February 2025

Antique DOLL Collector February 2025 Vol. 27, No. 2

Jules Nicolas Steiner Japanese Friendship Dolls by Alan Scott Pate Magda Boalt Enfant Paper Dolls Part 2 by Samy Odin Othello, the Titanic Bear

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Letter From The Editor

“Oh, Mercy Ann grew up,” said Deborah, “that’s the trouble with little girls—they always grow up.”

Deborah Remembers by Lillie V. Albrecht, 1959 Dear Readers, While trying to think of an introductory quote for this month’s Letter from the Editor, I suddenly remembered these lines from a book I read as a child. Deborah is a cloth doll that still resides in the Edwin Smith Historical Museum at the Athenaeum in Westfield, Massachusetts. I read many doll story books to earn the Reader badge when I was in Girl Scouts, and some— more than others—have stayed with me over the years.

This month’s cover story honors the beautiful dolls by Jules Nicolas Steiner. Written by Linda Edward, the doll on the cover will be auctioned in the Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion on April 11-12, 2025.

Samy Odin completes his study of enfant paper dolls in Part 2 in his recurring column.

Alan Scott Pate shares the story of the beautiful and impressive Japanese Friendship Doll exhibit from last summer’s UFDC convention—a very rare and important exhibit bringing together six of the Friendship Dolls.

We will meet Magda Boalt, as shared by Kate Reed in her article about the talented Swedish cloth doll maker.

And Rebekah Kaufman invites us to a celebration held in Japan, welcoming Othello, the Titanic Bear to his new home.

Included, as well, is coverage of the 181st Eastern National Gaithersburg Show & Sale and more.

Just like Mercy Ann in Deborah Remembers, we all have to grow up.

Those of us, though, who have been fortunate to hold onto that inner child throughout our lives know that the collecting and study of dolls and their stories keeps us forever young at heart.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Antique DOLL Collector!

Laurie McGill Editor-in-Chief

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FINE ANTIQUE DOLLS AND ACCESSORIES BUYING & SELLING QUALITY DOLLS FOR OVER 31 YEARS

published by the

www.antiquedollcollector.com Publications Director: Lisa Brannock Editor-in-Chief: Laurie McGill Senior Editor: Linda Edward Production Director: Louann Wilcock Art Director: Lisa Claisse Administrative Manager: Valerie Foley Social Media Director: Brigid McHugh Jones Contributors: Elizabeth Ann Coleman, Bradley Justice, Samy Odin Subscription Manager: Jim Lance Subscriptions: adcsubs@gmail.com Display Advertising: Lisa Brannock: lbrannock@antiquedollcollector.com phone: 631-261-4100 Louann Wilcock: louannw@antiquedollcollector.com phone: 872-216-8842 Advertising Materials Contact: Louann Wilcock: louannw@antiquedollcollector.com phone: 872-216-8842 Editorial: antiquedoll@gmail.com Laurie McGill: lauriem@antiquedollcollector.com phone: 717-517-9217 Send all catalogs to this address: Antique DOLL Collector, 4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814 Marketing: Penguin Communications, Inc. Subscriptions: Send to Antique DOLL Collector, P.O. Box 349, Herndon, VA 20172. Phone: 631-261-4100 Subscription Rates: One Year $59.95; Two Years $109.95.

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1. 1 6 ½” First Series Jumeau portrait bebe, couturier dress, orig. chemise and matching undergarments, marked Jumeau shoes, 8-ball body, head marked “1”. $11,750.

2. 8 ½” Statuesque early Simon Halbig all bisque mignonette, French silhouette, bare feet, orig. wig, clothing made of antique materials, breathtaking doll. $7,250.

3. 7 ½” Early Kestner all bisque in dramatic size, with rich, ethnic coloring, bare feet, chubby body, antique clothing, orig. wig, tiny antique leather shoes. $2,950.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Antique DOLL Collector, P.O. Box 349, Herndon, VA 20172.

