Bye-Lo Baby Doll, circa 1925

Summary

Grace Storey Putnam designed this doll to look and feel like a real three-day-old infant. But such realism was looked down upon by male industry executives. The manufacturer made design changes, smoothing facial creases and using a bisque head instead of rubber. Still, women eagerly lined up outside toy stores just before Christmas 1923 to buy the "Million Dollar Baby."

Grace Storey Putnam designed this doll to look and feel like a real three-day-old infant. But such realism was looked down upon by male industry executives. The manufacturer made design changes, smoothing facial creases and using a bisque head instead of rubber. Still, women eagerly lined up outside toy stores just before Christmas 1923 to buy the "Million Dollar Baby."

Artifact

Baby doll (Recreational doll)

Date Made

circa 1925

Creators

Putnam, Grace Storey, 1877-1947 

Geo. Borgfeldt & Company 

J.D. Kestner (Firm) 

Place of Creation

United States, New York, New York 

Creator Notes

Designed by Grace S. Putnam and made by J. D. Kestner for George Borgfeldt & Company, New York City, New York

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

90.365.7

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Steven K. Hamp

Material

Porcelain (Material)
Composite material
Glass (Material)
Plastic
Flannel
Cotton (Textile)
Metal

Dimensions

Width: 10 in

Length: 14.25 in

Inscriptions

back of head: COPR BY / GRACE S. PUTNAM

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