Theriault's - The Curator of the World's Dolls

Friday, May 22, 2020
Sunny
27 C 81 F

Please click here to visit this world-renowned dollmaster

I seldom cover dolls, but when I was browsing the Net the other day, I saw the name Theriault's several times with regard to a search that I was doing. When I visited  the website, was I surprised! Theriault's is  one of the most famous sites for dolls, and when you  venture over to their website you will see why. If I can put this into words, they are the keepers of the tradition of collecting dolls for now and the next generation of children and adults who get pleasure form collecting, and perhaps playing with them as well.

In their own words

ABOUT US

"Founded in 1970 by Florence and George Theriault, the firm has specialized exclusively in the appraisal and auction of antique dolls and childhood playthings throughout its 50-year history. The firm's offices and cataloging center are headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, although its live auctions are conducted in major cities throughout the United States. Also, because of Theriault's stellar reputation, collectors and museums worldwide participate in bidding on dolls through a well-developed system of phone, absentee, and Internet bidding. In addition, collectors and estate specialists worldwide - from Asia to Europe to every small town in America - have commissioned their dolls to Theriault's for auction."

EXPERTISE

Theriault's was an early leader in the movement toward specialization within the auction industry. "Traditionally, collectors have been confounded by the contradiction of desiring an object, yet fearing its flaws," notes founder Florence Theriault. We wanted to create an auction firm with a profound knowledge of the subject of the dolls, as well as the mere ability to present an auction. The principle has been well-served, not only offering assurance to the collector of dolls, but also ensuring sellers that their dolls will be marketed intelligently.

Theriault's appraisers have freely contributed their time and knowledge at collector gatherings ranging from small town-club meetings to international  conferences. Informative articles concerning doll collecting and the history of dolls have been contributed to various journals, and an extensive research library is maintained by Theriault's and its sister company, Gold House Publishing, that has published more that 60 books on specialized subjects of doll collecting, with a network of knowledge and respected authors.

Theriault's has sponsored a number of public appraisal clinics to the benefit of museums and public libraries as well as other non-profit organizations and, additionally, hosted many one or two day educational seminars conducted for collectors in major citied around the United States that are free and open to all. Additionally, Theriault's has sponsored a scholarship program in conjunction with the UFDC to support ongoing research in the world of dolls.

Description

6" (15 cm.) Each has bisque shoulderhead, muslin body, bisque lower limbs, including lady with mohair wig arranged with ringlet curls, glass eyes, closed mouth, wearing fine antique gown with lace trim and matching high top bonnet, model 1160 by Simon and Halbig; and gentleman with sculpted black hair and moustache, wearing wonderful original costume and top-hat. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Germany, circa 1890. Value Points: wonderful original costumes, the woman with original dainty wig.

You can read from the description, that each and every item for sale is most-carefully researched. It's truly amazing how antique dolls have been so sell kept over a period of 130 years. Moreover, these dolls represent how well-off people and their children would have dressed in the 1890's! Even the assembly of the dolls, and their costumes are truly classic!

I decided to not include the written descriptions, so that I could present the pictures by themselves for viewing. The photos are excellent in terms of the nice material that the dolls are on. However, it's the lighting that caught my eye. They are using at least 3 lights to photograph the dolls. There is a light from the back, and 2 lights from the front.  Also the file sizes are very good enough to see plenty of detail, as well as fine detail. It's as if each doll is having her/his portrait taken!

Below is an exceptional "boutique" of miniature 

19th Century decorative objects and silver

Width x Height x Depth

22"  x 13" x 11''

558mm x 330 mm x 280 mm

The wooden-framed open shop with angled sides has built-in shelves back and sides with painted finish to simulate marble and accented with gilt beading and decoupage trim, wooden parquet flooring, hanging tri-arm chandelier, matching ormolu framed mirrors on alternate walls. The shelves are laden with more than 60 miniature treasures including silver tea service, bird cage, tiny dolls in miniature silver chairs, Berlin porcelain statuary, collection of clocks, rare book press, and much more. Excellent condition. An outstanding original presentation of rare antique miniatures in early shop. 

Mid-1800s.

