(Above is a photo of Mary Le Bow Church)

Everyone that knows me is aware of my Irish lineage, so for the Dress a Doll competition at this years Sasha Celebration weekend I thought it would be nice to represent my Mothers side of the family . My maternal Grand father was a cockney blacksmith born within the sound of Bow Bells in the late 18th century.

I remember when as a child, he would say. I am going up the apple and pears to rest my plates of meat on Uncle Fred. Which is cockney rhyming slang for : I am going upstairs to rest my feet on the bed.

This is the history of cockneys, costermongers and Pearly Kings and Queens.

Are you aware of the origin of the word Cockney?  Apparently during the 1700s, country folk would tell a story about people they called Cockaignes.  It seemed that the Cockaignes believed that the streets of London were paved with gold and that the houses were made of cake!  As a result, anyone that moved from country to live in London began to be called Cockaignes.  The name became corrupted into Cockneys.  It was either Fuller or Miller, also during the 1700s, who wrote that the definition of a Cockney was related to Bow Bells (the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow).  A Cockney was anyone born within the furthest point where the sound of the bells could be heard plus the length of the Lord Mayor’s mace!

Pearly Kings & Queens originated in the 19th century from the ‘Coster Kings & Queens’, who originated in the 18th century, who originated from the ‘Costermongers’, who originated from London’s ‘Street Traders’, who have been around for over a 1000 years… with that out of the way let’s get down to the nitty gritty!

Street traders, or ‘Costermongers’ as they became known, have been an important feature of London life since the 11th century – and for the best part of 900 of those years they were unlicensed and itinerant – at times hounded by the authorities & bureaucracy. They cried their wares to attract customers with vigour and panache – much to the annoyance of London’s ‘well-to-do’ society – yet they provided an essential service to London’s poor; mainly selling their wares in small quantities around the streets & alleyways – at first from baskets, then progressing to barrows – then permanent static pitches from stalls – until they finally evolved into today’s familiar and popular Markets. Oh yes, we owe a great deal to our ancestral costermongers – but like so many things we take for granted today, their fight was long and hard.

(above: a costermonger carrying his wares and notice the buttons sewn on his clothes to attract customers attention)

Because of London’s unique geographical position it grew and thrived as a trading centre – the City grew up not just around its financial market, but around its famous markets that provided the necessities of life – markets such as Billingsgate (where the fish were landed), Smithfield (for cattle & livestock) and Covent Garden and Spitalfields (for fruit, veg & flowers).

(Above: a costermongers barrow)

Although each Coster family traded independently, they remained loyal to other costers – collecting for those that fell on particularly hard times. Their philosophy of life was one of fate – some you win, some you lose – when things went bad you just had to pick yourself up and start all over again. They liked a gamble – be it on boxing matches, pigeon racing, dog fighting and even rat-killing matches! Most of all, of course, they liked to indulge in a tipple or two. Not because they enjoyed a good old booze-up and sing-song, you understand – ‘no guv’, more to do with being suspicious of water, what with cholera & typhoid and all that! Besides, the Ale Houses, Gin Palaces & the Penny Gaff Music Halls were warm & welcoming compared to their squalid lodgings. By now most of London’s poorer working classes were hoarded together outside the thriving City – dockers, sailors, immigrants & factory girls – all living in slum conditions with little or no sanitation.

As London grew beyond the boundaries of the walled City – costermongers in each Borough elected a ‘Coster King’ – they were chosen to fight for their rights – the first form of trade union, if you like. Coster Kings needed to be a hardy breed with leadership qualities, strong personalities, physical strength and also be loyal and quick-witted. And it wasn’t just the men – the female Billingsgate fishmongers were regarded as fearsome characters! Coster Kings and Queens brought up their ‘Royal’ children to follow in the tradition and inherit their titles.

Costers admired style & panache. They had evolved a showmanship and cheeky banter that boosted their custom. They also developed their own secret language – Coster back-slang – which pre-dated Cockney rhyming slang. They used this language to good effect, confusing their punters and the police when they wanted! With typical coster cheek they imitated the wealthy West End society who by early 19th Century had developed a fashion for wearing pearls – only the costers took it one step further by sewing lines of pearl ‘flashies’ on their battered hand-me-down waistcoats, caps and working trousers!

