For the Love of Dolls, The Mildred Seeley Collection
The legendary doll collection of Mildred Seeley is featured in this new 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". Hardbound. 150 full-color pages.
$49.00
Catalog Lot List details
12" (30 cm). Paper mache shoulderhead with solid
dome and slender facial modelling, black enamel
inset eyes with painted lashes, arched feathered
brows, aquiline nose, open mouth with slightly
parted lips, row of teeth, brunette human hair
wig over black painted skull cap, pink kid
fashion body with one piece shapely limbs, tiny
waist, mitten hands. Condition: generally
excellent. Comments: French, circa 1850. Value
Points: the early doll retains fine original
ivory-like complexion, very sturdy body, has
original wig, and wears original French folklore
costume of Haute-Pyrenees.
Presale Estimate:
700/900
Realized Price:
$1,500
15" (38 cm). Solid domed bisque shoulderhead with
rounded facial modelling, almond shaped blue
glass enamel inset eyes, painted lashes, rose
blushed eyeshadow, fringed brows, accented
nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with
shaded and accented lips, twill covered midriff
hiding "mama" bellows crier, twill upper arms,
bisque arms from above the elbows, cupped bisque
hands, bisque lower torso and upper legs, twill
mid-legs, bisque lower legs and feet. Condition:
generally excellent, right baby finger broken at
knuckle. Comments: Jules Steiner, circa 1875, the
doll was inspired by the Japanese play dolls
introduced at the 1855 London Exposition, and can
be considered the precursor to the French bebe of
the 1880's. Value Points: rare to find this early
model in such well-preserved original condition,
with beautiful bisque, functioning "mama" crier.
Presale Estimate:
2500/3000
Realized Price:
$5,400
24" (61 cm). Bisque socket head, blue glass
paperweight inset eyes, painted lashes with "dot"
highlights, brushstroked brows with fringed
highlights, accented eye corners, shaded
nostrils, closed mouth with heart-shaped upper
lip, shaded lips, accented nostrils, impressed
dimples at chin and lip corners, pierced ears,
brunette human hair over Steiner pate, French
composition fully jointed body with straight
wrists. Condition; generally excellent. Marks: J.
Steiner Bte SGDG Paris Fre A 17 (head) (original
Steiner stamp on torso). Comments: Jules Steiner,
circa 1888. Value Points: beautiful wide-eyed
child has very fine creamy bisque, artistic
painting, original body and body finish, antique
dress of pont d'esprit trimmed with rose silk
edging and sash, undergarments, white leather
ankle boots, tulle cap.
Presale Estimate:
4500/5500
Realized Price:
$5,750
15" (38 cm). Pressed bisque shouldered with
uniquely modelled portrait-like features, dark
brown complexion, elongated throat, black glass
enamel inset eyes, incised eyeliner, black
brushstroked brows, accented nostrils of upturned
nose, open mouth with shaded lips, two rows of
tiny porcelain teeth, ears pierced into the head,
black antique human hair wig over cork pate,
French kid fashion body with one piece legs,
stitch-jointing at shoulders, stitched and
separated fingers. Condition: generally
excellent, one lower tooth missing, body re-
colored. Comments: portrait poupee attributed to
Leon Casimir Bru, circa 1868. Value Points: an
extremely rare poupee with superb sculpting,
beautiful visage, rich complexion with enhancing
lustrous patina, antique bronze silk fashion
gown, green velvet bonnet with jet bead trim,
undergarments, red leather slippers.
Presale Estimate:
4500/6500
Realized Price:
$4,800
17" (43 cm). Pale bisque swivel head on kid-edged
bisque shoulderplate, cobalt blue glass enamel
inset eyes, painted lashes, feathered brows,
accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth
with accented lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair
wig over cork pate, French kid body with gusset
jointed hips and knees, shapely torso, kid upper
arms, bisque arms to above the elbows with
sculpted curled fingers, dimpled elbows.
Condition: generally excellent, left thumb broken
off. Comments: Pierre-Francois Jumeau, circa
1868. Value Points: very beautiful pale-
complexioned poupee with bisque arms, wears
original (frail) ivory silk gown, original wig
with elaborate coiffure and decorative comb,
Jumeau earrings.