 Height: 17" (430 mm.) 

Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulderplate with modeled bosom and shoulderblades, blue glass paperweight inset eyes with spiral threading, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, mauve-blushed eyeshadow, brushstroked brows, accented eye corners, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with outlined lips, dimpled chin and philtrum, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, slender kid bebe body with scalloped upper edge, kid-over-hinged hips, wooden lower legs, kid-over-wooden arms, bisque forearms. Condition: generally excellent, restoration to one finger on left hand. Marks: Bru Jne 5 (head and shoulderplate). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, circa 1884. Value Points: splendid eyes are featured in this beautiful bebe from golden age of Bru, original body, lovely antique costume, leather shoes signed "Bru Jne Paris 5".

13" (33 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulderplate with modeled bosom and shoulderblades, blue glass paperweight inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked brows, accented eye corners and nostrils, closed mouth with outlined lips, brunette mohair wig over cork pate, slender kid body with scalloped-edge kid collarette, kid-over-wooden upper arms, bisque forearms, wooden lower legs. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Bru Jne 4 (head and shoulders), Bebe Bru...(partial original paper label on body). Comments: Leon Casimir Bru, circa 1886, Value Points: charming fellow has original body, great expression and painting of features, antique costume, cap, and shoes, and carrying faux-tortoise mandolin and leather case.

I certainly do not know much of the lexicon of the world of dolls.However, you can see just how much research goes into describing these true antiques! I still cannot believe just how great these toys have lasted for a hundred years, and through the 1800's, 1900's, and 2000's.

I'm sure these exceptional genre of "toys" will survive much much longer. 

Their legacy  is truly a marvel over the ages!

I certainly was elated to find such a fantastic company, and I would especially 

like to thank Mr. Stuart Holbrook, the President and chief auctioneer of the firm. When I wrote to him, he was more that happy to help me out with this post, but all the thanks is from myself to him.

His experience and knowledge is most exceptional, ah truly is an expert extraordinaire in his genre of the doll world!

I hope that everyone enjoyed this post, and will now have a great resource for researching any dolls that they have or will have seen at auctions, marketplaces, and in special antique stores. 

Have a great part of the day or evening,

and thanks for dropping by.

Stacey Bindman

toysearcher@gmail.com

The Magnificent World of Antique Dolls

  Monday, December 4, 2018
Overcast and unseasonably warm
3 C   38 F

The Magnificent World 

of Antique Dolls

Please click here to visit this fine American Auctioneer

PLease click here to visit Morphy Auctions' auction on Liveauctioneers\

   One area of antique toys that I rarely cover is antique dolls. I should cover them in my blogs, but I don't . Of course, being a writer of antique and old toys, one has to be objective (fair and of a neutral opinion), so I do promise to do so in the future . This area is very popular among all kinds of people (men and women), and the value of these dolls had appreciated in value by a lot over the years.

Description:

17 1/2"(445mm) tall An outstanding example of a "portrait face"Schmidt Bebe with fine bisque highlighted with mauve shadowing and rosy cheeks. The original set blue spiral paperweight eyes are enhanced by dark eyeliner and finely painted lashes. On a marked Schmidt body with nice original finish(aged repaint to lower arms only)with straight wrists. The rear of head is marked with the number "2" and underneath is the typical shield with SCH embossed within. Dressed in an elaborate silk Bebe outfit of newer vintage with coordinating hat antique leather boots and a blonde mohair wig. A very striking example of this mold! Bisque head appears to be free of any damage and/or issues such as cheek rubs, eye chips, etc. 

When you read the description of the  above doll, you come across words 

like "bisque",  "silk" and "mohair". These dolls from the past  were exceptionally made, with nothing but the finest materials.

What Is Bisque and Porcelain?

Bisque is unglazed porcelain. Porcelain is created form a paste of clays and water  

which is  molded and then fired at temperatures above 2300F. After firing, the

molded doll head is fired several more times after application of the doll's features. 

Most of the time an application of color is applied to create a more realistic skin tone.