The transformation to the complete Pearly Costume as we know it today finally came in the 1880s when a road sweeper and rat-catcher by the name of Henry Croft completely smothered a worn out dress suit & top hat with smoked pearl buttons – incorporating patterns, symbols and slogans – one of which was ‘All For Charity’. Henry was a life long friend of the costers and he was particularly influenced by their outlook on life – which was all about helping one another and those less well off, even if you had little yourself. He joined the costers on their hospital fund raising Parades and Carnivals.

(above a photo of Henry Croft)

Because Henry Croft was an orphan he had no one to help him with his suit so he had to learn how to sew. Since then, it is tradition that each pearly is responsible for the sewing of their own suit.

Each suit will have a own unique pattern and if a pearly gives you a twirl you’ll see not only their title spelled out in buttons on their backs, but also a shape or design that’s personal to them.

George Dole had a large six-spoked, wooden wheel to denote the horse and barrow he used as a coster. Other designs commonly found include doves (symbolising peace), hearts (for love and charity), wheels (the circle of life) and playing card symbols (life is a gamble).

Horseshoe = Luck

Doves = Peace

Heart = Charity

Anchor = Hope

Cross = Faith

Symbols of Playing Cards = Life is a gamble

Flower Pots = Costermongers

Donkey Carts = Costermongers

Wheel = Circle of Life

Below is a cockney song:

Ring Out The Bow Bells of London

Ring out the Bow Bells the Bow Bells of London
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow
Ring out the Bow Bells the Bow Bells of London
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow.

If you were born within the sound of Bow Bells
You’re a Cockney, through and through
A Cockney seldom wonders from where he dwells
For to London, a Cockney’ s always true.

So
Ring out the Bow Bells the Bow Bells of London
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow
Ring out the Bow Bells the Bow Bells of London
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow.

The Pearly Kings & Queens are London’ s treasure
With a language all their own
Communities that always stick together,
And London is always home sweet home

Here is some cockney rhyming slang and what it means:

 The cockney slang is on the left and the meaning is on the right

• Almond Rocks = socks
• Apples and pears = stairs
• Aris = Aristotle = bottle & glass = arse (a two-stage rhyme) [see Plaster below]
• Artful Dodger = lodger
• Ascot Races = braces
• Aunt Joanna = piano
• Bag of fruit = suit
• Baked Bean = queen
• Baker’s Dozen = cousin
• Ball and Chalk = walk
• Barnaby Rudge = judge
• Barnet = Barnet Fair = hair
• Boat = boat race = face
• Bob Hope = soap
• Boracic (freq. contracted to brassic) = boracic lint = skint (i.e. penniless)
• Bottle = bottle and glass = arse (i. e. courage; Courage also happens to be the name of a brewery)
• Brahms = Brahms and Liszt (classical composers) = pissed (i.e. drunk)
• Brass Tacks = facts
• Bread and Honey = money
• Bricks and Mortar = daughter
• Brown bread = dead
• Bubble = Bubble & Squeak = Greek
• Butcher’s = butcher’s hook = look
• Chalfonts = Chalfont St Giles = piles (i.e. haemorrhoids)
• Chalk Farm = arm
• China = china plate = mate
• Cobblers = cobblers’ awls = balls or ‘bollocks’ (i.e. testicles , but usually meant in the sense of ‘rubbish’ as in “You’re talking a load of cobblers”)
• Cock and Hen = ten
• Creamed = cream crackered = knackered (i.e. exhausted or beaten)
• Currant bun = sun
• Daisies = daisy roots = boots
• Darby and Joan = moan
• Dicky = dicky dirt = shirt
• Dicky or Dickie = dickie bird = word = as in “not a dickie”, or even “not a dickie bird”
• Dog = dog and bone = phone
• Duck and Dive = skive
• Duke of Kent = rent
• Dukes = Duke[s] of York = fork, i.e. hand, now chiefly when balled into a fist
• Dustbin Lid = kid
• Farmers = Farmer Giles = piles (slang for haemorrhoids )
  Flowery Dell = ( prison ) cell
• Frog = frog & toad = road
• George Raft = draught
• Ginger = ginger beer = queer
• Gregory = Gregory Peck = neck, or cheque
• Gypsy’s = Gypsy’s kiss = piss
• Hampsteads = Hampstead Heath = teeth
• Half-inch = pinch (i.e. steal)
• I suppose = nose
• Jack = Jack Jones = alone (“On my Jack” = “On my own”)
• Jam jar = car
• Jam tart = heart
• Jimmy = Jimmy Riddle (unknown person, not the character killed during the Waco siege)= piddle or widdle (urinate)
• Jugs = jugs of beer = ears
• Khyber = Khyber Pass = arse
• Kick and Prance = dance
• Lady Godiva = fiver (i.e. five- pound note)
• Lionels = Lionel Blairs (English variety performer) = flares (as in flared trousers)
• Loaf = loaf of bread = head (“use your loaf”)
• Lucy Lockett = pocket
• Minces (or mincers) = mince pies = eyes
• Mutton = Mutt and Jeff = deaf = named after Mutt and Jeff , two early 20th century comic strip characters
• North and South = mouth
• Oily rag = fag (i.e. cigarette)
• Ones and twos = shoes
• Peckham Rye = tie (i.e. necktie)
• Pen and Ink = stink
• Pigs ears = big beers (large glasses of Ale )
  Plaster = Plaster of Paris = Aris = Aristotle = bottle = bottle and glass = arse (a three-stage rhyme)
• Plates = plates of meat = feet
• Porky = pork pie = lie, e.g. “He’s telling porkies!”
• Pony = pony and trap = crap (note: Cockneys also use “pony” to mean £25 – hopefully the meaning is clear from the context)
• Rabbit = rabbit and pork = talk
• Raspberry = raspberry tart = fart (as in “blowing raspberry/ies” = making rasping noises with your mouth)
• Richard = Richard the Third = turd (lump of faeces)
• Richard = Dicky Bird = bird (slang for girl) but also Dicky Bird = word
• Rosie = Rosie Lee = tea e.g. “Have a cup of Rosie”
• Round the houses = trousers
• Rub-a-dub-dub = pub = public house
• Ruby = Ruby Murray (popular singer in the 1950s born in Belfast ) = curry
• Salmon and Trout = snout
• Scarper = Scapa Flow = go (as in “run for it!”)
• Sexton Blake = cake
• Sherbet Dab = (taxi) cab
• Skin = skin and blister = sister
• Sky = sky rocket = pocke
• Syrup / sirrup = syrup of figs = wig(s)
• Tea leaf = thief
• Taters = Potatoes in the mould = cold
• Titfer = tit for tat = hat
• Tod = Tod Sloane = own (as in “on your tod”, meaning “alone”)
• Tom and Dick = sick
• Tomfoolery = jewellery
• Treacle = treacle tart = sweetheart
• Trouble = trouble and strife = wife
• Vera = Vera Lynn (famous British wartime singer)= ‘skin’ or cigarette paper, eg, “got any Veras?”, or chin, or gin
• Whistle = whistle and flute = suit = as in “a nice whistle”

Below is a cockney poem, see if you can understand it.

Barrow Boy

Up the Apple and Pears
Cross the Rory O’more
Up to see the dear old trouble and Strife
(That’s the Wife) On the Cain and Able
You will always see
A pair of Jack the Rippers
And a cup of Rosy Lee
What could be better than this a
Nice old cuddle and kiss
Underneath the pale moon light
A little Tommy Tucker and up to Uncle Ned
Oh what a lovely night tonight.

All my life I’ve Wanted to be a barrow boy
A barrow boy I’ve always wanted to be
I push me Barrow I sticks to it with pride
I’m a Coster a Coster from over the other side
I turns me back upon the old society
Take me where the ripe bananas grow
They are only a dozen a shilling
that is how I earn my living
I ought to have been a barrow boy years ago
Get off me barrow, I ought to have been a barrow boy years ago.

So
Ding ..Dong ..Ding ..Dong
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow
Ding ..Dong ..Ding ..Dong
Ring out the Bells of St Mary le Bow

Here at some photos of Mr G modelling his Pearly king outfit. Vicky Chapman kindly provided the blank suit for me to work on. I sewed every button and sequin on by hand using my breaks at work to get it finished. I am so happy that it took 3rd place at the Sasha Celebration weekend.

(Above is a front view of Mr G’s Pearly King outfit with symbols of the heart and wheel of fortune on the legs and flowers at his ankles)

(Above is a back view of Mr G’s Pearly king outfit showing his title as The “Pearly King Of Bow” and a little sequin bell to add to the detail.)

(A side view showing his waistcoat and anchor image on his sleeve. his neck tie known as a Kingsman was brightly coloured to draw attention )

(Another side view this time showing the cross symbol on his other sleeve)

( affront view of his hat showing the symbols of the cross, heart and horse shoe)

(A rear view of hiss hat showing symbols of a flower pot, playing card and bird)

( Above Mr G with his barrow full of vegetable’s all made from clay and painted)

To finish off below is the Pearly Prayer.

