The Reaches of the Street

Throughout its 50th anniversary year, Theriault’s will echo earlier catalog titles, those that most captured the sense of history offered by our common past. “The Reaches of the Street”, inspired by a line in an early 20th century poem by T.S. Eliot, was the theme of Theriault’s October 3-4, 1991 catalog which paid homage to dolls created during the art character movement of that same era, dolls aptly described in one famous exhibition as “children of the street”. Highlighted by the important collection of art character dolls from the collection of the late Susan Hill of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Softbound. 8.5" x 11".
$59.00
Catalog Lot List details
5" (13 cm.) Including three books, The House at Pooh Corner (1928, first edition, with dust jacket), When We Were Very Young (1925), and Now We Are Six (1927, first edition with dust jacket) by A.A. Milne. Along with English softpaste plate "The Three Bears", and with 5" dark brown mohair teddy with yes-no mechanism which operates from movement of his tail, Steiff, circa 1950.
Presale Estimate:
300/400
Realized Price:
$500
17" (43 cm.) Sculpted hard composition head with painted brown eyes, white eyedots, brown upper eyeliner, lightly-feathered brows, strong nose with accented nostrils, closed mouth with very full lips, brunette mohair wig in long braids, composition and wooden ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: from her series of art character dolls presented by Marion Kaulitz Munich art studio; the dolls were shown in a 1909 edition of the magazine International Studio, and featured in important exhibitions in Munich and Berlin in that year, designed to represent real "children of the street". Value Points: impeccably-preserved, the doll is wearing her multi-layered costume with rich embroidery and detailed patterns.
Presale Estimate:
7000/9000
Realized Price:
$4,500
17" (43 cm.) Very firm composition socket head with textured finish, painted large blue eyes with black upper eyeliner, lightly-tinted brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with very full lips, brunette human hair wig with up-swept curls, composition and wooden ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: C-757 (small hand ink lettering at back of head). Comments: Marion Kaulitz Munich art studio, circa 1909, the uniquely-modeled doll with exquisitely-painted complexion is wearing fine antique folklore costume.
Presale Estimate:
6000/8000
Realized Price:
$5,000
30" (76 cm.) Bisque socket head with elongated face and very full lower cheeks, blue glass inset eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked brows with feathered highlights, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with defined space between the outlined lips, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig, French composition and wooden fully-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent, body is age-appropriate although likely not original, original body finish except hands repainted. Comments: Germany, circa 1880, in the Simon and Halbig manner. Value Points: an especially compelling expression enhanced by finest bisque, complexion and painting of features, lovely antique costume including linen dress with applique accents, wonderful hand-knit gloves, brown woolen ruffled bonnet, undergarments and shoes.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1500
Realized Price:
$1,700
10" (25 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulderplate, brown sculpted hair waved from face in arranged ringlet curls which are tied with a black hair ribbon at her crown, painted blue eyes with all-around dark eyeliner and painted lashes, lightly-feathered brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with hint of smile, original firmly-stuffed body, bisque lower arms and legs, painted grey ankle boots with little black heels and buttons, antique silk gown, undergarments. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: attributed to Simon and Halbig, circa 1880. Value Points: superb painting of facial features highlighted by eyes, rare brown hair and hair bow, original body with fancy boots.
Presale Estimate:
800/1100
Realized Price:
$2,200
15" (38 cm.) Solid domed bisque shoulderhead, large brown glass paperweight inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, feathered brows, accented eye corners and nostrils, closed mouth with outlined lips, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig, original commercial muslin stitch-jointed body with bisque lower arms and legs, bare feet, antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: SH 6 920. Comments: Simon and Halbig, circa 1885. Value Points: rare model with compelling large brown eyes, beautifully-painted lips, original body with rare bare bisque feet.
Presale Estimate:
900/1100
Realized Price:
$1,500
15" (38 cm.) Slender bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulderplate, brown glass inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked brows, accented nostrils, slightly-parted lips, two square-cut upper teeth and one lower, blonde mohair wig, original firmly-stuffed muslin torso and upper limbs, composition lower arms and legs. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 51/5 (head and shoulderplate). Comments: Germany, circa 1890. Value Points: beautiful bisque with fine painting of complexion and features, impressed dimples at lip corners and chin, original body, wearing factory original ivory silk dress with matching bonnet, undergarments, matching stockings and shoes with silver buckles.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1500
Realized Price:
$1,100
11" (28 cm.) Bisque socket head with flattened solid dome, large brown glass inset eyes, dark eyeliner and painted lashes, rose-blushed eyeshadow, painted brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with outlined lips, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig, Sonneberg composition and wooden eight-loose-ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 3. Comments: Sonneberg, circa 1880, closely resembling the early French bebe whose market it sought to capture. Value Points: especially lovely petite doll with enchanting large eyes, original body and body finish, lovely antique costume.
Presale Estimate:
800/1100
Realized Price:
$1,100
5" (13 cm.) Arranged upon a walnut pedestal tripod table are a myriad of miniature ormolu accessories including vase, candle holder, inkwell, candy dish on pedestal, journal holder, and inkwell with attached scale. Along with metal banquet lamp, desk globe and table-top screen with walnut frame and ormolu trim (originally designed as a dance card), circa 1890. The table is signed on the underside "J. Bubb Maker"; the English miniature furniture maker in the Georgian style produced doll-sized tables, cabinets and chest of drawers in his South London workshop from 1808-1835.
Presale Estimate:
700/900
Realized Price:
$1,500
7" (18 cm.) Brown-complexioned bisque swivel head on kid-edged matching bisque torso, brown glass sleep eyes, black brushstroked brows, painted lashes, open mouth, row of tiny porcelain teeth, black mohair braided wig, peg-jointed brown bisque arms and legs, bare feet. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Simon and Halbig, circa 1895. Value Points: rarity factors include brown complexion, swivel head, bare feet and original wig, wearing antique costume and wonderful woven bonnet.
Presale Estimate:
600/800
Realized Price:
$1,200