A selection
of handcrafted one-of-a-kind dolls in the Balson Holdings Family Trust collection
A selection
of handcrafted one-of-a-kind dolls in the Balson Holdings Family Trust collection
This unique and exquisite collection features the work of "Myths and Legends" owned and created by the late Sylvie O'Day (image right) - a truly remarkable creative artist who goes well beyond the norm in creating her one-of-a-kind dolls.
O'Day, who wrote for Mills and Boon under a pseudonym, wrote the following in the sleeve of the only copy of her re-write of Shakespeare's "The Tempest":
"If craving is considered a drug, then of that I am totally addicted. To bring into existence something from my imagination. produces endless pleasure and puts me in a state of emotional equilibrium."
Today, Sylvie O'Day lives through her dolls which are prominently displayed and appreciated for the unique works of art that they are.
Each doll displayed is worth thousands of dollars. The dolls displayed stand about 600mm high.
It took Sylvie O'Day up to six months to build each doll from scratch. All
the dolls' clothing and accessories were carefully and lovingly created by
this unrecognised artistic genius.
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Prospero |
Miranada - asleep under spell |
| Sylvie O'Day re-wrote the last chapter of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
to fit her image recreated in the doll above.
This extraordinary book (seen right) came with the dolls. |
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Cover of 33 page re-write |
Inside Cover of "The Tempest" |
Back cover of "The Tempest" |
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Gumnut's face, the bigger doll, was extraordinarily beautiful and the reason this doll was acquired. Just weeks before Sylvie O'Day went into hospital with terminal breast cancer Gumnut's face cracked. The last work that Sylvie did on a doll was the repair work on Gumnut. He was earlier scorned by doll judges because of his non-conventional structure (ie not standing). As Sylvie told Scott, after the judging, they had no understanding of a work of art that went beyond the limitations of their rules. The largest of all O'Day's dolls, Gumnut and the little wombat on his arm, Willi-Willy, remain a spiritually moving works of art.