Pearly Prayer

When i die and go to ‘eaven, it will be much betta there,
Our good lord will meet me, and say, “come in, pull up a chair.
You spent your time and energy, collecting money for the poor,
To give to them all the little fings, they never ‘ad before.
You covered your clothes wiv buttons, so that all could see,
That you are a very proud member, of the pearly society.
And now your tired and weary, and your body’s past it’s best,
I faut i’d bring you up wiv me, to ‘ave a well earned rest.

“so when you get your breff back, i’ll take you by the ‘and,
And show you why my ‘eaven, is called the promised land”
We’ll go and wander raund the streets, i knew when i was young,
And listen to the jokes they told, and all the songs they sung.
I’ll see all the ‘appy people, what used to be araund,
And listen to the ‘orse and carts, wot made that loverly saund.
The air would be full of the costermongers loud and cheerful calls
Wiv all the fings they ‘ave for sale, all piled upon their stalls.

I’ll meet all the other pearly’s, wot went up there before,
Wiv their ‘appy smiling faces, and buttons all galore.
I’ll go and meet my parents, they departed long ago,
And see all my friends and relatives, i also used to know.
It will be just like the old times, to ‘ave a good old chat,
I never faut the day would come, when i could do all that.
And then i’ll look araund me, and realise it is true,
You get back what you give in life; so it’s really up to you

I hope you have enjoyed reading this and I would like to thank  The Pearly King and Queen association for all their help in researching this . Thanks for looking.

I was up and early next morning, first for a dip in the hotel swimming pool, which I had never had the opportunity to try at previous SCW due to being an organiser. The pool was lovely .

Off to breakfast having built up an appetite.

The choice for breakfast was yummy, vast and catered for everyone’s needs. After breakfast it was time to gather in the hall for the start of the days events.

Below are photos of some of the dolls from, My Favourite Sasha doll display.

This beauty  in the box I believe is owned by Tricia

The twin studios above belong to Laura

Love the outfit on the blonde Gotz above.

Tilly belonging to Mary, pretty in Purple

Another beauty

Hope and Annette’s eyelash boy

Sasha owned by Sarah

What a cutie

How cute is Mr Stink

Now some photos of the International and Regional dressed  dolls

I just wanted to pick this little one up and give her a hug

Lovely outfit by Alison

Mexican girl by Marti

I fell in love with this girl owned by Peggy

Beautiful outfit and incredible history

Here are The Wobblers

Next it was time for the craft tables

Brigitte’s Table were making Sasha leather Satchels

Janet’s table were making rugs

Francis’s table were making beautiful embroidered bags

Jane’s table were making  little bags with Scottie dogs on.

Emma’s table were making Sasha jackets

Doll Mum’s table were making little wooden duck toys, which were great fun.

Judith’s table were making Sasha aprons

After lunch it was time to get ready for the raffle

Diane explained the rules

In between the normal raffle prizes being drawn a special draw would be announced.

And the first number which was a special prize was drawn

And the winner was Paula’s Granddaughter, which was wonderful as it was her first baby Sasha.

Sarah won the brunette Gregor

Pam’s daughter won the Dorisanne Osbourne book

Liss won the Red haired Sasha

Petrana won the beautiful drawings by Joni

Doll mum’s daughter won a baby

Fiona won the customise Cora donated by Peggy

Jocelyn then kindly donated her special draw ticket to Paula’s Grand daughter who won another baby Sasha

The last prize was won by me, which is a lovely Wobbler created by Janet Myhill-Dabbs

After the raffle we had a couple of hours relaxation before dinner

Karin was  presented with a gift for her extraordinary Maypole display

After dinner their were gifts for our friends that had travelled from overseas to be with us of miniature lindt chocolate bars.

There were prize for the dress a doll competition

1st prize went to Peggy for her Iranian girl

2nd prize went to Vicky Chapman for her Zulu warrior

3rd prize  went to me for the Pearly King

Mr G is very happy with his nano lego and would like to say thank you to Vicky Chapman for providing the blank suit.

After the prizes were presented it was time to say thank you to Janet and Tricia presented her with some beautiful potted plants as these were easier for her to take with her on her scooter ride home.

