The stock market may have tumbled. But when collectors gathered at Theriault’s October 11 doll auction at Half Moon Bay near San Francisco, the mood was good cheer and enthusiasm, with prices largely soaring above their pre-sale estimates. “I trust the market in tangibles, and I definitely trust Theriault’s to be offering superior dolls”, said one collector, adding with a smile, “plus, my dolls just make me happy”.
Dolls definitely made the life of Madalaine Selfridge happy for more than half a century. It was her collection that was being sold and collectors who had dreamed for decades about the dolls, photographed in her landmark books of the 1960s, Wendy and Friends, Dimples and Sawdust, and Dolls, Images of Love, were all too ready to capture that happiness – along with a doll or two.
The auction began with a trilogy of wooden-bodied French poupees selling at $6750, $8750 and $5500, easily topping their pre-sale estimates, and the bidding never relented. Other French dolls included three classic model Bru Jne bebes: a size 6 model went to $26,000, size 1 moved swiftly to $19,000 and a size 2 with intriguing provenance was $30,000, nearly doubling its pre-sale estimate. Bebes by Jumeau continued their popularity climb: a tiny size 1 tete model in couturier costume was $8750; two size 9 Depose EJ bebes were $8750 and $11,500, a size 12 Jumeau Triste soared to $19,000; and an unusual 12” tete model bebe with Polichinelle body and costume doubled its pre-sale estimate at $10,500. Bebes by Gaultier were offered with a variety of rare body styles, prompting one collector to note, “Coming here to see the dolls is almost like a museum seminar. I hope to take one home, but, if not, at least I’ve had the gift of actually seeing these rare models!”. A 13” kid-bodied F.G. bebe was $6700, an 11” composition-bodied model was $3600, and a 15” model with all-wooden body soared to $7000, all topping high pre-sale estimates. Other French dolls included the rare Leverd & Cie poupee that topped at $17,500, a 14” Figure C by Jules Steiner with original costume from Au Nain Bleu, the 19th century Paris luxury toy store, topping at $8250, another Figure C Steiner, 28”, selling at $9000, and a tiny 11” Schmitt et Fils bebe that went to $9500
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Madalaine Selfridge, whose collection was being sold, attended the auction, and was generous in speaking with collectors and relating stories about her dolls, most which had been attained by her nearly a half-century before. One doll, a wistful-faced bisque doll by Bruno Schmidt, graced the cover of all three books authored by Selfridge, and had also been featured on the cover of the Theriault auction catalog. Collectors universally refer to this model, marked 2033, as “Wendy”, but few realized that the name had been given to the model by Selfridge forty years previously when she penned her book. “I just always thought it was the manufacturer’s name for the doll”, avowed more than one collector. The 16” doll sold for $16,000, nearly tripling its pre-sale estimate, and a smaller 13” model went for $9500.
German character dolls were strong, in general, at Theriault’s auction. A frowning faced boy, model 8544, by Gebruder Heubach was $10,500, a 24” model of Simon and Halbig’s 1303 Native American topped at $12,000, and a 13” example of early painted-eye character by Marseille was $13,500. The painted-eye art character dolls, in fact, were strong throughout: Kley and Hahn’s 520 girl went to $8000, and an 18” character marked “C.P. 524” by Catterfelder Puppenfabrick was $5750. Glass-eyed character dolls included Hertel and Schwab’s 134 model at $6500 and their 149 model at $11,500, easily topping high pre-sale estimates. Googly dolls continued in popularity: a 13” 221 model by Kestner was $8000 while another 221 model, at 16”, was $10,500. Two AM 241 googlies were each $3750, Kestner’s composition bodied Kewpie was $6250, and a large 12” all-bisque Our Fairy went to $1400.
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Little dolls brought big prices at Theriault’s auction. Examples of all- bisque characters and mignonettes included a 6” French barefoot girl at $1900, 7” Asian girl with upturned toe slippers at $1100, 8” SH 886 with brown ankle boots at $2200, 8” Kestner known as “French Wrestler” at $2200, 10” barefoot girl at $4000, 9” Kestner with Bru-look-alike expression (with restored throat) at $5750, and a tiny 5” Baby Bo-kaye at $1800.
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Celebrity dolls continued in popularity, particularly those by American doll makers from the 1920s/1940s era. There was W.C. Fields that topped at $3000, Jackie Robinson who batted his way to $1700, and two 11” Shirley Temple dolls reached $1700 and $1400. A 16” composition Scootles, designed by Rose O’Neill was $1100, and a complete set of Tiny Betty Birthday Dolls by Alexander went to $1900.
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To see all of the lots, descriptions and prices from the auction visit www.theriaults.com. .