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MOVING? P.O. Box 4327, Burbank CA 91503 • e-mail: nellingdolls@gmail.com Cell: 818-738-4591 Home: 818-562-7839 • Member NADDA and UFDC

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Call 631-261-4100, email at adcsubs@gmail.com or write to us at: P.O. Box 349, Herndon, VA 20172.

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Valerie Fogel’s

Beautiful Bébés Fine Dolls & Precious Playthings from our Past

www.beautifulbebes.com

Always Buying!

Trades and Consignments Considered Tel: 425.765.4010 Beautifulbebes@outlook.com

17.5” French Fashion: A lovely young lady blessed with creamy pale bisque, pale blue enamel eyes, a hint of a smile, framed by auburn mohair in demure chignon. Graceful appeal w/ lovely wood arms to create delightful poses. C. 1874-1877 & costumed in antique blue silks, layers of unders, & matching lace-up boots. Generally excellent. $5250

17” Wood Body Jumeau Fashion: Meet a desirable deluxe French Fashion w/ beautiful features on an articulated kid-over-wood body w/ graceful bisque arms. This beauty has a soft look w/deep cerulean-blue eyes, tender painting of features, framed by a long ash-blonde wig w/ tendril bangs. Wears a golden pinstripe day dress & hat, replete w/ fine details.

Layers of undergarments include a fab stiffened bustle plus matching heeled shoes. She is in superb condition from head to toe! $6950

Five luscious accessories from the 1870s, left to right: 3 inch Exposition Purse 1878. $295; 3” Lorgnette in intricate wood/ MOP case $398; 3.5” 1873 Bon-Bon box $198; 3.5” Fabulous beaded Clutch/ Needle Case $225 Center: 1870s Garden Bonnet $225

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24” Rare Wax Bébé: This beauty is in generally excellent condition for her age.

Rooted human hair, rare, brown glass, eyes, and exquisite features. She appears to be a portrait of a loved one. Minor repair to leg does not diminish her value.

Such a precious doll! $1250

Member UFDC & NADDA

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The Complete Guide to Antique, Vintage and Collectible Dolls

February, 2025 Volume 28, Number 2

On the Cover

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FACE TO FACE: Meeting the Japanese Friendship Dolls of 1927, A Special Exhibition

by Alan Scott Pate

THE INVENTIVE MIND OF JULES NICOLAS STEINER

by Linda Edward

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This Steiner bébé is marked STEINER, deponiert, A2. She features pierced ears, almond shaped paperweight eyes and delicately shaded eyelids. Her original wood and composition body has bisque hands with beautifully molded fingernails.

This doll is one of the many treasures which will be featured in the upcoming Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH April 11 & 12, 2025 auction of the collection of Karin Schmelcher.

SUBSCRIBE TO ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR, GO TO antiquedollcollector.com Subscription information: adcsubs@gmail.com or 631-261-4100

THE DOLLS OF MAGDA BOALT

by Kate Reed

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Departments

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2 Letter from the Editor 8 Paper Doll Stories

by Samy Odin 14 Book Review 16 Auction News 42 Gaithersburg Review 45 Auction Calendar 45 Emporium 47 Events/Classified Ads Follow us on...

OTHELLO THE TITANIC BEAR Tokyo's 34th Japan Teddy Bear With Friends Convention

by Rebekah Kaufman 6

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PAPER DOLLS IN THE SHAPE OF A NEWBORN BABY, PART II

by Samy Odin

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(212) 787-7279 P.O. Box 1410 NY, NY 10023

Quality Antique Dolls by Mail Return Privilege • Layaways Member UFDC & NADDA

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1) 15” Glass Eye Googly in Factory Clothes - Rare 15” mega size ‘Hug Me Kids’, clean perfect no craze Mask Face! Orig. Wig & Shoes too! just $1495 2) Rare 17” Tom & Jerry Comic Character Cat - Clever 1940’s seam jtd. fabric feline fun w high energy! $350 3) All Original 14” Heubach Indian - his most intricate model of all, mint condition! Rare-$1350

