Magnifique! Family Dolls of Mildred Seeley
The legendary doll collection of Mildred Seeley is featured in this art-quality book. Known among doll collectors for more than a quarter-century, Mildred Seeley autographed her many books and signed her letters with the unswerving statement “for the love of dolls.” More than 250 of the world’s most beautiful dolls from the Seeley Collection, resplendent in antique costumes and finery, are featured. 8.5" x 11". Softbound. 140 full-color pages.
$49.00
Catalog Lot List details
22" (55 cm.) Bisque socket head,brown glass paperweight inset eyes,dark eyeliner,painted
lashes,thick brush-stroked and feathered brows,accented eye corners,shaded nostrils,closed
mouth with defined space between the shaded and outlined lips,pierced ears,brunette human
hair over cork pate,French composition and wooden fully-jointed body. Condition: generally
excellent. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 10 (head,and artist checkmarks) Bebe Jumeau
Diplome d'honneur (body). Comments: Emile Jumeau,circa 1888. Value Points: pretty brown-eyed
bebe wears antique silk dress,undergarments,velvet bonnet,leather shoes. From the Seeley
Family Doll Collection.
Presale Estimate:
3000/4000
Realized Price:
$5,400
26" (66 cm.) Bisque socket head,brown glass paperweight inset eyes,dark eyeliner encircles the
eyecut,painted lashes,widely arched brush-stroked brows,accented eye corners,shaded
nostrils,closed mouth,defined space between the shaded and outlined lips,pierced ears,brunette
human hair wig over cork pate,French composition and wooden fully-jointed body. Condition:
generally excellent. Marks: R 12 R. Comments: Emile Jumeau,circa 1890,the doll was specially
commissioned for the mystery firm designated as R.R. Value Points: very lovely presence and
quality of bisque,the doll wears a superb peach silk antique costume,fine
bonnet,undergarments,signed Jumeau shoes.
Presale Estimate:
4500/5500
Realized Price:
$5,750
18" (45 cm.) Pressed bisque socket head,amber brown glass paperweight eyes,thick dark
eyeliner,dark painted lashes,mauve blushed eye shadow,brush-stroked brows,accented eye
corners,shaded nostrils,closed mouth,modeled space between the outlined lips,pierced
ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,French composition and wooden fully-jointed
body,straight wrists,antique maroon silk dress and bonnet,black stockings,antique leather
shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Body not original,but of the period and appropriately
sized and styled. Marks: 2 H. Comments: Aristide Halopeau,circa 1882. Value Points:
exceptionally rare French bebe,few models by this maker are known to exist,enhanced by
superb modeling with classic pointy nose of this model,and beautifully painted features. From
the Seeley Family Doll Collection.
Presale Estimate:
25,000/35,000
Realized Price:
$37,000
22" (56 cm.) The brid has solid domed paper mache shoulder-head with slender facial
shape,elongated throat,small black glass enamel inset eyes,painted lashes and
brows,accented eye corners and nostrils,aquiline nose,closed mouth with accent line between
the lips,black painted pate beneath original brunette human hair wig,kid fashion body with
shapely waist and derriere,gusset-jointed hips,shapely elongated arms and legs. The groom
has black sculpted hair and enamel eyes. Condition: generally excellent,skirt frail. Comments:
for the French market,circa 1830. An early ink script note attached to the doll reads "Doll
dressed as a bride for the Duc de Bearn in 1827". Value Points: very fine early doll with
provenance,wears her original,never-removed,wedding gown with wax orange blossom
corsage and coronet on tulle coiffe,undergarments,silk slippers with ankle straps. From the
Seeley Family Doll Collection.
Presale Estimate:
2500/3500
Realized Price:
$4,300
12" (31 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder-plate,very elaborate blonde
sculpted hair with braid coronet at top of head and deeply sculpted tousled curls,cobalt blue
glass enamel inset eyes,black eyeliner,painted lashes,feathered brows,accented nostrils,closed
mouth,accent line between the lips,modeled pierced ears,kid-over-wooden body with dowel-
jointing at shoulders,elbows,hips and knees,bisque arms from below the elbows,sculpted cupped
hands,antique (very frail) silk dress,undergarments,leather shoes. Condition: generally excellent.
