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This is going to constitute a slightly novel approach. I'm going to give you her name and tell you all about her ... And show you a picture of her ... and then ask you who she is. Of course ... as usual ... I will put you on your honor not to Google and/or cheat in any way. Ready?
This is by way of them thar olden days when pieces of jewelry were made in representation of famous personalities. Our brooch-du-jour was made of woods, marquet and inlay. It is unsigned.
Hers is one of the most famous faces in the world. Her name was Barbara Handler. In 1956 her mother, Ruth Handler and her children--Barbara and Kenneth--went to Germany where--in a local newspaper (Die Bild-Zeitung)--a cartoonist had a comic strip about a working girl named Lilli who was not above using her talents to get what she wanted from men. An adult-sized toy doll was created in resemblance of our working girl and it was named Bild Lilli. Though it was aimed at an adult consumer it soon became popular with children.
Ruth was born Ruth Mosko. She lived in Denver and was the youngest of ten children born to Polish immigrants. Her father was a blacksmith ... her mother an illiterate. In 1970 she lost her left breast to cancer and later developed a line of artificial breasts made of foam and silicon.
Ruth Handler bought three of the dolls and gave one to her daughter and bought the other two home in order to have them reworked. She and her husband began working out of their garage. They founded a toy company and called it Mattel.
She helped run the company for 30 years and resigned in 1975. In 1978 she and several others were indicted on charges of fraud and false reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission. She pleaded no contest to the charges.
The representation you are about to see in no way looks like the famous visage you are all accustomed to seeing. It's a 1959 incarnation. I can not tell you more for I fear I have already said too much. However ... let's give it a whirl shall we? Look at the brooch ... and tell me who you think she is ... this daughter of Ruth Handler.
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