Madame Alexander, The Rodney Waller Collection: Part One
Time has come for Beatrice Alexander, signature American dollmaker and designer, to take her rightful place among antique dolls. Nearly 90 years have passed since her dolls first appeared, and for more than a half century she stood as a symbol of excellence, ingenuity, and marketing mastery in the world of American dolls. Collector Rodney Waller noted this many years ago, and began a quest to find the rarest of the rarest of her dolls, prizing originality and excellence of condition as well as rarity. This is Session I of his two-part auction, featuring the cloth and composition dolls, 1930-1948, of Madame Alexander. Softbound. 8.5" x 11". 148 pages.
$69.00
Catalog Lot List details
7" (18 cm.) All composition with jointing at shoulders and hips, painted blue side-glancing eyes, rosebud-shaped lips, blonde mohair curly locks, painted white socks and black shoes. She is wearing her original costume tagged "Bo Peep Madame Alexander NY USA" comprising coral organdy dress with rose taffeta panniers sprinkled with little flowers, petticoats, pantalets, and carrying a pipe cleaner staff with floral trim. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, from the Tiny Betty series, 1938.
Presale Estimate:
200/300
Realized Price:
$400
15" (38 cm.) All composition with socket head, blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eye- shadow, bow-shaped closed mouth, blushed cheeks, brunette mohair wig with original coiffure, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing her original costume comprising flowered blue overskirt and bodice, pink organdy underskirt, attached stiffened petticoat, pantalets with double row of ruffles, socks, black side-snap shoes, and stiffened organdy bonnet with floral bouquet. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1942, the doll is perfectly-preserved, with rare costume, and in original Alexander yellow bow-style box.
Presale Estimate:
900/1500
Realized Price:
$850
24" (61 cm.) All composition with socket head, blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eye- shadow, open mouth, four teeth, soft blonde mohair wig with originally-arranged curls, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing a sheer chartreuse-yellow nylon dress with chartreuse slip and panties, chartreuse net petticoat, flowers at bodice, lace fingerless gloves, socks, black side-snap shoes, and a wire-framed bonnet to match the dress. The doll is marked Alexander and the dress has original "Kate Greenaway/Madame Alexander/New York/All Rights Reserved" label. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1941.
Presale Estimate:
800/1200
Realized Price:
$1,100
11" (28 cm.) All composition with socket head, brown sleep eyes, real lashes, closed mouth, blonde human hair wig with curly bangs and long braids tied with pink ribbons, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing a pale pink organdy dress under yellow organdy pinafore with matching ruffled bonnet, ruffled slip with attached panties, socks, and black ankle boots. The doll is marked Alexander. Generally excellent. Madame Alexander, depicting McGuffey-Ana, 1939, included is original box with child face label; this is an unusual face model and size of McGuffey-Ana.
Presale Estimate:
200/400
Realized Price:
$250
8" (20 cm.) All composition with swivel head, modeled short brown hair in bobbed fashion with curly bangs, brown painted side-glancing eyes, tiny closed mouth, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing yellow organdy dress with white piping and attached slip, onesie undergarment, open-weave cap with yellow edging, socks, black snap-front shoes. Generally excellent, small blemish at left eye corner. The doll is marked Alexander on torso, and the dress has original label "Madame Alexander". Madame Alexander, 1938.
Presale Estimate:
200/300
Realized Price:
$150
19" (48 cm.) All composition with socket head, jointing at shoulders and hips, green sleep eyes, real lashes, painted freckles, open mouth, four teeth, reddish/brown hair with original curls. She is wearing original green and white checkered dress with organdy apron having embroidered detail on pocket, ruffled-edge slip with attached panties, white socks, brown ankle boots, and unusual double-brimmed green woven bonnet with berry trim. The doll is marked "Princess Elizabeth Alexander Doll" and the costume is tagged "Flora McFlimsey of Madison Square/Madame Alexander/All Rights Reserved". Generally excellent, fading left eye, some light spotting on costume, especially beautiful complexion and hair. Madame Alexander, 1939, rare costume with wonderful bonnet.
Presale Estimate:
400/600
Realized Price:
$650
7" (18 cm.) All composition with jointing at shoulders and hips, painted blue side-glancing eyes, pink lips of tiny closed mouth, reddish-brown mohair curly hair with original pink hair band, painted white socks and black flat shoes. She is wearing original pink taffeta dress with tulle overlay, pink taffeta panties. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1938, the doll was made for one year only.
Presale Estimate:
200/300
Realized Price:
$250
7" (18 cm.) dolls. 24" x 14" box. Each of the dolls is all composition with jointing at shoulders and hips, three with painted brown eyes, one with blue, tiny bow-shaped mouth, mohair wig, painted white socks and black shoes, and each is presented in its original gown with attached slip and pantalets. Included is dark brunette-haired Jo with blue pique gown and flowered pinafore; light brunette-haired Beth with pink gown and attached striped pinafore; dark blonde-haired Meg with red checkered gown; and light blonde-haired Amy with whiter organdy gown and blue patterned overlay. Each doll has original cloth tag on costume indicating name of doll and "Little Women Madame Alexander", The dolls are presented in original presentation box with label "Little Women" and with gilt paper name label on each doll. The dolls are in mint condition, some paper wear on box. Madame Alexander, 1936.
Presale Estimate:
1200/2000
Realized Price:
$1,000
15" (38 cm.) All-cloth doll with pressed and painted facial features, brown side-glancing eyes, rosy cheeks, red lips, brunette short curly hair with original rose ribbon, jointing at shoulders and hips. The doll is wearing her original red/cream patterned dress with white ruffled collar, slip, ruffled-edge pantalets, socks and shoes. The dress is tagged "Little Women/Beth/Trademark Pending/Madame Alexander N.Y." Near mint condition, two tiny holes at dress front, the costume is fresh and crisp, and her complexion and hair are superb. Madame Alexander, 1933, with rare "trademark pending" label indicating early production.
Presale Estimate:
500/800
Realized Price:
$450
15" (38 cm.) All-cloth doll with mask pressed and hand-painted facial features, blue side-glancing eyes, very rosy cheeks, red lips, blonde mohair curls with original green hair ribbon, jointing at shoulders and hips. The doll is wearing her original textured cream cotton dress with yellow flowered pattern and green trim, slip, pantalets, socks and black one-strap shoes. The dress is tagged "Little Women/Amy/Trademark Pending/Madame Alexander". Near mint condition, very choice state of preservation, rare "trademark pending" label indicating very early production. Madame Alexander, 1933.
Presale Estimate:
500/800
Realized Price:
$500