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4) 10” Door of Hope Amah w Baby - mint & all original, crisply carved features. Poetic. $1095 5) 10” Grand Kewpie - Brilliant Kestner quality, impressive, rare size & period dress. $495 6) Clean Antique Bears - German 9” Open Mouth Baby $145; Pretty 16” early American White w shoe button eyes.Only $295 7) 16” Steiner Bebe w Closed Mouth & Stiff Wrists - mint cabinet child w Shaded Lids, Signed Body & Shoes & prettiest of clothes! $2800

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11) Like New 18” Shirley Temple in Orig. Box - crisp accordion organdy pleats w Ties & Label.

Scarce Dress & lovely high color, lashes & Matching End Label on Box w. Lid. $1100 12) 17” ‘Halbig’ 1880’s Closed Mouth Display Doll - fully jtd. pink kid body w jtd. compo arms, PWs, Belton crown/orig. wig. Fabulous intricate voile Original Couture. $750; Bunting Baby. $75

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8) Dramatic 20” E. Heubach ‘Exotique’ impressive large handsome Prince, fired-in color, vintage bejeweled velvet costume w Headdress. Great regal style! $895 9) Stunning 19” Hertal Schwab ‘125’ Character - rare size bisque head toddler ‘Patsy’ in Orig. Clothes & Shoes. Special! $895 10) 18” French Trade Sonnenberg Fashion Swivel Closed Mouth, PWs, mint Bisque Arms, Original. Silk Fashion Gown w. Train $1200

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13) Rare John Bunny Celebrity Doll -1914 - mint head & Factory Original Clothes w Label. Important character doll. UFDC First Place Ribbon $750 14) Striking 21” Bonnie Babe - great color, bright blue eyes, original body, adorable mint 3-part Vintage Lambswool Ensemble! $550 15) Lavish 20” Depose SFBJ ‘X’ - Jumeau brows, bl. PWs, good French body, Matching Grand Chapeau $650 16) DEP Bebes w. Jumeau Bodies - 13” ‘Bon-Bon’ in sweet old clothes & hip length French wig. $395; 23” Jeune Fille bl. sl. eyes, lush satin bisque, full Factory Wig/Pate, fine vintage ensemble. $650

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Paper Doll Stories by Samy Odin Paper Dolls in the Shape of a Newborn Baby Part Two

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aby paper dolls from the early years of the 20th century are often colorful, rich in details and gloriously well printed.

The German industry kept producing excellent products distributed worldwide and inspiring printers from other countries.

This baby doll probably came as a boxed set.

It is interesting to note the way to apply each garment onto the baby, whose head is glued on purpose over the body leaving a loose end under the neck in order to slip the garments under the head, at the neck joint. I never saw a boxed complete set, so I do not know which pieces of apparel could be missing. I assume two or three more bonnets could have been included, as well as a few more playthings or functional accessories. (Photo 1) This other partial set looks cut from a cardboard sheet and could also be German. It includes a very good-looking baby with one long dress and matching bonnet, two extra head pieces, a bib, a stroller and a nanny. Same as above, I wish I could find the complete uncut sheet of this one, which, to my knowledge, is still un-documented. (Photo 2) Another set which also looks cut out from a cardboard sheet is in played with condition and is missing extra pieces. The design is charming, though, and shows an unusual feature in the way garments are combining both the baby and the nanny. One dress covers up both figures, as seen on most similar sheets but the second garment only designs the right sleeve of the nurse and a cape for the baby she is holding. The third piece of apparel only aims to cover the baby figure, a creative pattern so far. (Photo 3) This other set, possibly printed in France at the turn of the 20th century, was also cut from a commercial cardboard sheet. It is evidently incomplete but the remaining parts are well detailed with a good printing definition, which suggests that it was not a cheap plaything.

