Loretta McKenzie's tribute to the charming, singing, dancing, curly haired Shirley Temple. Click 'My Dolls' on the … [read review or visit site]

Dollreference.com

Dollreference.com

This densely packed index of antique and vintage dolls claims to offer over 10,000 images of dolls from the 1800s … [read review or visit site]

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Rhonda Wilson's collection of 1950s dolls, organized by name (Ginny and friends, Littlest Angel and friends, etc.) … [read review or visit site]

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylee's extensive collection of vintage dolls from the 1930s to 90s. Click the balloons to browse. Though Kaylee s… [read review or visit site]

Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Embrace your inner child on this website from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and i… [read review or visit site]



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Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 114 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
All Orig 13" Composition Shirley Temple Doll In Rare Outfit W Pin & Skates 1930s27" Composition Shirley Temple Doll - BeautifulVintage 1930's Composition Ideal 22" Shirley Temple Doll.Antique Ideal Shirley Temple Doll With All Original Parts - Almost PerfectVintage 22" Ideal Shirley Temple Tagged Sleepy Eyes Composition Doll +pin1930s Ideal 13 Inch Shirley Temple Wee Willy Winkie Composition Doll Take-a-lookEaston Press Signed Shirley Temple Limited Edition Book1930s Ideal Composition 18 Inch Shirley Temple DollVintage Composition Ideal Shirley Temple 18" Rewigged Original Restyled Wig IncMotion Picture 10/34 Mary Brian Shirley Temple Marie Dressler Neil HamiltonShirley Temple Composition Doll, 20"1940s Ideal Shirley Temple 18 Inch Composition DollPicture Play 7/36 Madge Evans Robert Taylor Shirley Temple John Beal Pat O'brienScreenland 3/38 Alice Faye Shirley Temple Errol Flynn Eleanor Powell Bobby BreenMovie Mirror 7/35 Janet Gaynor Shirley Temple John Boles Katharine HepburnVintage Ideal 13" Shirley Temple Doll~composition~orig Dress~shoe~socks1950s Ideal 5 Boxed Outfits For Shirley TempleAdorable Shirley Temple Doll~the Danbury Mint Collection! 1930s Shirley Temple Doll 18" Unmarked Curly Top Composition Cutie!Collector's Scottie Dog With Shirley Temple Doll Danbury Mint Retired Box/papers12" 50's Vintage Ideal Shirley Temple Doll With Original Box And Extra ClothesVintage 1950's Shirley Temple Doll W/ Various Clothing & AccessoriesOfficial Shirley Temple 18 Dvd's Box Set Little Darling Collection As Seen On TvOriginal Dress For Composition Shirley TempleAntique Miss Charming Comp. Doll For Restoration A Shirley Temple Look A LikeVintage Shirley Temple Doll With Original Tagged DressThe Shirley Temple Ultimate Collection 20dvd Set 27film1930's Original Shirley Temple Center Snap Shoes/socks For 13"Vintage Shirley Temple Doll Overnight Case Black Patent Leather1930s Ideal Composition 13 Inch Shirley Temple DollAll Original 22" Shirley Temple16" Composition Shirley Temple Doll - Very Pretty1930's Ideal Shirley Temple Type Doll T17 All Composition,mohair Wig,sleep Eyes1957 Shirley Temple Doll By Ideal, #st-15-n & Heidi Outfit, No Reserve!! Shirley Temple Coat, Purse, Clothes And DollCobalt Blue Shirley Temple Pitcher And Bowl With Wheaties Cereal AdShirley Temple Vintage Ideal PinIdeal Composition Shirley Temple Doll As Is!Shirley Temple 18" Composition Doll Ideal 1930's Sleepy Eyes Good Condition Vintage Shirley Temple Doll By Ideal. No 9500Vintage Child/doll Coat, Shirley Temple Style, Red Velvet W/hat, Impeccable CondShirley Temple 1950s 12" Doll, St Dress & Shoes + Coat & HatLot Of 3 1930's Composition Dolls-1.shirley Temple-2.soft Body-3.composition#327Shirley Temple Doll - 12 Inch - Vinyl - Brown Eyes - Original Playsuit1936 Shirley Temple Set Of 5 Books In Original BoxShirley Temple Plate. In Original BoxVintage Picture Play Movie Magazine 1938 Shirley Temple Cover 1959-63 Ideal 17" Vinyl Shirley Temple Flirty Eyes Doll Needs TlcSuper Rare Tagged 4 Piece Rain Set For 16" Ideal Compo Shirley Temple Doll, ExcScreen Secrets.50's.linda Darnell,shirley Temple,ronald Reagan,roy Rogers.rareVintage Ideal 1972 Shirley Temple Doll 16"Beautiful 1930's Shirley Temple Doll - Must See To Believe!Shirley Temple Mass Produced PictureShirley Temple Composite Doll 17" 1930's Needs WorkVintage Shirley Temple "poor Little Rich Girl" Doll 12" Tall (1982) - Never UsedIdeal Shirley Temple Composition 22"Lot Antique Shirley Temple Cobalt Blue Pitcher Creamer Syrup Glass Mug Vintage15" Vintage Shirley Temple Original Outfit By Ideal1930-40s Factory Made Organdy Doll Dress Alexander, Shirley Temple, Toni Fab!Shirley Temple, Honeymoon (‘47) Lobby Card #2
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Recent News: Shirley Temple Dolls

