Nell Weidmann's Swiss Costume Dolls
Here are the three amazing women responsible for the Swiss Center's new doll collection. Terry Goetz (left) is on the Swiss Center's Board of Directors; Nell (center) is the doll creator; and Kirsten Dobson (right) was the first to recognize that Nell's dolls next and permanent home should be at the Swiss Center of North America.
The dolls were purchased in the 1980’s by Mrs. Doris Geiger. After her passing, the dolls were part of an estate sale that Kirsten attended. Kirsten—"I saw the dolls and they were so stunning that I knew they needed to stay together as a collection." Kirsten and Swiss Center Board member Terry Goetz talked about the need to have these creations available for others to see, and that they should all come to the Swiss Center. Kirsten,Terry and Swiss Center President, Beth Zurbuchen later visited Nell at her home in Milwaukee, WI to get to know the artist and her craft. Nell started making the dolls in 1974. They are named MAYAD dolls, a combination of the names of her two children, Maya and Adrian.
Nell is a native of Zurich, Switzerland. Her art background includes training in watercolor, oil, porcelain painting as well pottery, ceramics and needlework. In this picture Nell is holding one of the head molds she created for the dolls. She also researched each Swiss canton and subregion to produce authentic costuming in miniature.