Antique DOLL Collector April 2011 Vol. 14, No. 3
April 2011 Vol. 14, No. 3 $595 / $695 Canada www.antiquedollcollector.com
Who’s Afraid of Early
The mouth cut is very thin, in spite of the fact that it shows two rows of tiny teeth. The shape of the eyebrows is identical to that seen on lady dolls by the same firm, particularly the waltzing ladies.
The very piercing gaze of this early bébé is enhanced by the extraordinary paleness of the pressed bisque.
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s everyone knows, the doll market is cyclic, often whimsical and sometime odd. Certain dolls, no matter how good they are, simply do not fit into popular trends for a long time and, all of a sudden, they “jell up.” Certain collectors are gifted of a “nose” to spot the interesting dolls before they become desirable for the multitude. It certainly is the case of those who got interested early enough in that particular type of Steiner bébé that will be discussed in this article. For some reason, the open mouth version of the earliest fully articulated bébé by Jules Nicolas Steiner was barely mentioned in the “bible” about this topic, The Dolls of Jules Nicolas Steiner by Dorothy McGonagle. In her greatly documented volume, the author mentions the unmarked early Steiner bébé with an open mouth and a ball articulated body, but since no picture is shown, this particular type of doll seems to have kept living in the shadow of its closed mouth brothers and sisters, in spite of its evident qualities. 18
The pierced ear shape of this model is rather flat compared to some later Steiner bébés but is shows some interesting sculptural details.
Steiner Bébés? by Samy Odin
This aqua woolen dress, original to the doll, has some damage but needed to be kept “as is” as a testimony of the rather sober fashions often found on Steiner bébés.
It’s interesting to remark that several factory original outfits by Steiner had hand embroideries, like those seen on this ensemble.
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Na t i ona lAnt i queDol lDe a l e r sAs s oc i a t i on
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mong the pretty novelties in outer wraps, a variety of cloaks enjoyed a considerable amount of fashionable favor with the élégantes in Paris. Naming and identifying these stylish creations was a matter of no small perplexity. Designs were referred to as talma, mantle and mantlelet, tippet and bertha. Others retained the French terms, such as canezou, rotonde, sortie de bal, victorine and fichu, and yet another cloak, a pèlerine. This wrap was a graceful, short cape falling just over the shoulders, sometimes with shoulder seams, describing a
Every season witnesses the introduction of some new accessory item, seemingly prettier than the preceding. Chiffonnette, a size 4 doll attributed to Huret, models this pèlerine. Made up in lush, red velvet, it is admired for its elegant simplicity and air of jauntiness.
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Blackberry Studios
Margaret Gray Kincaid Tel. 410.323.0373 Cell: 646-709-4340
Margaret.kincaid@gmail.com Member NADDA and UFDC Large Rabbit Candy Container, $1100; Tete Jumeau, $4500; Tete Jumeau Bride, $6500; Figure C lever eye Steiner, $6500, Rabbit Candy Container, $550. Call for details.
I’ll see you at the NADDA Show, Kansas City, MO April 30 & May 1
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Learning About American-Made Dolls
NEW DISCOVERIES
Colorful Composition Novelty Dolls by Ursula R. Mertz
Photos by Otto Mertz and Christopher Partridge
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n the early decades of the twentieth century, children did not receive as many toys as they do now. Christmas was the big season for playthings. Toy sellers did have to make a living during the rest of the year. One need not worry. The toy trade was quite clever and successful with their offerings of novelty dolls for all kinds of occasions that would appeal to children. The following three dolls were sold by the Averill Manufacturing Co. of New York City. The Averills participated vigorously, offering dolls made for special purposes. In the early years, the company bought dolls from E. I. Horsman, Effanbee etc. and dressed them to sell. It does not take a lot of imagination to guess the occasion for which the first doll seen here was dressed. It was obviously offered for St. Patrick’s Day. The green felt pants were fashioned in the shape of a four-leaf clover. A beige felt blouse is laced in front and a belt of the same color and green cap complete the outfit. This doll was supplied by the Horsman Company and sold after 1914. From about 1915 on until the late 1920’s, Georgene Averill’s Dutch and Indian children were very popular. As a rule the Indians were dressed in shades from beige to brown and green and their garments decorated with colorful beads. The Dutch children, however, were always outfitted in delightfully colorful, nontraditional felt costumes. In the 1916 Butler Brothers catalog the Dutch children were called Neutrality Kids. Whatever the reason for the name, one can well imagine that a display of these colorful characters would have attracted young children. It is not too difficult to find some of these dolls in original condition in today’s collector market. Even if they have lost their tags, one can easily identify them by the style of their felt clothes, particularly the blouses. They were always simply styled with cut-on sleeves, laced in front and tucked into the skirt for the girls or pants for the boys. Yet, one can find early examples that deviate Group of Dutch and Indian children. Note the Indian girl in the middle of the picture, wearing a pink top. Most Indians were dressed in earth colors.
