Fallbrook woodcarver's dolls to be on exhibit in San Diego show

FALLBROOK - Master woodcarver Al Salsgiver of Rainbow has carved wooden dolls for the San Diego County doll club, Mini Doll Friends of Southern California. These 16-inch dolls have been turned into unique peddler dolls and will be displayed in a museum quality exhibit as part of the club’s annual show and sale on May 7.

Al Salsgiver is a general contractor who does woodcarving as a hobby and creates 20 to 30 works of art each year.

The Salsgivers moved to Fallbrook in 1990. Al’s wife, Vyke is a member of the doll club that he recently consented to carve the dolls for. The dolls are commonly referred to as peg wooden dolls or Dutch dolls. The original wood dolls were first made around 1900, and were of simple construction, jointed and fastened with wooden pegs, (hence, the name, peg wooden), simple round faces, stick type limbs, and spoon-like hands. Peddler dolls were very popular in Victorian times and authentic, original dolls are rare and very collectible today.

Nine different peddler dolls will be displayed as the special exhibit as part of the Mini Doll Friends of Southern California’s 34th annual show and sale to be held for the third year on Sat., May 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego, Calif. The show originally began at the Fallbrook Woman’s Club in 1977. Proceeds from the show enable the club to continue to support local charities and county libraries.

For more information, contact Connie at (760) 723-0790.