culture schlock

Girard worked for the Herman Miller Furniture Company but is not as well known as his collegues - such as Nelson, Eames and Noguchi. He brought the textiles to Nelson and Eames' furniture, and was soon considered the greatest colourist and textile designer.

Here, though, I feature a few of his wooden dolls. The whimsy and character in these creations are delicious.

Marilyn Neuhart worked with her husband John Neuhart, Alexander Girard and Charles and Ray Eames. Girard sold her dolls in his Girard's Textiles and Objects Shop in Manhatten in the 60s... oh to be able to shop there now...

You can, however still purchase Neuhart's dolls - both vintage and new as she is still at it. Only it will help if you have a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars to spare... Yes they are collector's items with collector's prices. Actually they are far more pricey than Girard's own wooden dolls.

Neuhart works in wool, felt and silk, hand-embroidering the dolls. Their labour intensive nature means that only a few are produced at a time and that along with her design legacy makes them instantly collectible. She's worked (along with her husband) in design, graphics and film. She says that 'I sew because I have to: it's that simple' and this need to create is increased by dealing with technology all day. She explains, 'I look forward to time spent with my needle and thread, the tactile delight of cloth in my hands and the pleasure of working with color and form - nothing is more life-sustaining and yes, it has to be said - more therapeutic.'

I love these dolls. I first saw the pink silk doll featured in this gallery, about two years before I found her other work. And - a confession - I had credited this doll to Girard because that's the credit I found for it. I now know the truth and am glad I researched her, finding these wonderfull little dolls, especially the 'chubby girl' series! Yay to the chubbies! And in regards to all the social research on body image and Barbie's impossible physique, we could do with a few more chubby dolls out there.

1908-1986 ~ Pioneer modernist interior and industrial designer, as well as his own famous works he brought in other designers such as Isamu Noguchi and Charles Eames to the Herman Miller furniture company. His work is distinctive, fun and classic.

various loveliness