Great American Doll Company
The Great American Doll Company is an American line of dolls originally released in 1985 by Michael and Fredericka Lam. After starting in the Lam's garage with a $5,000 loan from Michael’s father, within sixteen months, without any additional investments, the company's sales grew to over $7.3 million (with 90% margins).[1]
The firm is known for designing, manufacturing and distributing hand-sculpted creations of Diana, Princess of Wales, Jacqueline Kennedy[2], Marlene Dietrich, John F Kennedy Jr. and Argentine tennis star, Gabriela Sabatini, among many others.[3] [4] [5] [6][7][8] [9] [10][11]
The dolls are sculpted by 2 artists and sculptors named Bruno Rossellini from Italy and Rotraut Schrott, from Germany, and depict children with a wide range of ethnicities. Each doll is released as a limited edition.[12]
In 1997, the company became the owners of Diana, Princess of Wales' blue Catherine Walker gown which was worn on several occasions by Diana. The gown was purchased for $36,800, as Lot #18, at the 1997 Christie's Auction of Diana’s gowns in New York City.[13] [14]
In February, 2000, the company announced their idea to cut into thousands of fragments the gown owned by Diana, Princess of Wales which had been purchased in 1997.[15] [16]
According to the London 'Times,' The Great American Doll Company hopes to save the lives of 500 million children by cutting up and selling pieces of one of the favourite dresses of Diana, Princess of Wales.”[17]
The company was founded in 1985 and its products were originally purchasable by mail order only.
In June of 2017, the company announced that they would release limited edition sunglasses imbedded with pieces of historical memorabilia.[18]
Dolls and Accessories[edit]
The company made the following dolls handcrafted by Bruno Rossellini and Rotraut Schrott.[19] [20] [21] [22][23][24] [25] [26][27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32][33][34] [35] [36] [37][38]
- Abbey
- Abbie
- Alexandra
- Alexis
- Babette
- Baby Bianca
- Baby Carrington
- Baby Eliza
- Baby Gwyneth
- Baby Priscilla
- Baby Tessa
- Bianca
- Caroline
- Chantelle
- China Pearl
- Chloe Love
- Christopher
- Diana Spencer, As a Young Girl
- Diana, Princess of Wales
- Dietrich
- Felicity
- Gabby
- Jackie and Bonnett
- Jackie I and Jackie II
- Jasmine and Trixie
- John-John
- Josephine
- Julia
- Juliette
- Justine
- Katalin
- Laura
- Madeline
- Madison
- Mandy
- Maxi Girl
- Monroe
- Ninotschka
- Olivia
- Oh, Sydney
- Ricardo
- Royal Baby Bianca
- Royal Baby Carrington
- Royal Baby Chloe
- Royal Baby Gwyneth
- Royal Baby Priscilla
- Schrott, A Self Portrait
- Shoshanna I and Shoshanna II
- Simone
- Suzi and Puyi
- Tabitha
- Yvette
Awards and Nominations[edit]
| Doll Name | Designer | Type of Award | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOLLS MAGAZINE: Dolls Award of Excellence Award | ||||
| Baby | Rotraut Schrott | Award of Excellence | October 1989 | |
| April | Elke Hutchens | Award of Excellence | October 1989 | |
| Martina | Rotraut Schrott | Award of Excellence | October 1989 | |
| April | Elke Hutchens | Award of Excellence | October 1989 | |
| Ninotschka, a Russian Girl | Rotraut Schrott | Nomination for the Award of Excellence | 1990 | |
| Gabriela Sabatini, The Famous Tennis Champion | Nomination for the Award of Excellence | 1990 | ||
| Katalin | Rotraut Schrott | Nomination for the Award of Excellence | 1992 | |
| Felicity | Rotraut Schrott | Award of Excellence | 1992 | |
| Monroe | Bruno Rossellini | Nomination for the Award of Excellence | 1992 | |
| DOLLREADER: Doll of the Year Award (DOTY) | ||||
| April | Doll of the Year Award (DOTY) Award | October 1989 | ||
| Martina | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Doll Design Concept of the Year | 1988 | |
| Martina | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Nomination for Manufacturer's Artist Doll | 1988 | |
| Rotraut, A Self Portrait of the Artist at 7 Years Old | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Nomination for Doll Design Concept of the Year | 1992 | |
| Katalin, A Hungarian Girl | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Award of Collectible Doll Best Costume | 1992 | |
| Cherie | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Nomination for Manufacturer's Artist Doll over $250 | 1995 | |
| Ninotschka, A Russian Girl | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Nomination for Best Costume Collectible Doll | 1995 | |
| Felicity | Rotraut Schrott | DOTY Nomination for Best Manufacturer's Vinyl Doll over $250 | 1996 | |
| Chloe Love | Bruno Rossellini | DOTY Nomination for Best Collectible Doll priced over $250 | 1997 |
Diana Gown[edit]
LOT 18
Designed by Catherine Walker. Diana wore this dress for the first time in 1987 in Portugal and on several other occasions including in 1987 on a visit to the Gulf State of Qatar and again in 1987 to dinner in Munich, Germany. It was then altered to a strapless gown which Diana wore twice in 1990 including for an official visit to Nigeria. [41]
Sold price: $36,800
In February, 2000, the company made headlines worldwide after announcing to cut into thousands of fragments, a gown owned by Diana, Princess of Wales. The gown was purchased for $36,800, as Lot # 18, at the famous 1997 Christie's Auction of Diana’s gowns in New York City.[42] [43] [44]
The Great American Doll Company planned to cut the Catherine Walker eggshell blue chiffon and lace evening gown into around four million pieces to raise money for inoculations for children in developing countries. The company planned this humanitarian program to raise money for vaccines to save the lives of around 500 million children dying from curable diseases including measles, malaria and many others.[45]
References[edit]
- ↑ James S. O'Rourke (2007). The Business Communication Casebook: A Notre Dame Collection (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN 0-324-54509-6 Search this book on
..