The sitting baby shows three garments and a

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feeding bottle; the second baby only has one dress and two accessories to fit into a portable baby bed and an odd chair, which looks like a sled more than a rocking armchair. (Photo 4) At that time, babies were also offered by companies who used paper dolls as an advertising strategy to please their clientele. It is the case of George A. Clark, who produced cotton in New York City or Worcester Salt, who offered a wide range of 39 different paper dolls with their products in order to encourage their customers to buy more salt and complete their paper doll collection. The format chosen for these publicities consisted of a garment, which was printed

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back and front in order to be folded over the baby figure, slipping the head through the neck opening. (Photo 5) Among a variety of magazines and journals that printed paper dolls on a regular basis, the Ladies Home Journal was extremely popular. By 1903 they were already reaching out to over a million subscribers. This is when Sheila Young was designing her legendary paper dolls, including the series of “Lettie Lane,” “Polly Pratt,” and “Betty Bonnet.” Within the stories of these three paper dolls, babies were featured on a regular basis and reflect the opulence of the wardrobes and accessories created for infants for the middle-upper class of that generation. (Photos 6, 7, 8)

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Between the two World Wars several American publishers distributed commercial boxed sets of paper dolls, including some representing infants. Samuel Gabriel is no exception. This smaller set of “The Twinnies Baby Dolls” is charming; it includes a bed which fits the base of the box, two dolls which look similar but not identical, four garments for each doll and a few accessories and toys.

The pastel colors and the delicate details in the drawing make this set very desirable on today’s collectibles market. (Photo 9)

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In 1940, the Merrill Publishing Company of Chicago launched a new type of photographic-based paper doll album featuring Nancy, a young toddler, and her baby sister Sue. This album was very successful and incarnated a very modern style that was to develop exponentially throughout the Baby-Boom decades. (Photo 10) Merrill was mostly specializing in paper doll albums, which became extremely popular and distributed on a mass production basis. The number of paper doll albums that hit the market during the years following World War II is

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12 impressive. Among many, “Baby’s First Year Paper Dolls” is particularly endearing and reflects the aesthetics of that period. The baby is represented in various phases of his early upbringing surrounded by a colorful and tasteful wardrobe which must have been an ideal plaything for the early baby boomers. (Photo 11) The topic of twins seems to have been a strong selling point, certainly reminiscent of the popular success of extremely fertile families such as the Dionnes during the 1930s. Another Merrill’s album, titled “Babyland” features three pairs of twins, rigorously composed of a girl and a boy meant to wear matching ensembles and sharing an array of safe playthings ideal for newborn babies (Photo 12).

13 The main competitors to Merrill were Whitman, which distributed the gigantic paper doll production of famous illustrator Queen Holden (Photo 13) and Saalfield, who targeted the middle-lower classes by mass-producing paper doll albums for very attractive prices. (Photo 14) By the beginning of the 1960s and the end of the Baby Boom era, the golden age of paper dolls as children’s playthings was over. Whitman kept producing a few paper doll albums, which were still representing the infants, but they were already based on 3D existing dolls, such as “Baby Tender Love,” under Mattel license, issued in 1971. (Photo 15) All photos are featured in the author’s collection. Samy Odin can be reached at galeriesamyodin@gmail.com

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LAYAW AVAILA AY BLE

17” Simon & Halbig Asian Lady in original silk kimono w/ embroidered butterflies, brown sleep eyes, pierced ears, newer human hair wig, 1 finger repaired $1195.

17” Heubach Pouty Boy #7602 6 w/ sunrise mark, blue intaglio eyes, antique sailor suit, small cheek rubs $850.

18” All Original Ideal Shirley Temple Hawaiian Marama put out as a promotion for a movie “The Hurricane”, some paint flakes on thumb and torso (from stand), chipped right toe, back of head compo split, crazing $395.

19” K * R S & H 50 w/ brown flirty eyes, mohair wig, sweet face $275.