I would like to say a great big thank you to Janet and Tricia for a wonderful weekend and all the hard work they put into it. It was great for me to be able to enjoy it this time as a guest and to see it from the other side so to speak.

Below is the group photo taken be Alan Hinchcliffe

That’s all from me folks. I hope you have enjoyed it and thanks for stopping by.

Inge Goldberg  was born on the 10th July 1918. She was to be the oldest of 4 children.A younger sister called Susanne was born in 1920, followed by a brother Karl born in 1922 and another brother called Christian born in 1929.

Inge Goldberg had red hair, blue eyes and freckles.

Above in this photo with her parents.

Above in this photo she is on the right and her sister Susanne is on the left.

Above in this photo from left to right we have Christian, Inge, Karl and Susanne. The photo below is the back of this photograph which shows the children’s ages. Inge was 18 years old at this time.

Below is my last photo of Inge

Inge studied interior design in Danzig (Gdansk).

In 1945 towards the end of the second world war the Russian army were entering Dansk and refugees were fleeing Germany.

Full-fledged panic is erupting in East Prussia in January 1945.  Tales of Russian revenge for the Nazi invasion of the “Motherland” spread like wildfire all the way to the Wilhelm Gustloff’s port in Gotenhafen’s Oxhöft Pier.  Hundreds of thousands of German refugees continue to stream in to the Danzig , hoping for safe passage to the West.

A major offensive launched by the Soviets in mid-January accelerates the exodus from East Prussia .  Many Ethnic Germans cut off from the Danzig by Red Army troops negotiate passage across the frozen Frisches Haff, a freshwater lagoon on the Baltic coast.  Soviet planes circle in the sky, bombing defenceless refugees.  Direct hits are not necessary – weakening the ice is enough to send families with their wagons and horses through to an icy death.  To the many refugees streaming toward ports in the Danzig , escape to the West is the only hope of avoiding certain suffering and death.

Above a model of the Wilhelm Gustloff ship

On January 22, 1945 , the Gustloff begins preparations to accept thousands of refugees.  There are also obvious challenges involved in getting the ship running properly.  With the exception of minor test runs, the Gustloff’s engines have not operated in over 4 years.

Ships of all shapes and sizes are assembled and prepared for sailing West.  Joining the Gustloff for the evacuation will be other submarine training ships such as the Hansa, Hamburg. Unfotunately the Hansa Hamburg developed engine trouble and was unable to escort  the Gustloff ship.

The scene in Gotenhafen is panic-laced chaos.  Thousands and thousands of refugees – mostly women and children – jam the harbour.  You won’t find too many able-bodied men.  Those who can fight the Russians have already been procured for duty (feared SS Stormtroopers patrolling the crowds ensure none are overlooked).  Many are not well – having endured bitter cold and long distances by carriage or foot in unforgiving January weather.  Thousands do not make it to the Danzig ports.  Unimaginable death litters the roadsides and in places like the frozen Frisches Haff lagoon.

Despite the mass of pulsating humanity on the docks, boarding the Gustloff is relatively orderly in the early stages.  Armed sentries guard the gangways to keep out those without priority or privilege.  The ship’s printing press, once used to create colourful cruise agendas, now cranks out the coveted “ Identity Pass ” that allows access to the Gustloff.  The precious piece of paper with the Gothic type offers hope.

As expected, the first right to these passes is provided for the U-boat officers, crew members, and a few hundred members of the Women’s Naval Auxiliary (some members of which are accommodated in the drained swimming pool).  Wounded soldiers arriving by train are also given priority.  “Privileged” refugees then get their turn.  The first ones to receive passes are those with “connections” – to family and friends on board, or to those with local influence.  Of course, those with money attempt to buy them.  We will never know how many underhanded deals are made.  One thing is sure: as more and more privileged board, tension and envy mount in “ordinary” refugees crowded around the gangways.

Inge was a Marine Helper and was placed in he drained swimming pool area of the ship.

With less than two days until the ship until departure, 10 of the 22 lifeboats are missing.  After over four years as floating barracks, lifeboats have gradually disappeared fromtheir davits – requisitioned for other duties in the harbour such as creating smoke screens to obscure Allied air raids.  Hastily, 18 small boats are hoisted on and secured to the sundeck.  Numerous life rafts are added in strategic places around the decks.  Anti-aircraft guns are affixed to the deck to offer token protection – Luftwaffe control of the skies a distant memory.

