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
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
7" (18 cm.) All composition with jointing at shoulders and hips, painted blue side-glancing eyes, tiny closed mouth, blonde mohair curly wig, painted white socks and black shoes. He is wearing original costume of purple taffeta shorts, white shirt with ruffled collar, pink felt vest with blue rick-rack trim. The costume is tagged "Fiction Doll Hansel Madame Alexander". Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1937, the doll was made for one year only, and is presented in original presentation box with decorative lining and with original "Hansel" label.
Presale Estimate:
200/300
Realized Price:
$250
20" (51 cm.) All composition with socket head, blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eye shadow, red lips of closed mouth, blushed cheeks, ash-blonde wig in elaborate coiffure with braided coronet at the crown and coiled braid at each side of face that are decorated with dainty blue and rose flowers which are repeated at her waist, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing three-layered blue tulle ballerina costume with elaborate gold rick-rack trim, black velvet neck band and wrist ties, blue satin panties, ballet slippers. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1942, the doll has original clover wrist tag, gleaming complexion, and very fresh and crisp costume.
Presale Estimate:
900/1300
Realized Price:
$2,800
14" (36 cm.) All composition with socket head, sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eye shadow, open mouth, four tiny teeth, impressed cheek dimples, ash-blonde human hair with original coiffure of arranged curls decorated with colorful flowers, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing original tagged skating costume of ivory satin with faux-pleated chiffon skirt and gold pleated trim, accented with brilliant flowers, net petticoat, satin panties, laced skates. The costume is tagged "Genuine ŚÉ¬onja Henie' Doll/Madame Alexander NY USA/All Rights Reserved". Near mint condition, slight eye fading. Madame Alexander, 1941, portrait doll of the celebrated skater and film star of the era, the doll is preserved in her original box with stamped inventory number 2400B.
Presale Estimate:
500/700
Realized Price:
$1,100
14" (36 cm.) All composition with socket head, dark blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eyeshadow, bow-shaped red lips of closed mouth, black mohair wig with original curls, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing vibrant yellow sheer chiffon gown with attached underskirt having dotted Swiss border, trimmed with purple silk ribbons and purple and pink flowers, pantalets with double rows of ruffles, socks, brown side-snap shoes, and coral taffeta sunbonnet with floral appliques. The costume is tagged " ŚÉ¬carlett O'Hara'/Madame Alexander/NY USA/All Rights Reserved". Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1940, the doll is preserved in her original "bow box"; although the costume is tagged "Scarlett O'Hara", the doll was shown in the 1942/43 catalog as "Southern Girl".
Presale Estimate:
1000/2000
Realized Price:
$2,200
7" (18 cm.) All composition, blue side-glancing painted eyes, tiny rosebud-shaped lips, blonde mohair long curly locks with blue hair band, jointing at shoulders and hips, painted white socks and black shoes. She is wearing a purple taffeta dress with white rick-rack trim and organdy apron, cotton petticoat and panties. The petticoat has gold paper label "wig contains 75% wool". Excellent condition. Madame Alexander, 1935, made for one year only.
Presale Estimate:
200/300
Realized Price:
$650
7" (18 cm.) All composition with painted blue side-glancing eyes, tiny closed mouth, auburn mohair wig in soft curls, jointing at shoulders and hips, painted socks and flat black shoes. She is wearing original lime green organdy gown with pink-edged ruffled borders and sleevelets, with matching cap trimmed with dainty pink flowers which match the bouquet she carries, pink cotton petticoat and panties. The costume is tagged "Madame Alexander New York USA", and she is presented in her original blue "bow box", stamped model 1009, with original store label and $1.50 price. Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1937, made for one year only.
Presale Estimate:
300/400
Realized Price:
$300
14" (36 cm.) All composition with socket head, dark blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eyeshadow, dark red lips of closed mouth, black human hair in original coiffure, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing original golden organdy dress under a vivid multi-colored striped taffeta coat with green covered buttons which match her cuffs, collar and green taffeta flower-trimmed sunbonnet, hooped petticoat, pantalets with double rows of ruffles, socks, green side-snap shoes with blue silk bows. The coat is tagged " ŚÉ¬carlett O'Hara'/Madame Alexander/All Rights Reserved", and the dress has original gold paper label "Scarlett". Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, 1940, rare Scarlett costume in beautifully-preserved condition.
Presale Estimate:
500/700
Realized Price:
$450
21" (53 cm.) All composition with socket head, blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eyeshadow, bright pink lips of closed mouth, blushed cheeks, blonde mohair wig in original curls, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing her original sheer pink chiffon full-length gown with lace trim and rosebud appliques, pink taffeta petticoat and panties, pink thigh-high ribbed stockings, pink side-snap shoes, and wide-brimmed straw bonnet with lavish rosebuds and silk band and streamers. The dress has original label " ŽĐÄargaret Rose' Madame Alexander N.Y. U.S.A. All rights reserved". Near mint condition. Madame Alexander, luxury portrait doll of the young English princess, with original clover leaf "Margaret Rose" tag, 1947.
Presale Estimate:
800/1200
Realized Price:
$1,100
14" (36 cm.) All composition with socket head, blue sleep eyes, real lashes, dark eyeshadow, dark pink lips of closed mouth, dark blonde mohair wig with original curls, jointing at shoulders and hips. She is wearing original pale pink sheer chiffon gown with lace trim, petal appliques, taffeta petticoat and panties, white socks, pink side-snap shoes and woven wide-brimmed bonnet with floral appliques. The costume is tagged "Madame Alexander New York USA". Generally excellent, very light lines on body. Madame Alexander, 1946.
Presale Estimate:
500/700
Realized Price:
$400