If there is no color added to the bisque and is left white and unglazed, 

the doll is sometimes referred to  as a "parian" doll.*

Please click here to visit this excellent website that discusses these type of dolls

Description:
A striking example of this French bebe! Exceptional modelling with intense blue paperweight eyes, light shadowing above eyes, nicely painted facial details and fine quality bisque overall. Affixed to her original kid body (patching, detached arm & lower legs) with a taped Bru paper label on chest, she retains her original wig and marked Bru shoes. Dress and hat are of vintage fabric in fair condition and of more recent fabrication. Marked in neck socket and shoulder plate "1/5". Overall a very nice example with the kid body requiring repairs. Head and shoulder plate appear to have no hairlines, eye chips, or other damage. Poorly replaced thumb on right hand, extremely small faint red line under nose.
Dimensions: 17" (432 mm)T.

 As of the same time as before, this doll has 6 bidders, 

with the highest bid being  $ 3,750.00 U.S. Dollars!

I've only added 2 photos and descriptions because of the exhaustive 

and thorough descriptions that Morphy Auctions writes.  In future posts, I will add less writing for the description, with of course more fine photos.

If you visit the Liveauctioneers website, or visit Morphy Auctions' website, you

will most certainly appreciate the world of these exceptional antique dolls. I know I have,

and when I go to another garage sale in the spring, I will be keeping an eye out for these dolls!

The Finest Auction of Dolls on the Net!

 Saturday, January 30, 2016
Overcast and Seasonally above normal (warmer)

The Finest Auctions 

of Dolls on the Internet

Please click here to visit this exceptional auction company

   When I first started to search for auction companies, I found James D. Julia- an exceptional New England (U.S.A.) Auctioneer. They sold toys, art, antiques, and my favourite - the salesman's sample.  As of last year, the toy division (and I assume dolls as well) has been sold to Dan Morphy Auctions.

   You can still visit the James D. Julia website and have a look at their past several years of all auctions, especially the toys and doll auctions. 

   I'm not a doll afficianado, but when I first saw the dolls at the James D. Julia website, I was amazed. My sister  had dolls, but these were "average" dolls from the toy stores. The dolls that I've seen on the James D. Julia website were for true collectors and museums!

"PETITE FRENCH FASHION DOLL. 

Unmarked bisque socket head with inset blue glass eyes, closed mouth with slight smile, pierced earlobes, multi-stroke eyebrows, mounted to a separate bisque shoulder plate, attached to an all white leather body with mitten style hands, gusset joints at the elbows, hips and knees. She wears her original blonde mohair wig with upswept braids over a cork pate, and wears an ankle length one piece walking dress made of a periwinkle taffeta with braid trim, matching hat and newer black cloth shoes. SIZE: 14″ (35cm). CONDITION: Head and shoulders very good (extremely tiny, less than 1/8″ red firing flaw at back neck socket). Body relatively firm considering its age, but shows typical discoloration and wear."

*Description Courtesy of James D. Julia

One of the feasters that appears on the James D. Julia website is a rotating view of certain listings. What this feature does is allow the item (in this case a doll) to be rotated slowly in a 360 degree rotation.  This allows viewers and potential bidders to see the item in its' entirety.

This doll is by no means the most outstanding or most expensive. However, its' features certainly caught my attention with all of its' grandiose and eloquent detailing.

If you visit the James D. Julia website, you'll be able to see an 

unbelievable collection of dolls that went to auction in 2015.

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day or night,

wherever you may be.

Stacey Bindman

Toysearcher@gmail.com

It's Called a What?

Monday, April 22, 2013
       (Still very cold for April!)

It's Called a What?

(The Automaton)

  By now you should know that when I start to look for 1 topic or toy, I inevitably end up finding something else. Today's post is about the automaton. Until yesterday,I had never heard of the word, let alone this  type of toy. 

*Reference (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/automaton)

  As it turns out, these toys were mostly human figures that moved.  As well, incorporated into the automaton was a music box. The majority of these very fine "machines" were made in Germany and France from the 1850's-1900's. The human figures were also mostly dolls. from the more-renowned doll-makers of the time. The dolls were made from the finest materials of the time. Hair could be made from mohair, the clothing from silk, and the doll heads from bisque.
Bisque is a form of porcelain that has a matte (flat) finish.  The matte finish allows for a more-realistic finish to the doll's face. Also, the faces would have beautiful glass eyes, and the eyelashes would be meticulously hand-painted on to the doll's face.