The St. Patrick’s Day doll is 12” tall and marked E. I. H. © 1914 (E. I. Horsman)
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Roberta's DOLL HOUSE Roberta and Ziggy Zygarlowski, 475 17th Ave., Paterson, N.J. 07504 (973) 684-4945 • Fax (973) 523-7585 • CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-569-9739 31
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31. Rare, wonderful and cute as a button is this utterly adorable “Bonnie Babe” by Georgene Averill - (mold #1386) - soft to the touch w/ first out of the mold quality bisque - wondrous hand painted facial features w/ soft arched feathered brows - enormous sleep baby blue eyes - that adorable crooked smile w/ two lower teeth - dimpled cheeks - original cloth & compo body 16” tall - $1,495. 32. Wonderful weighted hospital character baby by Martha Chase - excellent quality w/ wondrous hand painted facial features - soft arched feathered brows over glorious icelandic blue eyes - open/closed mouth w/ soft rose shading - fully signed body - 14” tall - $1,295. 33. Rare & wonderful as she could possibly be is this amazing 1850’s china - center parted in the front w/ those always desirable brushstrokes - her hair is held back by three sets of ribbons - in front of a large over comb - the back consist of two braided cluster buns w/ curls that hang down on her lovely neck - fully exposed ears - wonderful old china body w/ china arms & legs - 18” tall - $2,995. 34. Rare & wonderful as she can be is this exceptionally beautiful “Miss Curity” - near mint condition w/ great compo - gorgeous blue sleep eyes w/ that always desirable eye shadow - original tagged clothes - breathtaking - 21” tall - $995. 35. Wonderful early “Alabama Baby” by Ella Smith - wondrous hand painted facial features that still retain their original beauty - look at the gorgeous blue eyes - this is the early one w/ stitching at top of head & applied ears 22” tall - $2,995. 36. Always ever so sweet Gebruder Heubach character toddler child - mold #10532 - exceptional high quality bisque with wondrous hand painted
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More Dolls! More Pictures! More Excitement! www.robertasdollhouse.com
Liberal Financing Available
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facial features - soft arched fawn shaded brows over ocean blue sleep eyes - slightly open mouth with soft amber shading - to make her all the more wondrous she’s on a chubby five piece toddler body - 12” tall - $1,495. Well, is he rare enough for ya? Amazing ever so special Martha Chase boy w/ side parted hair & that ever so cute blonde curl -still retaining his original beauty w/ lovely hand painted facial features and those amazing icelandic blue eyes - correct fully painted body - 16” tall - $2,995. Well - just like Zig & I always do we find the rarest and most wondrous dolls - take a look at these two wonderful Swaine brothers - both are extremely rare - both have exceptional bisque that Swaine was known for - both are appearing naked because we wanted you to see their amazing toddler bodies - yes they do have clothes: A - Has his factory original wig - gorgeous heather blue glass eyes - note the unusual puffiness around his eyes - rare open/closed mouth he is marked “dip” - 14” tall. B - Solid dome head w/ soft arched feathered brows over heather blue glass eyes - also with a rare open/closed exaggerated pouty mouth - he is marked “DV” - 15” tall - $1,995. each Another extremely rare character child by Swaine - this is an amazing “Lori” baby - soft as butter bisque w/ first out of the mold quality - wondrous hand painted facial features w/ soft arched feathered brows over amazing baby blue sleep eyes - rare open/close mouth w/ soft amber shading - factory original five piece baby body - she’s a big one - 23” tall - $1,995. We have struck gold again with another one of those lovely historical dolls by Effanbee - all original - excellent compo - this lovely lady dressed in my favorite color is 1873 “The Industrial South “ - she still has her bracelet - 14” tall - $1,295.
