The Sensation of the Doll World

This little scamp is "The Vamp" . . . 

. . . according to the label on the bottom of her base. The label further declares that she was manufactured by the Blue Bird Doll Company and patents for her design and "Ear Ring" (sic) were pending. 

This advertisement by the Blue Bird Doll Company from the February 1920 edition of "Toys and Novelties," a publication for the toy and carnival trade, introduces "The Vamp" as "the sensation of the doll world" who is currently "vamping the buyers," but in the "Near Future" will be "vamping the public." Buyers were urged to place their orders early because of "limited production." The ad described the figure as being 13 inches tall and shows two versions of the vivacious Vamp, one with a wig and the other with a molded bathing cap, although both are clad in a form-fitting painted bathing suit and sport hoop earrings.

This June 1920 ad from the same publication assures potential buyers that Vamp is selling like "Hot Cakes," and describes the "up-to-the-hour" doll as being made of "unbreakable wood-fibre composition" and 13 inches high.

Dated June 26, 1920, this ad from "The Billboard," a publication for the carnival and concession trade,  is not by Blue Bird, but Rudolph Toy and Novelty Company, which billed itself as the sole distributors for Blue Bird. The Vamp in the bathing cap was $12.50 a dozen, while the one with a wig was $16.50 a dozen. She has now grown to 13.5 inches (my model is just very slightly taller than 13 inches, so "13.5 inches" is literally and figuratively a stretch). 

A March 19, 2021, ad from "The Billboard," shows Ms. Vamp wearing earrings with round pendants similar to the ones adorning my model. She is advertised as coming in "three (3) different colors, assorted colored earrings and wigs." No price was given, but a sample assortment of five dolls could be requested for $5.50.  Vamp's reign as the sensation of the doll world was apparently a short one, as this is the last ad I was able to locate. Although the ad also declares Ms. Vamp to be "patented," I was unable to locate the actual patent applications through various patent search engines. 

Although my Vamp has retained what appears to be her original mohair wig, she has been extensively repainted. If the thick cracking and yellowed paint on the bottom of her base is an example of her original finish, restoration may have been justified. I will say that the restorer did a very nice job, although I suspect that the painting is a lot more detailed than the original work. She still flaunts her original earrings, although only one retains is original pink pendant.

The modeling is simple, but evocative of a rather well-rounded Vamp flirting her way down the beach or boardwalk.