My Visit to the Princeton Toy & Doll Museum

I basically grew up in Hopewell NJ. I also worked near this area for many years and at that time I was not a doll artist. That is how this little amazing place unfortunately was overlooked on my many drives through this area.

Since signing up for the Izannah Walker website I followed a link at Dixie's site. The link had shown some museums which have (or may have) an Izannah doll. The Princeton Toy & Doll Museum was one of them.

I decided to take a short drive today and go visit the museum. What a wonderful day it was. Its very tiny museum but packed with so many historical dolls. I was in heaven. I spent 2 hours in there. The museum director is such a wonderful and knowledgeable lady.

So yes! She was there! I found the Izannah Doll. Its value? About $10,000. I didn't bring enough cash! Darn! Well, it didn't matter anyway because she is not for sale. But I was truly amazed by looking at this doll. After I was done looking at amazing Izannah, I checked out all the other wonderful dolls. There are quite a few that really attracted me.

NOTICE: Please do not take and publish these photos as permission was given to me to take these photos for my own personal use.

Izannah



The museum director said I had very fine taste. I was attracted towards the most valuable dolls in the museum and I had no idea. If I became a collector it would be very expensive for me to collect the ones I liked the most.

I loved this set. If I recall these are little french dolls. Just stunning! The one in the background would sell for around $600.





Ohhhh how I want this in my art room!



Another favorite doll of mine is the Queene Anne Wooden/Peg dolls. These were amazing!




This doll has a value of somewhere around $5,000.



I didn't get a picture of the Lenci dolls she had. Ooooo, another favorite of mine. Next time I go back I will get a photo of those.

She has a small corner set aside as a little gift shop. Dolls and other toys that are also collectibles. So ... what did I buy there? Two 1940's bisque frozen leg dolls from Japan. Why? Um.... well, I have see these many times and for some strange reason they fascinate me. And since I don't have the cash for the other dolls, well, this still made me happy! :-) They are now sitting on my little doll shelf in my art room. Here is my two little Bisque dolls from Japan. I love them!



I will undoubtedly go back to the museum many times because she has many reference books on dolls and doll history. I could easily spend a day in there just reading!

I have lots more photos at Flickr, so stop by to see all the sweet dolls. Truly amazing and I was in complete awe of such amazing dolls.

There is just something about that feeling of 'going back into time' when you look at these dolls. The museum was a calm, peaceful, and happy place to be today; comparative to the harsh strange world we live in today.