Objects of My Affection and an Invitation

Fashion -- a la Mode, The Pop-Up History of Costumes and Dresses, by Isabelle de Borchgrave, is a book that falls into the category of "objects of my affection."  I wanted to share it today because it is in line with my current obsession and our discussion of Marie Antoinette, as well as that of fashion theatres.  My fascination with dolls grew out of my love of fashion at an early age, but my love of paper theatres developed later in life after I started designing paper dolls.  If you love paper dolls, theatres are a natural progression.  If you are not already there, this little paper confection just might be the inducement!   In this book, there are seven vignettes in all, the one above as well as Egypt, At the Court of Elizabeth I, At the Opera (I have always wanted to create an opera theatre), Art of the Kimono, Coco Chanel, and Fashion as Art.  It's not the best engineered pop-up book, but it is sumptuous in every other way. 

Another book that might be of interest, Theatre de la Mode, an exhibit catalog memorializing the miniature mannequins of the Theatre de la Mode.  The Theatre de la Mode was a collaborative among the most celebrated French fashion houses of the day, and has been said to "visually summarize the espirit de corps and espirit du temps of 1945 - 46 in clothes, accessories and theatrical sets.  The exhibit originally on display at the Musee des Arts de la Mode in Paris, spent four decades at the Maryhill Museum of Art.  I prefer earlier periods in fashion, but loved the theatre sets.

My first real look at antique paper theatres was on a visit to the Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  At that time, their collection was housed in niches along an entry wall and protected by a glass barrier. You could see the fronts of the theatres and not much else, a tease that left me wanting to see more!  A few years later, I would have the good fortune to visit Pollock's Toy Museum in London.  I'm going to add a photo album at some point so that you can see a few of my pics from that visit.  Pollocks has a large number of Toy Theatres on exhibit as well as reproductions for sale.  You can also find reproductions for sale at Pollock's Toy Shop also in London, at Covent Garden.  The toy shop is tiny but I found some real treasures there during my visit, including some reproduction jumping jacks.  In fact, it was my visit there and my interest in jumping jacks (the French version of this is the pantin) that led me to design my French Laundry collection which features my contemporary interpretation of a female (Jumping Jaqueline) and male (Pantin ATC) paper doll of this sort. Great fun.  In my research I learned that these articulated paper dolls were actually developed as amusements not for children, but for the wealthy!  Toy theatres, contrastly, have been for generations playthings and enchantments of children, and a handful of adult collectors. 

English toy theatres date to 1811, to a man named William West, a maker of children's theatres and a theatrical print publisher.  He joined forces with another gentleman who had connections in the theatre which led to the creation of a Mother Goose pantomine theatre, and from there the obsession grew to include other children's and adult plays.  Some of West's original creations are on exhibit in Pollock's Toy Museum. 

Over the years, I have enjoyed creating a library on paper toys and toy theatres, but my favorite book is one that my husband surprised me with this past Christmas, Toy Theatres of the World, by Peter Baldwin.  This book is listed on Amazon, but no editions are currently available.  Imagine my surprise when my husband presented me with this rare gift.  Actually, my husband was a great sport and accompanied me to both the toy museum and toy shop during our visit to London, and he found this book without any imeptus from me.  You can find it on Pollock's Toy Shop web site under the heading of Toy Theatres, where you will also find some reproduction theatres for sale.  I also collect reproduction toy theatres, but when I want to create a theatre of my design, these little cardboard ones can be a lot of fun.  I discovered these in a shrine class I took in Federal Way, Washington back in February of 1999.  My journal entry says that I signed on for classes in dollmaking and shrine building.  There were over 50 people present and I was one of only four signed up for dollmaking.  Art dolls were just beginning to pique the interest of the paper arts community.  I chose to make dolls the theme for my shrine as well.

A few years later I reworked my doll shrine (right) to create my first paper theatre, The Theatre of Dreams.  I had just completed my catalog design for the collection and my husband suggested that I create a three-dimensional version for my RSM visiting artist spot (photo below).   

I warned you that I wasn't good with secrets, as you can see I am having a difficult time not sharing my current project, a petit theatre of fashion for The Queen of Tarts, a Jewel Box.  Actually by sharing my "secret" I am sure to stay on task, so check back from time to time as I post photos of its progress.  Unlike my Theatre of Dreams, this time I am covering all those rough cardboard edges which is the one thing I don't particularly like about them.

INVITATION:  Anyone else out there intrested in designing a fashion theatre (theatre de la mode)?  I think it would be great fun to have you along on this adventure and invite you all to create a theatre along with me.  At some point we could even do a Theatre Zine or exhibit catalog of some kind Theatre de la Mode.  Please share your thoughts here, and at some point send me your.  No need to send actual theatres. This is a long term project, take your time and enjoy the process!

   

   

Comments

[Barbara]

WOW!!! Thanks for all the info. I have saved all those titles, because they definitely look like books I would enjoy. Thanks also for the link to the shrine. That is a wonderful starting piece. I may just have to order one to give this a try. I love your shrines and look forward to seeing all the stages in the new one you are creating!!! Oh, and the toy store in London looks FABULOUS!!!

[Sherry]

Catherine, thank you for the links...definitely interested in these books.

I love your theatre...there is something whimsical about it, yet it is rooted in an "art" sense (if you follow where I'm going!! I've a headache today and the thoughts aren't flowing as well as I'd like!).