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41. Wonderful brown biskoloid happy child by Konig & Wernicke w/ exaggerated features - mold # 621 - exceptional high quality w/ amazing hand painted facial features - enormous side glancing eyes w/ human hair upper lashes - happy smiling mouth w/ exaggerated lips and two upper teeth - wonderful five piece toddler body - 19” tall - $1,295. 42. Seldom found & always desirable is this wonderful character by Simon & Halbig - mold # 1339 - this rarely found treasure has pristine bisque w/ first out of the mold quality & a very unique & different face from all the other she children - 18” tall - wondrous hand painted facial features w/ soft arched feathered brows over long luscious lashes surrounding enormous heather blue sleep eyes - slightly open smiling face/ outlined soft amber shading original fully jointed compo body - 18” tall - $1,495. 43. Wonderful and oh so rare to find - Door of Hope mission doll - this is “Alma” in just about the most pristine condition we have ever found wonderful hand carved wood head & hands - hair is pulled back into a triple bun - truly an exceptional all original doll - 12” tall - $1,895. 44. Wonderful all original brown compo “Rosebud” by Horsman - excellent compo w/ chestnut brown sleep eyes - factory original clothes & original long mohair wig - 19” tall - $695. 45. Wonderful ever so early shelf size Simon & Halbig character child - mold # 1079 - soft as butter bisque w/ first out of the mold quality - wondrous hand painted facial features w/ soft arched feathered brows over heather blue sleep eyes - slightly open pouty mouth w/ dark amber shading - original early fully jointed straight wrist body - sweet little size - only 11” tall - $1295.
George LeClerc by Susan Grimshaw
f you collect Tynietoy for any length of time, sooner or later you are going to encounter the work and reputation of George LeClerc. A long-time employee of the Tynietoy Company of Providence, RI, LeClerc worked for founders Marion Perkins and Amey Vernon from the company’s inception around 1920 and he was likely the convalescent WWI veteran mentioned as their first employee in the November 1920 issue of The Ladies’ Home Journal. George Henri LeClerc was born in New Bedford, MA in 1894. He attended the city’s Sacred Heart School before enlisting in the US Army in 1915. After his honorable discharge in 1919 he wound up working for Tynietoy. While living in Providence, he did some course work at the Rhode Island School of Design and it may have been there that he honed his very fine drafting skills. While noted Rhode Island artist Sidney Burleigh has received much of the credit for the beautiful designs of the Tynietoy Co. beginning in 1923, many of the familiar shapes and patterns that make Tynietoy so readily identifiable were already in production by 1922. Several years ago I purchased an entire collection of early Tynietoy furniture from a man in Pennsylvania who had inherited it along with correspondence from Marion Perkins dated in 1922. The furniture had been sent to his mother’s uncle, a Mr. Rippon in New York City, as examples of their products while the letter asked the recipient if he could build 50 Christmas creches for them. The letter referred to earlier correspondence where Miss Perkins had asked his advice on paint suppliers. The sample furniture and the accompanying price list were then sent to Mr. Rippon’s niece in
A small, unfurnished roombox with restrained but typical architectural features found in LeClerc roomboxes. The Georgian paneled door is nicely scaled and the floor features a relatively simple design. Many of his roomboxes are more elaborate. (Photo courtesy Libby Goodman)
This photo of George LeClerc dates to a 1963 newspaper article and shows him holding a very typical Chippendale chair in the larger scale he liked to use after his tenure with Tynietoy. (Used with permission from the New Bedford Standard-Times, Bob Unger, ed.)
LeClerc roomboxes are typically finished on the outside with a textured plaster coat simulating brick or stonework, although plain wooden exteriors have also been found. In this example, an elaborate parquetry pattern can be seen on the floor inside. Some boxes have flat roofs or are left open; this one is more “finished” than usual.
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A Study of Similar China and Parian Molds By Fred Olson
Photos 1-2: Heads dating to the late 1850’s, early 1860’s. Although there is a considerable difference in size, both heads show marked similarities.