Source: Google News

Spokane group helps hoarders and their children come clean
The Spokesman Review (subscription), January 26th

Manuel settled into an assisted living facility in south Spokane. Eventually, her home was sold, gutted and rebuilt. “I miss my music notebooks and dolls. There was a Shirley Temple doll I'd love to have here,” she said. “I'm doing some crafting,...Read more

Bringing 'Downtown' to Midtown
Wall Street Journal (blog), January 23rd

This may explain why the 1960s British pop star long ago chucked the miniskirts and trumpet-sleeved baby-doll dresses that were part of her mod, mod, mod, mod world. "My daughters are furious because I haven't kept any of that stuff...Read more

Meissner's Auction Service
Antiques and the Arts Online, January 20th

Statue of Boy; Shirley Temple Mugs; Pr of Lg Oriental Vases; Lg Oriental Vase w/People; Ruby Flash Stemware; Figural Dog, Elephant & Man Decanters; 1880's Glass Inkwells; 1830's Porc. Condiment Set; Blue Glass Pitcher & Compote; 1911 Porc...Read more

'Toddlers & Tiaras': Mia vs. Kayla In Shirley Temple Showdown (VIDEO)
Huffington Post, January 19th

Little Kayla may have been sporting the requisite Shirley Temple curls, gingham and lollipop, but she also had a bare midriff and some raunchy moves that seemed more appropriate for The Pussycat Dolls than a toddler pageant...Read more

Film series that steps out
Boston.com, January 15th

Too much of “Broadway Melody'' is given over to fuzzily-recorded dramatic scenes and not enough to production numbers like “The Wedding of the Painted Doll.'' But you can easily see where the genre will go from here. The Hollywood studios looked at the...Read more

Gabriel's Auctioneers Appraisers
Antiques and the Arts Online, January 14th

CLOCKS: Oak Kitchen; Simplex time clock MUSICAL: Violin; Zither; set of (18) musical hand bells, “Whitechape Foundry Ltd”; CURRENCY: (2) Framed sheets of (16) US 2$ and US 1$ bills; DOLLS: Alex 22” compo, Shirley Temple, 18”; Jenny Lind china head...Read more

North Hall Middle takes a trip back in time
Gainesville Times, January 12th

She was just a born leader." Shirley Temple was present as well, along with one of her dolls and animal crackers in her soup. "In my life, Shirley Temple was very important to me," said Brooke Witzell, 14. "When my grandmother used to watch me,...Read more

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