Comments: Germany,circa 1880. Value Points: superb early doll whose rarity points include very
elaborate hair,glass eyes,swivel head,rare body.
Presale Estimate:
2000/2500
Realized Price:
$3,400
18" (46 cm.) Porcelain shoulder-head of adult lady with cameo shaped faced and elongated
throat,blue painted eyes,red and black upper eyeliner,modeled definition of eye sockets,brown
painted brows,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with accent line between the
lips,blonde sculpted hair in very elaborate curls captured loosely at the back of head in black
painted snood with gold bead trim,old cloth body,porcelain limbs,antique gown. Marks: G (script
inside shoulderplate). Condition: generally excellent,hairline on right leg. Comments: attributed
to Gera,circa 1870. Value Points: exceptional beauty of the early portrait lady with superb
definition of eyes and elaborate coiffure. From the Seeley Family Doll Collection.
Presale Estimate:
2000/2500
Realized Price:
$4,200
22" (56 cm.) Bisque socket head with angular features and defined cheek bones and
temple,portraying an older child with pensive expression,the head made in a unique four-part
mold,hazel brown glass paperweight eyes,painted curly lashes,brush-stroked and feathered
brows,accented eye corners and nostrils of uniquely shaped rounded broad nose,closed
mouth with shaded and accented lips,distinctly shaped ears,wheat blonde human hair hand-
tied wig,original uniquely modeled body,elongated torso with broad hips and slender
chest,undefined waist,elongated arms with bisque arms from the elbow,uniquely sculpted
bisque hands,very wide upper thighs,elongated lower legs with shapely calves,tiny
ankles,large feet. The doll wears her original costume,presumably from the Paris couturier
studios of Margaine-Lacroix who had encouraged Albert Marque to participate in this doll
project,comprising silk long skirt,brocade silk jacket,gilded passamenterie trim,original
leather shoes,stockings,undergarments,oll was later owned by the Gaynell Denson Doll
Museum and finally made its way to the home of Mildred Seeley,where it was featured
prominently in many of her books.
Presale Estimate:
120,000/160,000
Realized Price:
$175,000
14" (28 cm.) Bisque socket head,large blue glass paperweight inset eyes,painted dark
lashes,brush-stroked brows,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with shaded and
outlined lips,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,Steiner composition body jointed at shoulders and
hips. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: J. Steiner Bte SGDG Paris A 7. Comments: Jules
Steiner,circa 1890. Value Points: pristine unplayed with condition,the little bebe wears store-
original aqua silk dress with lace trim,muslin chemise and pantalets,straw bonnet with aqua silk
bows,leather shoes,stockings. The doll is being sold from the original family of Sarah McAteer
Carnahan of Pennsylvania.
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$4,600
5 1/2" (14 cm.) Each has bisque head and torso,dark glass sleep eyes,painted lashes,single
stroke brows,nearly closed mouth with painted teeth,loop-jointed bisque arms and legs,painted
white stockings with blue rims,black painted shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 100.
Comments: Kestner,circa 1910. Value Points: all-original pair have mohair wigs,and wear
superbly detailed knit costumes and caps.
Presale Estimate:
600/900
Realized Price:
$1,900
17" (45 cm.) Pale bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder-plate,pale blue glass enamel
inset eyes,dark eyeliner,painted lashes,arched feathered brows,accented nostrils and eye
corners,closed mouth,accented lips,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,kid gusset-
jointed fashion body with shapely waist and derriere,stitched and separated fingers. Condition:
generally excellent. Marks: 4. Comments: attributed to Jumeau,circa 1875,the portrait like
poupee model evolved into the first period bebe. Value Points: outstanding bisque and
painting,delicate bisque,wearing superb antique patterned silk costume with sateen green inset
panels,matching bonnet,undergarments,leather shoes signed "J".
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$5,400