   These fine "collectibles" garner high prices at auctions, and I'm sure they are worth it for those who do collect them. Not only is this type of toy very interesting in terms of movement and music, but the detail of the dolls themselves are true beauty to behold. If you magnify the images, you can even see the fine detail that went into the production of the hands of the dolls.

Thanks for dropping by to read my blog.

As always, have a great part of the day,

wherever you may be.

Stacey

The Antique World of Dolls

Saturday, December 1, 2012
           (-10 C or 20 F /  Overcast )
                (How Time Flies!)

The Antique World of Dolls

http://jamesdjulia.com

(please press on the above address to be redirected to the fine site of James D. Julia)

Introduction

   Sooner or later, I would have to have written a post about dolls. With something like 101 males to 100 females, an equal balance of reporting or blogging certainly deserves it. Also dolls, doll houses, doll accessories can be found on any auction site or antique store whenever I am searching for old toys.

   I don't know much about doll collecting, or antique dolls,but I'll just write about what comes to mind. Archaeologists have found dolls in Egyptian Pharaoh tombs, as well as in burial sites around the world (e.g. Peru). In Peru, the high mountainous areas and dry and cold conditions have preserved both bodies and artifacts well,and personal effects and dolls have been found.

   My sister Brenda had a few dolls,but I can't remember much about them. However there was 1 doll that had a string in the back,and when pulled talked. I included a fine set of Black American Dolls. In the 1950's and early 1960's  I never saw a black doll. When were in Mississquoi Bay in the later 1950's for the summer, there was a nice family (Ronny Foote and his wife Ditty, with their 3 sons). As children we grew up without knowing one religion from another or 1 skin tone from another. People were people and we treated them all well.

   I do remember 1961, when we had went to Saint Albans Vermont for the summer, and rented a cottage. That summer was the first commercial with an African American in it. I can't remember what the commercial was about. Also in 1961, there was an afternoon news cast on CBS with Douglas Edwards. Of course at 13, we didn't watch TV much in the summer, but I did see that first TV commercial. 

  I've selected a collection of dolls from 3 different James D. Julia auctions. The Julia company has 4 different divisions of saleable items,with antique toys and dolls being 1 of them. I always try to keep each post exclusive to 1 auction house as a sign of courtesy for the auctioneer. I'm sure that the the outstanding  auction houses that I can use their photos wouldn't mind if I added several to 1 post, but that's what I do for now - 1 post - 1 auction house, or seller, or collector.

Some Notes

    One of my friends at Dunkin Donuts, Caroline who buys and sells all kinds of old items once talked about someone she know who imported dolls from Italy.  He started buying dolls at garage sales,and then successfully expanded his business to high-end dolls. He now goes to Europe, especially to Italy to buy very expensive dolls that he sells here in Canada.

    Some of the dolls in the 3 different  Julia auctions came from France and Germany. What interest me about the dolls are that some have wax faces. Also the garments are majestically sewn, and reflect different eras and times from the past from those countries.

   I haven't included any information, but the 3 auctions that I did select were on:

  1.    November 30, 2012

  2.    June 22, 2012

  3.    May 3, 2011

Above

November 30, 2012

Above

June 22 2012

Above

May 3 2012

     Just as I was about to "sign off", a thought came into my mind. Did I ever have a doll? The question was odd, as I never thought I had a doll. However, I didi have one. My cousin Mel, gave me one when I was about 14. He got married, and I think that was a present for my having been an usher at his wedding. It was an Emmett Kelly doll. Emmett Kelly was a famous circus  performer (clown). I had that doll for about 15-20 years and gave it to a new friend at the time. She is a doctor, and is very interesting. The last time I saw her, she was taking lessons to be a pilot! She had visited a "small people" museum where they had dolls, and also repaired  dolls.  I think Emmett's head had become separated from his body. 

Thanks for Dropping by,

and ahve a great part of the day or evening,

wherever you  ay be.

Stacey