- ↑ [www.aparchive.com/metadata/USA-TOY-COMPANY-STARTS-PRODUCTION-OF-JACKIE-ONASSIS-DOLLS/2b62b9f1c84932fbdad03cfc5dd87d10?query=sarajevo+refugees+bus¤t=13&orderBy=Relevance&hits=358&referrer=search&search=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dsarajevo%2520refugees%2520bus%26allFilters%3DTOYS%3AKeyword%2CTravel%3ASubject&allFilters=TOYS%3AKeyword%2CTravel%3ASubject&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1&b=d87d10 "USA: TOY COMPANY STARTS PRODUCTION OF JACKIE ONASSIS DOLLS"] Check
|url=value (help). - ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/quicklink.htm
- ↑ Barron, James (1 September 1996). "But Can It Conduct A White House Tour?" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-07/sports/9502070259_1_expensive-dolls-katrina-adams-women-s-tennis
- ↑ "JACKIE ONASSIS DOLL IS A DOLL OF A CREATION". 11 September 1996.
- ↑ SAARI, LAURA (8/November/1996). "Jackie O: What a Doll". The Orange County Register. California. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ New York Media, LLC (9 November 1992). "Why Sabatini Is Every Inch a Doll". New York Magazine. Vol. 25 no. 44. p. 18. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ↑ https://mobile.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/sports/sabatini-lacking-competitive-fire-calls-it-quits-at-26.html
- ↑ Borzilleri, Mari-Jo (15/December/1994). "Authentic Sabatini Doll Carries Hefty $2495 Tag". The MiamiHerald. Miami. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ [www.toydirectory.com/TheGreatAmericanDollCo/ "THE GREAT AMERICAN DOLL CO"] Check
|url=value (help). - ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/press.htm
- ↑ articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-06-22/news/9706220088_1_cancer-and-aids-charities-dresses-auction-inventory
- ↑ Bumiller, Elisabeth (26 June 1997). "Diana Cleans Out Her Closet, And Charities Just Clean Up" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/dianapw.htm
- ↑ "$700m Gown". South China Morning Post. South China. 22/Febuary/2000. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Bone, James (2000). Favourite Diana dress may be $100m `snip'. London Times. London:
- ↑ [www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/index.htm "Great American Doll Company Homepage"] Check
|url=value (help). - ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/quicklink.htm
- ↑ Barron, James (1 September 1996). "But Can It Conduct A White House Tour?" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-07/sports/9502070259_1_expensive-dolls-katrina-adams-women-s-tennis
- ↑ "JACKIE ONASSIS DOLL IS A DOLL OF A CREATION". 11 September 1996.
- ↑ SAARI, LAURA (8/November/1996). "Jackie O: What a Doll". The Orange County Register. California. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ New York Media, LLC (9 November 1992). "Why Sabatini Is Every Inch a Doll". New York Magazine. Vol. 25 no. 44. p. 18. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ↑ https://mobile.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/sports/sabatini-lacking-competitive-fire-calls-it-quits-at-26.html
- ↑ Borzilleri, Mari-Jo (15/December/1994). "Authentic Sabatini Doll Carries Hefty $2495 Tag". The MiamiHerald. Miami. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/quicklink.htm
- ↑ Barron, James (1 September 1996). "But Can It Conduct A White House Tour?" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-07/sports/9502070259_1_expensive-dolls-katrina-adams-women-s-tennis
- ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/rotraut2.htm
- ↑ https://blogs.infobae.com/tenis/2012/11/07/gabriela-sabatini-despues-del-tenis/index.html
- ↑ "JACKIE ONASSIS DOLL IS A DOLL OF A CREATION". 11 September 1996.
- ↑ SAARI, LAURA (8/November/1996). "Jackie O: What a Doll". The Orange County Register. California. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ New York Media, LLC (9 November 1992). "Why Sabatini Is Every Inch a Doll". New York Magazine. Vol. 25 no. 44. p. 18. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ↑ https://mobile.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/sports/sabatini-lacking-competitive-fire-calls-it-quits-at-26.html
- ↑ Borzilleri, Mari-Jo (15/December/1994). "Authentic Sabatini Doll Carries Hefty $2495 Tag". The MiamiHerald. Miami. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/brunodolls.htm
- ↑ "JACKIE ONASSIS DOLL IS A DOLL OF A CREATION".
- ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/award.htm
- ↑ www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/dollawards.htm
- ↑ "AN EGGSHELL BLUE CHIFFON AND LACE EVENING DRESS,".
- ↑ "Favourite Diana dress may be $100m `snip'". Irish Independent.
- ↑ {{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | Miller= |Gretchen= |27th December 1997 = |Diana Lives on as Princess of Sales= |url=www.thegreatamericandollcompany.com/dianadress/images/PRINCESSOFSALES1.png |location= Sydney, Australia|
- ↑ {{cite news|newspaper=USA Today | Seiler= | Andy= |23rd February 2000 = |Ripping Dress = |location= USA|
- ↑ "DI DRESS MAKES CUT FOR COLLECTORS' BIZ". New York Daily News.
External Links[edit]
https://great-american-eyewear.myshopify.com
This article "Great American Doll Company" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Great American Doll Company. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