9 & 7” Wonderful black German 1880’s pair of papier Mache girls w/ wonderful character, black glass eyes, molded painted blue boots & orange socks $675.

17” Alexander Wendy Bride #1852 MIB 1953 w/ Fashion Academy Award label on box $275.

14” Af Am Made In Germany bisque doll, brown stat eyes, original wig w/ puppy dog $275.

17” German CM Dome Turned head w/ beautiful painting, blue threaded eyes, antique clothing, sweet doll $245.

17.5” German Revalo 4, blue sl eyes, original HH wig, sweet face $265.

16.5” All original Alexander Jane Withers in tagged dress w/ gold script pin, slight crazing on face $295.

17.5” Alexander Maggie Faced “ Betty” all original w/ Fashion Academy Award tag, beautiful facial coloring and hair in original set $245.

17” Mint & All Original #1775 Alexander Elise At The Ball w/ Kelly face MIB w/ jewelry necklace, bracelet, ring & purse $425.

RJ Wright Wizard Of Oz Scarecrow – Ray Bolger, amazing detailing and likeness no box $795.

26” K * R S & H 65, My Darling all original, original My Darling tag on undergarment, in silk dress ( fragile as is ), brown sl eyes, HH wig, was a gift from Santa 1924 $475.

20.5” Mint & All Original #2210 1961 Alexander Jacqueline in White satin ball gown and matching coat, pearl purse, earrings, necklaces, diamond ring & bracelet, never out on display $695.

20” Sweet German 478 B & P, Bahr & Proschild, w/ blue flirty eyes, antique HH wig & clothing $495.

18” German Harmus 6, bl sl seyes, sweet expression, repainted hands $225.

3x 3.5” 1950’s Steiff Foxy, mohair w/ orig. ribbon & bell $60.

15.5” Goebel Boy w/ blonde molded hair, brown stat eyes, leather body, antique clothing, beautiful molding & coloring $225.

R John Wright The Little Prince 17” 116/250, signed hang tag, All original – tag on back, No box or COA $550.

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16” Connie Lowe Marbled Halls OOAK Meili milk chocolate skin tone, brown glass eyes, mohair wig $2995.

12.5” Seated “Celeste 1920”

by Australian NIADA Artist Catherine Mather, lt to 15, fabulous detailed sculpting & painting, antique lace on dress – breaking in spots, w/ pink chair, jointed arms & legs $595.

12” Connie Lowe Marbled Halls OOAK small Meili chocolate skin tone, green glass eyes, mohair wig $1895.

A. W. Kister 1880’s Collection of 7 untouched Beauties 1, 1.5, 4, 4.5, 7” All Original in antique clothing, beautiful examples, heads perfect no breaks or chips, 7” missing right arm, chipped left toe & cloth torn above lower legs, 1.5” w/ molded blonde hair, 4” baby w/ curved leg, 2 1” Frozen Charlottes, selling as found from a long time collector $325.

22” OOAK Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them

by Titiana Simukova, fabulous detailing & facial painting $695.

15” All Original Alexander Sonja Henie in yellow tagged dress, 1 blade broken on ice skates $185.

10” OOAK Angela Landsbury as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd by NIADA artist Bob McKinley 14.5” German Gebruder Knoch #216 in paperclay $475.

Character Boy circa 1912 w/ o/c mouth, blue intaglio eyes, laughing boy $225. 6.5x8” 1960’s Steiff Bessie mohair beagle, jointed head $99.50 14” Heubach #7247 7 Pouty Baby, blue sl eyes, sweet expression, small chip & hairline from rim $350.

16.5” MIBS, a Phyllis May Dolly created by Hazel Drukker 1921, Louis Amberg & Son Comp, repainted head & arms, crazing, cloth body $395.

21” Ideal Shirley Temple All Original in minty Poor Little Rich Girl outfit w/ pin $250.

16.5” Alexander Red Head all original in tagged red & white dress & red coat, hat & purse $195.

