No. 01

Zopile

Modern Artist Doll (porcelain)

Details

Artist

Elisabeth Snels (Canada, 1931-2015)

Type

Modern artist doll

Shown at

D.A.G International Competition

About this doll

'Zopile' is the work of the Canadian doll artist Elisabeth Snels. A classic ivory dress, hand-made roses and a feathered bonnet come together in a look of timeless elegance, and the piece shows the fine costuming and graceful bisque-doll style that made her a favorite among collectors.

The doll was entered in the Doll Artisan Guild (D.A.G) international competition, where it was exhibited alongside the work of doll artists from around the world.

Background

The Doll Artisan Guild (D.A.G) is an international organization of porcelain dollmakers founded in 1977 by Mildred Seeley in Oneonta, New York. Devoted to the accurate reproduction of antique dolls and to dollmaking education, it runs seminars taught by certified instructors around the world and a ladder of qualifications such as Certified Doll Artisan and Master of Dollmaking.

In the D.A.G international competition, entries are not simply compared with the doll beside them: qualified judges score each doll against established standards, in categories that cover antique reproduction, modern dolls, original sculpting and costuming. The top award, the 'Millie', is named after the founder. In the 1990s the guild had some 12,500 members, and its conventions in Oneonta drew up to 1,000 dollmakers from all over the globe.

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