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$4,200
22" (56 cm). Bisque socket head portraying an
older wistful-faced child with prominent
definition of facial planes and high domed
forehead achieved by use of a unique four-part
mold, blue glass paperweight inset eyes,
painted curly lashes, darker lower lashes,
brushstroked and feathered brows, accented
eye corners, distinctively shaped nose with
rounded tip, accented eye corners and
nostrils, closed mouth with shaded and
accented lips, distinctively shaped ears,
pierced ear holes, original red mohair wig in
bobbed cut, unique body with elongated
tapered shape torso, wide hips, undefined
waist, elongated composition upper arms,
bisque lower arms with attached bisque
ball-joints at the elbows, separately sculpted
fingers, wide upper thighs, elongated lower
legs with shapely calves, slender ankles,
elongated feet. The doll wears original
costume from the studio of Parisian couturier
Margaine-Lacroix, comprising grey twill
suspendered knickers, silk shirt front, green
velvet jacket, leather leggings, signed Alart
leather shoes, and floppy straw cap with
applied berries. The jacket has the original
silk label of Margaine-Lacroix. Condition:
generally excellent. Marks: A. Marque (incised
on head) 19 (red pencil script on head)
Margaine-Lacroix, 19 Boulevard Haussman,
Paris (cloth label). Comments: France, circa
1916, the portrait doll was commissioned
from and sculpted by the esteemed French
artist, Albert Marque, and presented in the
Parisian boutique of Margaine-Lacroix in a
limited series of 100 dolls, each numbered in
order of its production. The dolls were
costumed by the studio to represent French
regions or royalty. The body, uniquely sculpted
for the Marque doll head, was designed by
French artist Aristodema Botta. Value Points:
an exceptionally rare doll, #19 of the limited
series, has outstanding bisque and painting,
original costume representing "berger" with
boutique label.
This Marque doll was considered by
Mildred Seeley to be the keystone of her
collection and was in her possession for
more than thirty years. The provenance of this
Marque is known. It had been acquired by
antiquarian Harriet Miller in the 1930's and
was then sold to the Gaynell Denson Doll
Museum and, subsequently, to the Seeley
Collection.
Presale Estimate:
125,000/150,000
Realized Price:
$215,000
14" (35 cm). Pale bisque swivel head on kid-edged
bisque shoulderplate, pale blue glass inset eyes,
painted lashes, delicately feathered brows,
accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth
with accented lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair
wig over cork pate, French fashion body with
shapely muslin torso and legs, kid arms with
gusset-jointed elbows, stitched and separated
fingers. Condition: generally excellent. Marks:
1. Comments: maker unknown, circa 1865. Value
Points: the beautiful early model poupee wears a
wonderfully preserved original folklore costume
from Brittany including elaborate lace coiffe and
black velvet "parure de cou".
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$4,000
13" (33 cm). Bisque swivel head on kid-edged
bisque shoulderplate, pale blue glass enamel
inset eyes, painted lashes and feathered brows,
accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth
with accented lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair
wig over cork pate, French fashion body with
muslin torso and legs, kid arms with gusset-
jointed elbows, stitched and separated fingers.
Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 0 (head
and shoulderplate). Comments: Gaultier, circa
1875. Value Points: the fashion lady is in
pristine unplayed with condition, wearing costume
of the Normandy region of France including
elaborate coiffe, paisley shawl, jewelry.
Presale Estimate:
3000/3500
Realized Price:
$4,400
24" and 25" (61 and 63 cm). Each doll has a
bisque shoulderhead with plumply modelled facial
features, cobalt blue glass inset eyes, dark
eyeliner, painted lashes, arched feathered brows,
accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth
with accented lips, ears pierced into head, well
detailed blushing, French pink kid fashion body
with gusset jointed elbows, stitched and
separated fingers, shapely plump bodies with one
piece shaped legs. Condition: generally
excellent. Marks: F. 8. G. (boy). Comments:
Gaultier, circa 1869, according to Seeley's book,
Doll Costuming, the dolls were once accompanied
by a paper label reading "Brittany Wedding,
1869". Value Points: exceptional size of the
early poupees wearing their original well-
preserved folklore costumes from the Finistiere
region of Brittany, the man with black jacket,
sleeveless vest ("chupen"), flared pants ("bragou
braz") with tasseled yarn ties at the knees,
fitted leggings, black cap, all trimmed with
elaborate embroidery; the woman with fitted
bodice under black sleevesless vest, red wooden
skirt, coiffe, undergarments. The pair of dolls
graced the front entrance hall of the Seeley home
for more than two decades.
Presale Estimate:
8000/12,000
Realized Price:
$16,500
21" (53 cm). Pressed bisque swivel head on kid-
edged bisque shoulderplate, almond shaped small
blue glass enamel inset eyes with spiral
threading, dark eyeliner encircles the eyecuts,
painted lashes, lightly feathered brows, mauve
blushed eyeshadow, separately modelled and
pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate,
French kid gusset-jointed fashion body with
shapely waist and derriere, gusset-jointed hips
and knees, separated toes, bisque forearms with
detailed sculpting of fingers, antique (frail)
green-bronze silk gown, green velvet bonnet,
undergarments, brown leather boots, and wonderful
antique silk parasol. Condition: generally
excellent, small edge-roughness at back edge of
shoulderplate, left baby finger restored, body is
sturdy but a bit discolored. Comments: Pierre-
Francois Jumeau, circa 1870. Value Points: an
exceptionally beautiful example of the early
portrait model. In her book, Lady Dolls, Mildred
Seeley described "the head itself is beautiful, a
work of art. It is very translucent and the face
has a glow".
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500
Realized Price:
$7,500