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he year was 1965 and in the upper Midwest, Minneapolis-St. Paul to be exact, a pimple faced teenage kid was pouring over antique books and price guides in a quest to know everything he could about Carnival Glass. That kid was me and at that time Woman’s Day magazine would run articles on antiques under such titles “Dictionary of Carnival Glass.” Now you are all wondering just what does Carnival Glass have to do with dolls? Well nothing really but also everything for in January 1965 Woman’s Day printed “Dictionary of Dolls” featuring the doll collection of pioneer collector Doris Hupp. After trying to buy Carnival Glass on my allowance I switched to a growing fascination in antique dolls and I still have that original magazine to this very day! Back at that time there was little to almost no information about dolls or doll collecting save the very few books by Eleanor St. George. Many collectors had to rely on basic skills such as just going to every antique show (there were no doll shows around the Midwest at that time) or stumbling on things at estate and garage sales. My passion started with molded hair china dolls, an infatuation that has never gone away all these many years of collecting. One of the most common theories then was that European makers had simply used molds in the 19th century over and over again for all types of dolls such as the Parian-type bisque heads, china heads, and
even papier mache heads. The only problem I have found with this theory is the dolls themselves do not testify to the validity of that statement. Today with all the new information coming out of Germany since the fall of the Iron Curtain we know that molds may have been used at times to make identical items of either china or unglazed bisque. But the sheer variety and multiplicity in variations of doll hairstyles just does not support the speculation that molds were commonly used universally for many varieties of doll heads. Nevertheless, some, though by no means all, were duplicates or “sister” dolls, obviously the same and in some cases even the same size. Starting with the earlier heads our first two are from the late 1850’s to the 1860’s period. In photo 1 we have the china head and photo 2 is the parian-type bisque head. Notice how they are extremely similar in the way the curls mold to the head; the left side with double curls and the right with a little flip up on the temple. The blond obviously shows better as she has no glaze to “smooth” out the mold features. Also the paint work is somewhat different in the hair on both dolls and the neck is slightly longer on the blond. Besides the fact that the heads are vastly different in size, the blond being only 2-½” tall and the china about 4”, one can still see where the factory was using the similar molds for different doll types.
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Milady’s Vanity by Jan Peterson photos Elwyn Peterson
Toilette sets for bebes, both large and small, make morning ablutions a breeze.
A tiny sample tin from 1911 for glove powder. It is not quite 3” tall and is still full.
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omen (closely watched and imitated in play by their young daughters) have sought to improve upon nature from the beginning of time. Makeup has even been found among the “essentials” needed for a happy afterlife in Egyptian tombs. Apparently, being resurrected was still no guarantee one’s second self would be an improvement on the original! During the last half of the nineteenth century and first quarter of the twentieth, girls played house, played dress-ups and tried to emulate all the activities they saw their mothers doing. Of course, this included applying makeup and trying different hairdos as part of their playtime. The lucky French fashion dolls who belonged to these young ladies were provided with all the “essentials” needed to be more attractive– truly unnecessary, as their perfect features were permanently baked into the bisque of their faces… Nevertheless, just as flawless Barbie has miniaturized beauty paraphernalia to “improve” her face, antique French dolls possessed beautifully made wood and marble doll vanities loaded with the toy versions of all the cosmetics young girls of the past watched their mothers use. In French, the word la toilette, means all that is necessary to present the best version of one’s self to the world. Bathing, grooming, perfuming and choosing the perfect outfit from the skin out, were considered some of the most important things a woman of the merchant and upper classes had to do during her day. Dolls were, Antique echantillons (samples) of scents and and always have been, more than 52
powders are a lovely addition to the vanity.
An 1880’s dolly vanity box. (closed and open)
Antique samples make it possible to supply your fashion lady with everything she needs to be magnifique.
Antique salt dishes make lovely display trays.
Antique stickpins and a tiny holder make perfect hatpins for your fashion doll’s chapeaux.
A circa 1870 French hardwood vanity is loaded with items to keep your fashion doll looking lovely.
Even dolls had ivory purse scenters! The lid unscrews so dolly can place a bit of cotton daubed with her favorite perfume inside.
just toys to entertain children. They have always served as important teaching tools. Little girls in the France of the past diligently laced up corsets, used miniature buttonhooks to secure bottines, carefully coiffed mohair wigs and powdered tiny bisque noses to insure their fashion doll was presentable. Like all the accessories, from underwear to furniture, the trousseaux of les poupées de mode furnish twenty-first century doll collectors with miniature time capsules of the customs of the past. French fashion dolls first appeared on the toy scene around the time of the American Civil War. The ideals of feminine beauty were changing from an aura of robust good health, rosy cheeks and a tendency toward plumpness, to the fragile beauty of literary icons like the consumptive Camille. In fact, many historians feel the widespread presence of tuberculosis in the general populations of both Europe and the United states contributed to the Just like their people sized counterparts, wash-up sets were available for the tiniest of dolls as well as fashionable lady dolls. 53