Master Sculptor Vincent J. DeFilippo Vincent J. DeFilippo is shown here with one of his sculpting projects. Photo with permission and courtesy of Marie DeFilippo by Jane Foster V Both of these pretty Patti Playpals were sculpted by Neil Estern and the wax models for these dolls were made by DeFilippo. Author's Collection incent J. DeFilippo was born on April 9, 1929, and recently passed away on January 12, 2018. His father, Antonio DeFilippo, was an outstanding sculptor, and from his talented hands came many fine art pieces created in bronze. He is famous for his Monitor Memorial monument which is placed in Monsignor McGolrick Park in Brooklyn, New York. He also sculpted several figures for Walt Disney. Vincent DeFilippo was working for the telephone company at the age of twenty-two when his father asked him for assistance on an important commission. While working with his father, Vincent's sculpting ability became evident. His mother and aunt encouraged him to respond to a newspaper advertisement for a wax modeler at Ideal Toy Corporation. He did apply for the job and was hired. DeFilippo became an expert at Ideal in all aspects of vinyl production. He was recognized by Neil Estern who sculpted the Patti Playpal doll for Ideal in 1959. Estern knew of DeFilippo's extraordinary ability as a wax modeler and chose him to make the wax models for Patti Playpal. This lovely doll was proportionally the size of a three-year-old and has been enjoyed by many little girls in the past for this reason. Patti Playpal now is very popular with collectors today due to her special features that are so life-like. There is no question about the Estern model of Patti Playpal being a lovely doll. However, this was a time when doll companies were competing and producing many dolls and Ideal wanted to DOLL NEWS * UFDC.ORG 151http://www.UFDC.ORG