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Featuring two important catalogued auctions:
From the Golden Age of Automata:
The Private Collection of Christian Bailly
Saturday, May 15, 2004 beginning at 11 AM
Pie in the Sky, A Collection of Antique Dolls
Sunday, May 16, 2004 beginning at 11 AM
Never before has Theriault’s offered such a tremendous weekend for collectors. This special two-auction catalogue weekend will highlight two distinct collections. On May 15, Theriault’s will present a special auction of the entire private automaton collection of Christian Bailly. This highly respected Parisian collector has been the leader for decades in the collecting and research of dolls in motion. On Sunday, May 16, a separate catalogued auction of rare dolls will be presented featuring nearly 300 examples from private French and US collections. This auction alone would typically generate great excitement in the doll world, yet when blended with the Bailly collection the day before; this weekend will offer collectors the most significant event in company history. 
   
In 2002 Christian Bailly bought the Negre Chanteur (Lot 40 in the auction of his collection), an exceptionally rare automaton made by Gustav Vichy about 1895 that was previously unknown in collections and referred to only once in historical documents. It was to be the last automaton he would add to his collection in an illuminous forty years of searching for the finest examples of these 19th century luxury playthings. During those forty years Bailly became the international name to know on the subject of automata, authoring the signal reference book about automata, opening prestigious boutiques in Paris and New York, organizing exhibitions of automata worldwide—including the unforgettable 1993 Bagatelle exhibition in Paris—and giving keynote speeches at international conventions of automata, doll and music box collectors.
   
The Bailly Collection features 138 automata ranging from the rarest only-one-known-to-exist in the world such as Little Boy with Tart and Goose, to the most exotic such as The Snake Charmer, to the spell-binding movements of The Clown Acrobat with Two Chairs, to the insouciant charm of Pierrot Serenading the Moon, and to the endearing sweetness of Little Girl with Toy Theatre and Dog. All are presented in a 192-page, hardbound catalogue featuring color photographs and full descriptions of each example.
Christian Bailly will be present at the exhibits and auction in Las Vegas, and at the three exhibits to be held in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles prior to the auction. Collectors are invited to attend these exhibitions to meet the collector/author who will demonstrate and talk about the pieces, and be available to autograph the auction catalogue. The collection is now available for viewing by clicking here. return to top Bidding live online at the actual moment of the auction is a new service now offered by Theriault’s at catalogued auctions. For details about this new service, click here. | 
The old folk song proposes that pie in the sky is unlikely, and everyone knows that cows don’t fly over the moon. Or do they? Children know differently. They know that cotton candy is a pink cloud of spun joy, that the tooth fairy lives, and the dish and the spoon run away and live happily ever after.
As for doll collectors, they know these things, too. The imponderable marvels of childhood that other grown-ups, once wide-eyed with wonder, now mock still resonate with perfect understanding to lovers of antique dolls and toys. It is to these collectors that Theriault’s offers "Pie in the Sky," an exceptional collection of more than 250 of the world’s rarest and finest dolls. 
Reaching nearly to the sky is an extraordinary 32" French mystery bebe in antique military uniform; on the other end of the size spectrum is a tiny Bebe E.J., size 1, and a number of very fine all-bisque mignonettes. The auction features highlights from the collection of Dee Robinson of New York and California, as well as other private collectors, and includes the Evelyn Green portrait dolls de-accessioned from the collections of the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York.Also included is a fine small group of bisque figures from Gebruder Heubach, superb portrait dolls by Jumeau and other French firms, an exquisite pair of tiny Schmitt bebes (featured on the catalog cover), Lenci dolls, Schoenhut circus, collection of French toy loterie stalls with miniature dolls and toys, early Kathe Kruse, Bleuette dolls, American composition, all-original German bisque child dolls, and rare German bisque character children including a model, SH 1418, by Simon and Halbig that is previously undocumented in doll research.
The dolls are presented in a superb full-color catalogue. Attendance at the auction is encouraged, but absentee and telephone bids are welcomed if you cannot attend (details included in the catalogue). return to top Order your auction catalogue today! "From the Golden Age of Automata" Regular Edition: Hardbound, art quality paper, 9" x 12", 175 pages, full color. CA-1050. $59. Order Here.
"From the Golden Age of Automata" Limited Edition of 100: Hardbound with deluxe binding, gilt edging, slip case, Bailly autograph. CA-105S. $150. Order Here.
"Pie in the Sky, Cow over the Moon":
Softbound, 124 pages. 8 1/2" x 11". CA-1049. $39. Order Here. Schedule of Events
May 13 – 16, 2004
The Venetian • Las Vegas, Nevada Thursday, May 13 & Friday, May 14, 2004
“Magic and Motion: The Art of the Automaton”
An exhibit of selected highlights from Saturday’s auction.
Exhibit open 1–7 PM. Saturday, May 15, 2004
“From the Golden Age of Automata: The Private Collection of Christian Bailly”
Preview 9 AM. Auction 11 AM.
There is a 12% buyer’s premium at this auction. Absentee and telephone bids accepted. Sunday, May 16, 2004
“Pie in the Sky, Cow over the Moon and Other Imponderable Wonders of Childhood”
Preview 9 AM. Auction 11 AM.
There is a 12% buyer’s premium at this auction. Absentee and telephone bids accepted.  All events are conducted at the Venetian Hotel, located at 3355 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, Nevada, at W. Flamingo Road exit off I-15. Turn east to Las Vegas Blvd, then north to 3355 Las Vegas Blvd South. The hotel is located 5 miles from McCarran International Airport. A shuttle is available from the airport directly to the hotel. For hotel accommodations, please telephone 702-414-1000. For auction information or to order a catalogue,contact Theriault's Customer Service at 800-638-0422.
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