A Circle of Dolls
“A Circle of Dolls” was the theme of Theriault’s October, 1981 catalog auction, the title inspired by Frenchman architect, Pierre Charles L’Enfant, whose designs concerned the use of interlocking circles to unify people and places. This is, fittingly, the first commemorative title chosen. Highlighting the auction are dolls from the estate of Connie Frank of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, whose enthusiastic pleasure in dolls and toys graced the auction rooms of Theriault’s for nearly two decades. Softbound. 10" x 10". 140 pages.
$59.00
Catalog Lot List details
7" (18 cm.) Solid domed bisque socket head, sculpted pixie-like golden hair, painted extra-large googly eyes gazing to the right, painted curly upper lashes, dot brows, O-shaped mouth with defined space between the lips, composition five-piece body with painted shoes and socks, antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (Goebel crown symbol) 12/0 x Germany. Comments: Goebel, circa 1920. Value Points: wonderful expression with wide-eyed look mirrored by shape of mouth.
Presale Estimate:
300/500
Realized Price:
$700
11" (28 cm.) Bisque socket head, large blue glass googly sleep and side-glancing eyes, dark eyeliner, painted upper lashes, side-stroke brows with ochre outline, tiny pug nose, closed mouth with impish smile, brunette mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed body with side-hip jointing. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: C made in Germany 7 JDK 221 Ges Gesch. Comments: Kestner, circa 1912, the model was inspired by Rose O'Neill's composition-bodied Kewpie which was also made by Kestner. Value Points: the beloved imp is here in most appealing size, has choice bisque and painting, original body and body finish, and original costume including shoes.
Presale Estimate:
2800/3500
Realized Price:
$5,200
17" (43 cm.) All-felt doll, swivel head with pressed facial features, center facial seam, pronounced nose, black small bead eyes, long pointy nose, painted mouth and cheek blush, stitched large ears, cropped short mohair hair behind bald crown, elongated slender torso and legs, bony-shaped legs, over-sized feet with leather shoes. Condition: generally excellent, one tiny face moth hole, three small moth holes at back of jacket. Marks: (original Steiff metal button with underscored F). Comments: Steiff, circa 1915, from their early character doll series, the model known as Professor. Value Points: rare early model with original costume, button in ear.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1600
Realized Price:
$2,600
11" (28 cm.) Each is all-felt with swivel head, pressed facial features with center seam face, painted smiling lips, disc-jointing at shoulders and hips. She has light brown mohair wig with side curls, black bead eyes, and is wearing original undergarments and shoes, (non-original) vintage dress; he has cropped short white mohair wig, blue glass eyes and is wearing original green wool felt suit with striped cotton shirt and felt shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (each with Steiff metal button with underscored F). Comments: Germany, Steiff, circa 1915. Value Points: delightful pair of shyly-smiling children from early Steiff production.
Presale Estimate:
1400/1800
Realized Price:
$2,700
11" (28 cm.) All-felt doll, swivel head with pressed features and center seam, blue glass inset eyes, smug lips, brunette cropped wig, disc-jointing at shoulders and hips. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (metal Steiff button in ear with underscored F). Comments: Steiff, circa 1915. Value Points: the little urchin is wearing original costume and cap.
Presale Estimate:
900/1300
Realized Price:
$1,800
13" (33 cm.) and 12". Each is all-felt with center-seam and pressed facial features, disc-jointing at shoulders and hips. The groom has highly-characterized face with high domed bald pate, elongated crooked nose, stitch-shaped wide lips, stitched-on ears, green glass eyes, embroidered inverted-V brow, blushed cheeks and ears, mottled brown/grey sideburns and beard, short stocky body and over-sized feet. The bride has blue glass eyes, tiny painted lips, blushed cheeks, blonde mohair cropped wig. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Steiff (metal button on groom with underscored F). Comments: Steiff, circa 1910, the dolls are being sold from the original Pennsylvania family estate where they were costumed in commemoration of an early 1900s wedding. Also included is the original costume of man, including vest, pants, and wooden sandals stamped "Steiff". Value Points: wonderful pair enhanced by his highly-characterized features, the happy couple are wonderfully-preserved in fine tailor-made costumes, he with ivory silk vest, fine woolen formal suit, boutonniere, top hat, and she with ivory satin gown with coronet of lilies of the valley matching her bouquet, and extended train.
Presale Estimate:
4000/5500
Realized Price:
$4,000
9" (23 cm.) Each is all-cloth with stitched features, white mask face with embroidered black eyes, lashes, and mouth, black cloth nose and ears, black torso with stitched-on orange or red gloves and shoes, attached elongated tail. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: depicted are Mickey and Minnie Mouse, 1930s. Value Points: charming pair are wearing their original costumes, he with patched pants and fringed scarf, and she with red skirt and fringed scarf, polka dot pants.
Presale Estimate:
400/600
Realized Price:
$1,200
11" (28 cm.) Bisque socket head with solid domed, sculpted short wheat-blonde hair with forelock curl topped by sculpted bellhop cap with chin strap, blue glass side-glancing googly eyes, painted lashes and brows, closed mouth with impish smile, composition and wooden fully-jointed body, bellhop costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Dep Elite F 2/0. Comments: Max Handwerck, circa 1920. Value Points: especially fine detail of sculpting enhanced by fine painting of hair and complexion, decorative detail of cap.
Presale Estimate:
800/1000
Realized Price:
$1,800
10" (25 cm.) Bisque socket head, blue glass sleep eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked and feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, open mouth, four porcelain teeth, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 99 Germany H 4/0. Comments: Heinrich Handwerck, circa 1900. Value Points: the pretty wide-eyed child has lovely bisque, original body and body finish, and wears beautiful antique dress, knit cap, undergarments, shoes and socks.
Presale Estimate:
350/500
Realized Price:
$2,200
2 1/2" (6 cm.) Each is all-bisque, with swivel head, peg-jointed arms and legs, painted facial features, painted blue or black boots, or barefoot, mohair wig. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: for the French market, circa 1900. Value Points: the tiny dolls are each wearing factory-original folklore costume, one holding its own tinier doll.
Presale Estimate:
300/400
Realized Price:
$900