FIRST COLLECTIONS

DOLLS AND TOYS OF THE WORLD | Nov 20, 2004 | Jun 15, 2005

Curator: Martha W. Longenecker

The exhibition was funded in part by the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program.

The centerpiece of the exhibition was a group of 12 late-19^th-early 20^th-century, miniature French carousel animals from the Freels Collection. The exhibition also featured a collection of clay whistles from Russia, traditional Russian painted and nested dolls, and cast iron mechanical banks, the last a gift of the Thomas W. Sefton Foundation. Antique American and European dolls and traditional dolls, dollhouses and toys from many countries of the world were from Mingei International’s permanent collection.

Three films by Ray and Charles Eames played throughout the run of the exhibition: “Parade,” “Toccatta for Toy Trains,” and “Tops,” along with “Calder’s Circus.”