14" (36 cm.) Bisque socket head with flattened solid dome, lustrous amber complexion, brown glass sleep eyes, painted short curly lashes, brushstroked and feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with defined space between the outlined lips, pierced ears, dark brunette mohair wig, amber-tinted composition and wooden fully-jointed body with straight wrists, fine antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 121 6. Comments: Sonneberg, mystery maker, circa 1880, the model closely resembles the "circle-dot" model of Leon Casimir Bru whose market the maker sought to capture. Value Points: rare model with superb complexion having fine lustrous finish, original body and body finish.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1600
28" (71 cm.) Bisque socket head, small blue glass eyes, dark eyeliner, painted curly lashes, brush-stroked and multi-feathered brows, accented nostrils and rounded nose, closed mouth with defined space between the shaded and outlined lips, brunette mohair wig in braids, composition and wooden ball-jointed toddler body with side-hip jointing, antique costume comprising violet-patterned dress enhanced by woven black bonnet trimmed with violets, and carrying child's book "A Handful of Violets", undergarments, knit stockings, leather shoes and brass name brooch "Rebecca". Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 1488 Simon & Halbig 15. Comments: Simon and Halbig, circa 1912, finest luminous bisque, original toddler body with original finish, wonderful costume, the model is quite rare especially in this size of which only 3 other examples of size 15 have been offered in Theriault's history.
Presale Estimate:
4500/5500
46" (117 cm.) The beautifully-carved wooden horse has original brown/cream hide finish, glass eyes, carved open mouth, horsehair mane and tail, leather saddle and harness, and metal stirrups, and is mounted upon a heavy wooden platform with cast iron fastenings and springs. The horse is designed to ride back and forth. All-original with some minor wear to hide, structurally excellent, overall very good. Mid-1800s, an outstanding example of the Victorian classic toy.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1400
26" (66 cm.) Pink-tinted bisque socket head, blue glass sleep eyes, painted long curly lashes, widely feathered brows, accented eye corners and nostrils, rounded nose, closed mouth with accent line between the downcast pouting lips, brunette human hair, composition and wooden ball-jointed body, antique costume. Condition: generally excellent, original body and body finish. Marks: 6969 Germany Heubach (sunburst mark) 11. Comments: Gebruder Heubach, circa 1915. Value Points: the sought-after glass-eyed pouting character is seldom found in this fine larger size, superb quality of bisque and decoration.
Presale Estimate:
2800/3500
24" (60 cm.) Bisque socket head, brown glass sleep eyes, thick dark eyeliner with delicately-fringed upper lashes, one-stroke tapered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with very full pouting lips, impressed dimples at lip corners and chin, brunette mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: K*R 114 60. Comments: Kammer and Reinhardt, the art character model "Gretchen", made with glass eyes for one or two years only, circa 1912. Value Points: rare variation of the wistful character child, finest matte bisque with soft blushing, original body in very fine original condition, lovely antique costume.
Presale Estimate:
3800/4500
15" (38 cm.) Each has bisque socket head with uniquely sculpted face depicting a mischievous lad, small brown glass flirty eyes, very thick brown or black "comma" shaped brows with sculpting detail, laughter crinkles around the eyes, upturned rounded nose with accented nostrils, beaming smile on closed mouth, accented lips, impressed dimples, mohair wigs in classic red or black colors, uniquely sculpted body with jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, pointing fingers, sculpted stockings and shoes with upturned toes. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: K*R Simon & Halbig 123 (or 124). Comments: Kammer and Reinhardt, circa 1913, the uniquely modeled urchins were sculpted for the doll firm to represent the popular storybook characters Max and Moritz, originally created by the German author Wilhelm Busch in the mid-1800s, and later immortalized for the American market in the comic strip "The Katzenjammer Kids". The comic strip was created in 1897 by German immigrant Rudolph Dirks for the Hearst newspaper syndicate. In 1912 Dirks and Hearst became involved in a legal wrangle, resulting in Dirks leaving Hearst and creating a rival comic strip "Hans und Fritz" (basically the same characters), while Hearst continued "The Katzenjammer Kids" although drawn by another artist. The actual doll models were registered by Kammer and Reinhardt in the German courts in 1913, and it seems logical that their production may have been inspired by this legal battle, as a means of Hearst continuing to promote the Max and Moritz names, although this fact is not currently documented. Value Points: among the rarest of the German character series, the pair have distinctive sculpting, superb bisque, original distinctive bodies, wonderful costumes and collection of antique toys and childhood accessories.
Presale Estimate:
30,000/42,000
14" (36 cm.) Bisque socket head, brown glass sleep eyes, painted lashes and brows, accent dots at eye corners and nostrils, closed mouth modeled as though open and smiling, outlined lips, deeply-impressed dimples at lip corners and cheeks, brunette mohair wig in long braids, composition and wooden ball-jointed body, antique school girl costume, and carrying little felt-feathered bird. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 590 A 3 M Germany DRGM. Comments: Marseille, circa 1915. Value Points: wonderful eager expression enhanced by deeply-sculpted dimples.
Presale Estimate:
400/600
19" (48 cm.) Seated upon a wooden bench is a bisque head doll with blue glass eyes, painted features, open mouth, four porcelain teeth, brunette human hair wig, carton torso and legs bent at the hips for seating, one knee jointed for movement, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, silk and velvet original costume. The little girl holds a doll in her right hand and a book in her left hand as she clasps another doll, while alongside on the bench is a market basket labeled with her name "Jeanne" that is filled with additional toys. When wound, she alternately lifts each arm up and down as though playing with her toys, taps her foot, and music plays. Condition: generally excellent, music and mechanism function well. Marks: 1300-6 Simon & Halbig S&H (doll). Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1890. Value Points: elaborate detail of costume and accessories enhance the childlike vignette with charming realistic movements.
Presale Estimate:
5500/7500
8 1/2" (22 cm.) The golden mohair bunny is standing on two back legs, its front paws in beseeching pose, wire-framed upright ears, large amber glass eyes, embroidered nose, swivel head. With original Steiff metal underscored button and remnants of red cloth label. Excellent condition, little scratch on each glass eye. Germany, Steiff, 1930s.
Presale Estimate:
400/500
11" (28 cm.) Golden mohair teddy bear with swivel head and jointed limbs, excelsior filling with (non-working) growler intact, humped back, elongated arms, hip-jointed legs with large feet, wide-apart ears, snout nose with brown embroidered tip, black shoe-button eyes, felt paw pads. With original black button in ear. Excellent condition, mohair very lush and silky soft. Germany, Steiff, circa 1905.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1300