Antique DOLL Collector November 2009 Vol. 12, No. 10
November 2009 Vol. 12, No. 10 $595 / $695 Canada www.antiquedollcollector.com
A beautiful chapeau frames a classic A.T. face.
An A.T. & Her Wardrobe F
by Janet Gula
or many collectors to own an A.T. is the ultimate dream doll fantasy but to own an A.T. with a wardrobe is beyond the imagination. The dolls of Andre Florent Thuillier rank as some of the most beautiful created in “la belle époque”, a period considered the golden age of doll manufacturing. Thuillier purchased a doll factory in 1872 and was advertising his “bebes” by 1880 at the peak of the golden era. Born the son of a peddler in 1832, Thuillier seems to have apprenticed at a porcelain factory where he learned the trade of porcelain production and more specifically porcelain dolls’ heads manufacturing. There is evidence that he purchased dolls heads from Francois Gaultier and it has also been suggested that there was some connection to the Steiner firm. Thuillier manufactured dolls off and on until 1898 and then it is probable that he sold his company to Verdier and Gutmacher. A.T.’s are found on a variety of 20
Getting ready for a tea party in blue silk and lace.
Waiting to begin a journey dressed in a cotton plaid overcoat.
A side view shows how the buttons and ribbons continue around the whole dress.
Back detail shows the amount of work that has gone into the pleating and gathering in the dress.
Bows add a colorful touch to this wool dress (holding Darlene Lane doll).
What chapeau should I wear today? Ribbons, feathers and bows are the ideal touches to these couture hats. 21
by Jean Kestel The Farmer, still seen in the fields of China today, is about 12” in height, has carved hands and feet. He carries a hand made rake.
The Girl in Silk, between 8” and 9” height, has a hat with open crown which has black fringe representing hair and often has a queue attached. Chinese children’s hats were often made in a similar fashion.
T
he Door of Hope Mission in Shanghai opened in 1901. For those unfamiliar with the Door of Hope Mission, it was an interdenominational mission started by five women in Shanghai seeking to better the lives of girls and women sold into the brothels of the International Settlement. These missionary women represented the Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican and Methodist faiths as well as one woman from the China Inland Mission. Cornelia Leavenworth Bonnell was the mission’s first resident missionary worker. Following her graduation from Vassar, she entered the Baptist Theological College in Newton. She later applied to the Baptist Foreign Mission Board to go to China, but was rejected because of poor health. She prayed for “divine intervention” and her prayers were answered. Miss Martha Jewell, who had an English school in Shanghai, on learning of Miss Bonnell’s desire to go to China, wrote offering a teaching position at her school. On her arrival in Shanghai,
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A former resident returns to DOH with husband and children. They often returned for visits or to stay at the mission during times of unrest in their home villages. 35th Annual Report of the Door of Hope & Children’s Refuge, Shanghai, China 1935 on file at the Library of The Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT.
The Amah with baby also called the Cantonese Amah with Baby is the child’s nursemaid. Amahs are also maids. In the brothel world, amahs are the caretakers of the prostitutes, and the young sing-sing girls. The baby has splayed legs, to fit comfortably on the back of the amah.
Baby in Bunting. Babies in China were swaddled. This baby can be removed from her blanket. She has straight legs.
Amah. This amah is a maid. She wears an apron attached to the center frog hook of her outer jacket. The apron ties in the back, usually with a thin cord or black cord.
Bonnell saw first hand the dire conditions that young girls and women in the red light district were faced with. Miss Jewell brought the five founders of the Door of Hope and Miss Bonnell together, and thus they began the mission’s 50 years of service to the oppressed women and children of Shanghai. The girls first entered the Door of Hope at the Receiving Home. They would remain there until a custody hearing was held at the Municipal Court. Cornelia Bonnell aptly represented these girls and gained custody of most. Once the girls were in the mission’s custody, they were assigned either to the First Year Home, the Infirmary or the Children’s Home. In the first year home, days were filled with classes in reading, writing and bible studies. They worked on the Doll Project only after they were proficient in sewing their own clothing. The “Model Dolls” as they were called, represent two classes in Chinese society and various milestones in their lives. There were babies, children, young boys and girls, young men and women, brides and grooms, mourners, elders, farmers, monks and Manchu ladies. Each were clothed in removable
The Boy in Silk is between 8” and 9”. He is a later doll with a Western hairstyle.
