Shows of Note: World Doll Day Shows

Oct. 1, Concord, California * Oct. 23, Oxnard, California

One highlight of this year’s World Doll Day Shows is the display of a rare Albert Marque doll (right) from 1915, courtesy of the Grovian Doll Museum of Pacific Grove, California. The doll is shown with her French 1870s to 1890s salesman sample stove and accessories, and an antique Steiff boy. Of the 100 dolls manufactured in 1915, less than 10 are known to exist in private collections today. Photo courtesy of Grovian Doll Museum

A lifelong doll collector, Mary Senko was inspired to start a business as a show promoter while working on a virtual Facebook event: the World Doll Day Celebration planned and led by Michael Canadas and David Robinson, the directors of the Grovian Doll Museum in Pacific Grove, California.

“My favorite play doll as a young girl was Barbie! Why? The fashions, of course!” Senko said. Photo courtesy of Bradley Justice Yarborough, The Swell Shop

World Doll Day, the second Saturday in June, was established by Mildred Seeley, who wanted to encourage doll collecting. “Everyone on the Facebook virtual event kept saying they wanted to go to a live doll show,” Senko said, “but there were only a few doll shows currently being produced.”

“David Escobedo and his Fashion Manikins are a combination of the fashion doll and BJD,” Senko said. Photo courtesy of David Escobedo, DAE Originals

She decided her years of sales and marketing experience provided the right background to build a successful line-up of shows. She launched World Doll Day Shows this year with an event in Scottsdale, Arizona, on April 9 followed by a show in Seattle on May 21. “Collectors need to see, touch, and learn about dolls before they can take home a treasure to add to a collection,” she said, adding that she plans to continue adding to her show schedule and to make her shows must-attend events.

Fanny Osborne, a favorite to sew for today, is a reproduction of the 1469 Simon and Halbig German lady doll of the 1920s. Image courtesy of the Carmel Doll Shop Boutique

“Dolls are a big part of the history of our world,” she said, “and we want to make our doll shows something that people will talk about for weeks and months after attending, and come back year after year to participate in. I plan to keep Mildred’s spirit alive through giving away dolls, encouraging doll events and doll fun, and helping collectors find their inner kid.”