According to an official list, only three thousand refugees are already loaded onto the Gustloff by the morning of January 30th, 1945 (they have stopped counting).  As it becomes more certain the ship will sail on this day, more crowds rush the gangways.  Mothers and children become separated.  Children and infants are handed to those going on board.  In terrifying manner, shoving on gangways throw some children overboard – disappearing into the ice cold water between the dock and hull.  Small boats pull up along side filled with mothers and children begging for a spot on board.  For some, persistence is rewarded as nets and gangways are lowered to take more on board.

On this bitter cold grey day in Gotenhafen, scattered with snow and sleet, exact numbers of those aboard will never be known.  By the time the Gustloff is ready to leave port, well over 10,000 anxious evacuees are crammed aboard the ship.

Within 9 hours, 3 torpedoes will hit the Wilhelm Gustloff.  It will sink to the bottom of the Baltic Sea , taking over 9,500 souls with it.

Below deck, thousands of passengers attempt to settle in to their assigned areas for the journey.  Last minute arrivals carve out any reasonable living space they are lucky to find.  Every possible space on the ship is occupied.  All are instructed over the loudspeaker to wear the lifejackets provided to them.  Under no circumstances are they to remove them.  Above deck, wind, snow and hail pelt the Gustloff.  The seas become rougher as the Bay is left behind.  Seasickness begins to set in for many.  Unable to relieve themselves overboard, on board toilets become clogged and the stench nauseating.  Even so, for many it is a small price to pay for the hardships endured recently.

On board the escape ship, cheerful music resumes its tinny resonance from the ship’s speakers – accompanied the whimpering of discontented children and adults alike.   On the bridge, there is a cautious sense of relief among the four captains now that they’ve reached the Stolpe Bank.  They share a sentiment that the most dangerous waters in the journey are behind them.  In addition to their first meal since departure, a round of cognac is poured to toast good fortune.  Captain Weller remains on duty on the bridge.  And then…

At 9:16PM , the first torpedo strikes the front of the ship, blowing a gaping hole in the port bow.  Moments later, the second hits further astern where the swimming pool is located.  Finally, the third scores a direct hit in the engine room below the funnel.  Passengers and crew are thrown off their feet with the thunderous booms.  Those near direct points of impact are practically vaporized and perhaps spared the ensuing panic and suffering.

Upon first reports of damage, the watertight doors are ordered shut to seal off the forward part of the ship.  Unfortunately, this area contains the crews quarters.  Many off-duty crew members (especially those trained in lowering lifeboats and emergency procedures) are sealed to their doom.

The scene of the second torpedo impact is greatly distressing.  The drained swimming pool (and cabins in the immediate area) had been makeshift accommodations for many of the Women’s Naval Auxiliary.  The torpedo blast creates airborne missiles out of splintered tiles which just moments before decorated the pool area with lavish mosaics.  Girls in the direct area are cut to pieces by flying tiles and twisted metal.  For the first time in years, water rushes in to the pool.  But this time, floating corpses, body parts and empty life jackets swim in its water.  Only two or three of the 373 girls are able to escape.

With that, the total number of survivors rescued number approximately 1,230.  Over 9,000 go to their deaths – trapped at the bottom of the Baltic or floating frozen on its unforgiving surface.

Today, the wreck is officially designated as a grave site and is off limits to divers by order of Polish authorities.

Above an image of the wrecked ship

Inge Golberg perished on this ship at the age of 26, such a tragic loss especially to her family and younger sister Susanne.

In the 1960’s Susanne’s  mother had a studio doll made in Inge Goldberg’s likeness with  Red hair, Blue eyes and Freckles. The studio doll was given to Susanne as a gift from her mother in memory of her older sister Inge.

The doll is called Inge and now lives with me.

Inga’s freckles go right up into her brow. Her outfit is all original and she is a B11 type face with cloth body. She is in excellent condition having been looked after very well by her original family.

Inge is wearing her new shoes from Brigitte.

I would like to thank Uli Goldberg who was Inge Goldberg’s Nephew and son of her brother Karl for all the photos and information he and his 90 year old mother were able to tell me about Inge Goldberg.

her memory will live on forever in this wonderful studio doll Inge.

Brigitte and I boarded the Train to Zurich. It was great fun to travel on a double decker train. We made our way to the buffet car to have our breakfast on route to the Zurich  Toy Fair.

A wonderful start to the day with a tasty breakfast, while we relaxed  on the way to the Zurich toy fair.