I realized today (reading this post) where I am going and why...and a lot of this is your influence..what you are interested in is speaking to where I am trying to go artistically. I had paper dolls as a child and loved them...I was never "into" fashion and yet I have become more aware that it is an interest I have had for a long time. So the dolls and theatres are very much an interest. I'm not sure I could create a theatre but that is not to say that I wouldn't try!! You've given me something to think about!!!

[jenzart]

Theatre and dance were all I dreamed about growing up and being on stage was a terrifyingly wonderful experience and I thought I wanted to do it forever! Life does take its turns however and I grew up to discover different dreams. I love all things paper, doll and toy related. My dad was able to visit Pollocks on my behalf years ago while he was in England. Fabulous. I did however get to visit the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum(can't remember the city in New York) as well as the Rosalie Whyel Doll Museum (Belleview, WA)and they both have magical displays of toys you can't even imagine!
I'm part of an art journal round robin and my theme this time was "Theatre of the Mind."
I used one of your stamps on the cover. Your work is truly magical and constantly inspires me in so many ways. I appreciate being able to drop by your blog to see what wonders you have discovered/created.

[Sherry]

Catherine, I've had this topic on my mind all afternoon!! :)
Just wondering..would you consider doing a tutorial of sorts for the theatres to help us figure out how to construct them? This really is very appealing.

[Catherine Moore]

Absolutely Jen! I was hoping to get people excited about theatres. They are magical, you can create your own fantasy. My first couple were dream theatres, and my next one was an orchestra dressed in period costume on stage inside a doll's skirt. As soon as I finish the prep work, I'm going to do some sort of fashion show or masqarade ball. If you choose to use the same Tu-Door Armoire type, there's nothing to it. It's a die-cut cardboard structure that snaps together pretty quickly. You can also use a shadowbox with a pretty frame (I saw some in Hobby Lobby that would work nicely), a cabinet of some sort. The possibilities are endless. I think it would be helpful to have a model or models to give you some ideas as to options. I'll put together a tutorial with some pics and discuss my methods, then post it as an addendum.

[Catherine Moore]

Jen, I updated my web site to include some written instructions for my Theatre of Dreams:

http://www.characterconstructions.com/cgi-bin/itsmy/go.exe?page=9&domain=1&webdir=catherinemoore

and included some sources on the web for examples. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. I hope you all will accept my invitation and try your hands at creating a theatre of your own. It need not be large. In fact, Nancy Armstrong has had some really lovely little 4 x 6 box theatres in Art Doll Quarterly and I know how much she has been enjoying this experience. And, finally, you can always build a dimensional doll with a theatre in her skirt, or use one of the new bird cage stamps (the large one) and put a theatre in it!

[Rella]

Catherine, this is such a fabulous idea and I cannot wait to see the finished theater. I am going to let the seeds you have just planted...grow. I am getting excited thinking of all this.
xox Rella

[Cookiesunshine]

Oh my! I want to try this. I would love to learn more. I visited the museum in Santa Fe two years ago and felt exactly what you were talking about as I read your post. What lovely, beautiful work. It is enchanting.
Thank you very much for sharing.
-CookieSunshine

[Sherry]

Catherine, thanks for posting the tutorial...this looks like something I could do...I'm certainly prepared to give it a try!!

[Catherine Moore]

It looks like our little theatre troupe is off and running. I like all your ideas/suggesions for potential theatres Nancy Gene. I still have some pics (of theatre models) to post. Sorry for the delay, I spent all of Thursday working in my studio. I promise to start an album soon.

Would anyone else like to join us? For now, we'll use this as our planning space.

[mary ann]

hi catherine!

count me in...i've been toying with the idea of transforming a couple of shoe boxes i've saved & making some sort of diorama...the theatre of dreams sounds perfect! i will share when i am ready....

i love your marie stamps that i recently bought from you!!! & i can't wait to take your classes in cheeseland!

have a great weekend,
mary ann mckeating :)

[Cookie Sunshine]

Hi Catherine, I'm back passing the "You Made My Day" award to you. You really did.
-Cookie

[Catherine Moore]

THE DETAILS:

Because this year I have chosen Marie Antoinette to be my muse, I think that a fashion theatre would be most exciting. I'm still reading and plan to post details from Queen of Fashion from time to time. The "pouf" naturally lends itself to so many outrageous possibilities. But if you should find yourself not able to wrap your mind around the Theatre de la Mode (fashion theatre) concept, then follow your muse. As for size, anything goes. I posted the link to my source for the Tu-Door Armoires: http://www.crazycardboard.com/shop/shop_showitem.php?id=30 I love them, but will admit that the size makes for an ambitious undertaking. If you have a lot of other art projects you are working on simultaneously, this size may be more than you want to tackle. If you chose not to use the Tu-Door Armoire, look for an interesting box, cabinet, shadowbox, etc.

[calamity kim]

Thank you for the invitation! I would love to play! I just created a Marie Antoinette Valentine's Day Advent doll. I am so in love with the whole Marie Theme. I have been using your lovely stamps also and they are just awesome! Thanks so much! calamity

[Betzie]

Oh my...this sounds like so much fun! I think toy theaters are magical and I'm very tempted to join in, but feel slightly overwhelmed and intimidated by the idea. Can I just say "maybe"...If anything I'd love to learn more and just visiting here has inspired me.

[Heather]

Catherine, what a fantastic idea! Thanks so much for the links, too. You are so right, the Toy Theaters were a natural progression from the paper dolls. I made my first one a few months ago and I'm hooked! I just ordered the Tu-door Armoire so I can play along. What a great project to get through these last dismal weeks of winter!

[sarahfishburn]

Oooh - as soon as I get a little time, I have a rockin' idea for this project!
sarah