Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Collectable Porcelain Avon Dolls

       Avon Products, Inc. or simply known as Avon, is a direct sales company in beautyhousehold, and personal care categories. Gradually Avon began to carry dolls among other gift items for mothers of young children to purchase or collect during the 1980s and 90s.

Porcelain Collectible Lady Dolls Made Exclusively for Avon

    8 examples of Avon's little porcelain lady dolls. I display these in our dollhouses.

    1. Rebecca An Early American Settler Doll (women of bygone days collection by Avon)
    2. Lupita from Mexico (women from around the world collection by Avon)
    3. Charlotte from The Romantic Era, European (women of bygone days collection by Avon)
    4. Tasime a Sioux North American Native (women from around the world collection by Avon)
    5. Adama from Nigeria (women from around the world collection by Avon)
    6. Marie-Elisabeth from The Victorian Era (women of bygone days collection by Avon)
    7. Masako from Japan (women from around the world collection by Avon)
    8. Colleen from Ireland (women from around the world collection by Avon)

    Avon also sold dolls made by other companies:

    Company's History in Brief:  Avon's American founder, David H. McConnell, initially sold books as a door-to-door salesman to New York homes. In September 1886, he decided to sell perfumes rather than books. He started the new business in a small office at 126 Chambers Street, Manhattan, New York. McConnell changed the company name in 1892. His business partner suggested calling it the "California Perfume Company." His business partner was living in California at the time and suggested the name because of the abundance of flowers in California. On October 6, 1939, the California Perfume Company changed its name to Avon Products Inc.

           The "California Perfume Company, Inc." of New York filed its first trademark application for Avon on June 3, 1932, with the USPTO. Part of the description for goods and services provided to the USPTO included "perfumes, toilet waters, powder and rouge compacts, lipsticks", and other toiletry products. First use and commercial use for Avon by the California Perfume Company was on September 1, 1929. Registration was granted on August 30, 1932. 

           In January 2020 Avon was sold to a Brazilian global personal care company, Natura & Co. The new owners of Avon no longer sell dolls.

           Above, are both vintage and contemporary Avon commercials for television. Although the company also used brochures to advertise its products, it was the door-to-door sales lady I remember the most from my childhood. Women frequently worked as school teachers, nurses and waitresses, but very few worked in business. The first Avon sales lady was Persis Foster Eames Albee and she became famous for her tenacity and sales! She even has had a Barbie doll made to look just like her!


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