“ ‘Take her up on your shoulder’ I said, a request with which he reluctantly complied...’There, see, her head falls on your shoulder, just like a real baby...She may not be as pretty as [others] but she’s very good to travel with. She has no hair to fix.’ ” Shirley Temple’s childhood instructions to a reporter as recalled in her 1988 autobiography Child Star. 175.
175. Carved Wooden Character Doll, “Susie Blockhead”, a Traveling 175. Companion of Shirley Temple
of the dolls that were given to her including that from “our housekeeper Katie [who] gave me three beautiful German dolls dressed in national costume, from some of her relatives”.
Having solid domed carved head with chip-carved smoothly varnished finish,
This doll may be one of those three; also see #383, 388, and
high bald dome, tiny cartoon-like painted round eyes with tiny white eye dots,
389 of this book. The doll is also shown in a photograph of
button-shaped nose, downcast pouting lips, stockinette softly stuffed body
her collection shown in Appendix A. $300+
with separately defined thumb, stitch jointing at shoulders and hips, cotton dress and bandana, undergarments, knit slippers. Excellent condition. The doll, a constant companion of the young Shirley Temple, accompanied her on many travels, and appeared in various photographs with her, including that shown here, which is included with the doll. It is likely that the doll was Susie Blockhead, described by Shirley as a “floppy favorite” in her 1988 autobiography, Child Star. $400+
176. German Bisque Character Doll in Original Traditional Costume 10” (25 cm.) Of painted bisque, with blue glass sleep eyes, mohair lashes, open mouth, two upper teeth, blonde mohair bobbed wig, five-piece composition body, marked Heubach-Koppelsdorf 342.14/0 Germany, the doll is wearing her original traditional costume of Germany including apron and cap with matching lace trim. Generally excellent, unplayed with. Germany, Heubach Koppelsdorf, circa 1930. Included is a photograph of young Shirley Temple holding the doll. In her 1945 memoir, My Young Life, Shirley Temple wrote 176.
149