Author Description

The year 1994 marked the opening of the first museum in Paris devoted to antique dolls. Nestled at the end of a charming alley on the city's Right Bank, the Musée de la Poupée-Paris has become a mecca for doll collectors from around the world. Co-founded by Samy Odin and his father, Guido Odin, the museum's permanent exhibitions feature historically significant dolls of a variety of media made over a span of two centuries. In this stunning book, Samy Odin takes readers on an intimate tour of more than seven hundred of the museum's dolls. He reveals the rich provenance of many of the examples he and his father have acquired, identifies previously unknown pieces and explores the mysterious, and fascinating, process by which a top-rate collection is built. In his opening memoir, Mr Odin tells the story of the serendipitous gift of a damaged bisque doll that started him and his father on their journey as doll collectors in 1981. He traces their steps from that moment to the opening of their first museum in their home in Italy a decade later, and to their arrival in Paris in 1994. Ensuing chapters focus on the major aspects of the Odin collection, from lady dolls to a wide range of bébés, mignonnettes and cloth dolls. Those who have visited the Musée de la Poupée-Paris as well as those who have not yet had this privilege will enjoy lingering over the spectacular colour photos, including many close-up views, of its holdings, and reading Mr Odin's insightful comments. This magnificent collection comes to vivid life on these pages, transporting readers to the heart of Paris, where hundreds of fascinating dolls make their home.