The Buddhist Priest has 12 dents in the top of his bald head, representing scars from burning incense in cups on the head. His clothing is made from course cotton material. Some of these priests are female as well, as documented by Chinese writing inserted in the clothing. 41
SELL A DOLL IN THE EMPORIUM
If you’re like most of us, there are usually a couple of dolls in your collection that you would like to sell in order to reinvest in another doll. That’s what we designed the Antique Doll EMPORIUM for… you the collector! Take advantage of this special forum; the cost is only $60. Send us a photo or a digital photo of your doll with a description and your check or credit card information. We do the rest!! Antique DOLL Collector, P.O. Box 239, Northport, NY 11768. Phone 1-888-800-2588. Email: antiquedoll@gmail.com
Nora’s Antique Dolls & Collectibles 1-732-341-2611
Sublime & Lovely Bru Jne size 9 w/ original owner wardrobe inc Bru factory shoes/dresses, Chevrot body; Tongue!! $36,500 Call 760-455-3757 Email: taeckerhouse@aol.com Visit our web site...
www.taeckerhouseantiquedolls.rubylane.com
Lovely early French china, swivel neck, early attachment- painted eye, body stamped Rohmer. She is all original-great outfit. There is some melting to outfit and a chipped hand. Send email for more photos. $3900. plus postage and ins. email: vtdollnut@gmail.com
Kestner 143 - 19”, brown sleep eyes, original blonde mohair wig, plaster pate, marked body, perfect bisque $1200. Call 215-794-8164 or email alloyd@ nni.com. Member UFDC and NADDA and on
Antique miniatures for your dollhouse or room box. Most of our fine dollhouse accessories come from the markets of Europe or from European collectors directly to your collection. Please visit us at our website at:
www.antikhausonline.com
SARA BERNSTEIN DOLLS
Martha Thompson dolls
I’ve just acquired some fantastic dolls - cloth, bisque, etc. Enjoy a visit to my websites for pictures and prices. phone 732-536-4101 Email: santiqbebe@aol.com
www.sarabernsteindolls.com or www. sarabernsteindolls.rubylane.com
Annalise Nohrudi Fine Antique Dolls & Accessories www.tennesseeantiquedolls.com
RubyLane.com/shops/anntiquedolls
Victorian Retreat Antique Dolls Lynne Shoblom. Phone 928-445-5908 or cell 928-713-1909.
email: victorianretreat@msn.com Member of UFDC
Fantastic 20” Tete Jumeau! She has beautiful blue paperweight eyes, perfect bisque, open mouth, original Jumeau body with working Mama and Papa pull strings. A real beauty! $2495. See this beautiful doll and others at my Ruby Lane site.
w w w. v i c t o r i a n r e t r e a t . r u b y l a n e . c o m
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An excellent pre-1915 Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty tent with extras: original flags, 2 banners, tent topper pennant flat, trapeze and acrobat rings. 35-1/2”w x 24-1/2”d and 36”h (plus flag), priced to sell at $2200 (figures not inc. but are for sale) Keith Kaonis 717-519-6868. email:kkaonis@gmail.com
Rare 25” EJA with original costume and box. Extraordinary pale pressed bisque with delicate cheek shading. Large dark brown eyes with mauve eye shadow accent. Extended length antique wig. On her original French eight ball jointed body with straight wrists. Two beautiful french wool costumes. Visit her and other quality antique dolls and accessories on my website.
www.noramcneil.com
Babes from the Woods presents hand carved wooden Queen Anne style dolls by Kathy Patterson (705) 489-1046 Email: toysintheattic@sympatico.ca
www.babesfromthewoods.com 16” early French fashion, lovely bisque harder to find body jointed at knees, wooden jointed arms, beautiful face $4,250. Not pictured: lovely French hand painted table 9” high for fashions or other French dolls, very nice fashion dresses, slippers, hat boxes, armoire and other clothing accessories and furniture!! Please email potttttttts@aol.com there are 8 letter t’s in potttttttts
Avgusta’s Bisque Dolls www.abidolls.com (925)687-0334 Fabulous rare Kestner all bisque dolls: 8” Pouty with bent knees $6,750 9.5” Extreme Pouty barefoot $8,950
UFDC Antique Competitive Exhibit 2009 Blue Ribbon Winners Part II hat a fantastic learning experience! The competitive exhibits offer an unparalleled opportunity to study some of the rarest dolls in the world. The fellowship enjoyed among doll collectors is enriched by the generosity of those who enter their dolls into competition!
Photographed at the United Federation of Doll Clubs National Convention by Keith Kaonis GERMAN BISQUE HEAD - Child marked J.D.K., Kestner or known number/alphabet series. If unmarked must have mold attributed to Kestner, closed mouth. Left, closed mouth, Donelle Denery Right, open mouth, Dorothy Madey
GERMAN BISQUE HEAD Child marked Simon Halbig, S.H., or known number for this maker, without other maker’s marks, open mouth. Left, Peggy Labom. Right, Bowdre McAllister GERMAN BISQUE HEAD Child marked K * R or Kammer and Reinhardt. Barbara Close
GERMAN BISQUE HEAD - Child marked Simon Halbig, S.H., or known number for this maker, without other maker’s marks, closed mouth. Left, Gail Cook. Center, Judith Herry. Right, Luann Guleserian
UNITED FEDERATION OF DOLL CLUBS
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