We arrives at Zurich train station and then travelled by tram to the Zurich Toy Fair.

Once we arrived at the Toy Fair we waited patiently in a queue for the doors to open, into an Aladdin’s cave of toys. I am primarily a Sasha Doll lover so, I cannot tell what all the dolls are that were for sale so, I will let the photos do the talking.

Some Sasha outfits for sale to the right of this photo.

Above a course doll, 2 early Gotz sasha’s and a baby.

Above a beautiful Lenci doll

Above 2 more beautiful Gotz sasha’s

Above a number of Sasha babies and a later Gotz boy.

Above you can just see an early Gotz sasha.

Above a gorgeous soft body studio doll in great condition.

Another beautiful course doll

Above this exquisite hard bodied studio doll really pulled at my heart strings, however the  little lady was bright green and I decided that as I will not have the funds for an abundance of Studio dolls, that my first one would not be green. The seller was asking £4000 for her and at the end of the day she had not sold.

After the Toy Fair had finished Brigitte and I met up with a few other doll lovers, for a cup of coffee and a chat,  which was great fun.

Above from left to right me, Brigitte, Dora, Gertrude, Renee and Thu cuc, we also met up with Madeline Foong, Laura Knüsli and Michael O’Brien.

The pamphlets for next year were handed out.

(Below is a rough translation  of the newsletter on the right)

The zurcher speilzeugmuseum shows from March 2016 in changing exhibitions dolls and objects from the original collection Sasha Morgenthaler. The collection is the property of the city of Zurich. In the last four years over 70 dolls were exhibited in the museum Lindwurm in Stein and Rhein. Now they have returned to Zurich. The work of Sasha Mogenthaler is characterized by individual creativity and craftsmanship as well as the highest possible quality. A special characteristic of her doll art is the law of the asymmetry of the human body, which she considers to be very important. The artist has consistently implemented this insight in the design of the dolls.

(Below a rough translation of the newsletter on the left)

We invite you to visit our little special “Sasha Morgenthaler and Migros”. 50 years ago, the affordable Sasha dolls appeared on the sales stands and became a huge success. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of toys. We look forward to  seeing you.

After  leaving the Toy Fair we walked through Zurich taking in some of scenery.

Above views of the Lake in Zurich

Above a street sculpture.

Above Heimatwerk the first place to sell Sasha Studio dolls

Above Franz carl Weber store where years ago Sasha  Gotz Serie dolls were sold.

Above this church of the Hermits of St. Augustine was built in 1270 on Zurich’s western city walls. During the Reformation, the church was transformed into a coin workshop.  Zurich’s Catholic church reclaimed the building in 1841. When the community rejected the dogma of the First Vatican Council, it was excluded from the Catholic church and became known as a Christian Catholic community. The Augustinerkirche remained the local place of worship.

Renovation work undertaken in 1959 gave the church its current appearance. The simple choir area, crucifixion scene, block altar, baptismal font by Franz Fischer and stained glass by August Wanner are well worth a visit.

As the museum in Zurich was closed on Sunday I was unable to visit, so Brigitte and I made our way home to play with our purchases.

I purchase this lovely early Gotz girl before I went to the toy fair. But I purchased her wonderful outfit from the toy fair, which is very well made and suits her very well.

I purchased this lovely Unisex Gotz at the Toy fair. I was showing Michael O’Brien my purchases and he told me that the shirt this doll is wearing is very rare. in fact, he said that this is only the 2nd one he had ever seen. If anyone has Michael O’Brien’s book if you turn to the page with the red haired unisex doll in the school uniform you will see that it is wearing the same type of shirt. Normally this fabric was only used to make aprons from.

I also learnt something else that I would like to share with you. The term unisex that we use to describe these dolls may not be correct. Indeed the dolls have short hair so they can be either a girl or a boy. However, when  they were dressed originally they would have been dressed as a boy or a girl. Mine has fastenings  on the left so she would have been a girl.

I just love this little lady which, I also purchased at the Toy fair. She is a saucer eyed early Gotz Sasha. She is unusual as she has a small head and most saucer eyed girls have big heads. she has long thick hair too.

These 3 look ready for the winter.

I was also lucky enough to purchase a very minty Elke toddler complete with her original tube.

I also purchased this handsome young man who I have decided to call Peter.

I had a fantastic time at the Toy Fair and will be posting a story about my studio doll Inge soon.