8” Set of Alexander Dionne Quints All Original outfits & gold name pins, they were sent to Alexander Hospital in 2008 for face paint touch up, sweet set w/ 2 books $250.

21.5” Beautiful Kling w/ blond hair, exposed ears & molded shirt front w/ tie, 1860-70’s, blue painted eyes on newer body, head 6h x 5.25w x 3d $285.

19” Alexander All Original Sonja Henie w/ Pin, compo has slight crazing $185.

14” Sweet size Unis 60, blue sl eyes, mohair wig $245. 16.5” Unis France 301 71 149, brown sl eyes, HH wig, repainted body $275.

13.5” All Original Alexander Compo Alice In Wonderland w/ wrist tag “Curiouser and curiouser “ cried Alice “Now they’ve made me into a doll”, She is on the jointed waist Wendy Ann body, left forefinger missing $165.

12” American Character Tiny Tears – Star Pupil of The Ding Dong School, mint in her box with all her accessories, box cover as is $195.

Madame Alexander Binnie Walker dolls all original outfits 18” 1954 #2522 in black & white dress w/ yellow apron, missing hat $195.

25” 1954 #2523 in blue taffeta dress, missing hat, scuffed nose $165.

8” American Character Betsy McCall Dolls – no damage Blond in Birthday Party, yellow taffeta dress w/ straw hat $110.

Blond in orig teddy under Varigated #8155 $100.

18” OOAK Sinbad from Scheherezade’s 1001 Arabian Nights Tales by Martha Boers & Marianne Reitsma of Martha & Marianne, super sculpey 1997 $495.

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Chicago’s finest selection of Antique, Modern and Collectible Dolls, Barbie, Gene, Alexander, Tonner, Fashion Royalty, Steiff, Dollhouses and Accessories.

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Book Review Reviewed by Melanie Luther DOLL CLOTHES RESTORATION

By Dianne deBeixedon (2023) antique and vintage fabrics ensure that a doll’s beauty is maintained for future generations of collectors.”

Despite many collectors’ timid approach to conservation and restoration, deBeixedon wholeheartedly encourages them to try it. She provides a treasure trove of ideas and techniques to inspire doll collectors to educate themselves and develop the confidence to attempt this type of work. deBeixedon emphasizes the importance of inspection and identifies the many considerations to review before washing a garment.

She also addresses troubleshooting strategies to employ during washing, and the conserving and restoring processes and warns the reader that any number of factors can negatively impact the final results.

This book includes her recommended products for cleaning, washing, pressing, and ironing as well as a

Dianne deBeixedon‘s new book is a wonderful addition to any doll collector’s library.

Doll Clothes Restoration by Dianne deBeixedon, published in 2023, is a large 40-page softcover book. It is a boon to doll collectors of every genre.

The text was originally developed for attendees of a United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) seminar: “Wash Day—The Care, Cleaning, and Restoration of Doll Clothes,” and now this book has made the information available to the public.

The author holds degrees in art with a concentration in textiles and metalsmithing. A collector herself for over 50 years, deBeixedon is self-educated in the areas of conservation and restoration of doll clothes. She also serves as a consultant to the Barry Art Museum, Norfolk, Virginia.

She begins with the premise that many collectors are reluctant to clean vintage and antique textiles. deBeixedon believes “that a dolls’ clothing is a reflection and documentation of a point in history.” She goes on to say that “restoration and conservation of delicate 14

Top: (Front) This blue silk French Fashion skirt is an example of doll clothing that should be evaluated before steps are taken to conserve or restore. Reviewer’s Collection.

Bottom: (Back) This blue silk French Fashion skirt requires close inspection prior to initiating any method of conservation or restoration. Reviewer’s Collection.

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list of supplies and references (websites and videos) for further study. Of particular interest is an extensive glossary that describes varying types of vintage and antique fabrics.

The author offers no guarantees in this general guide for using any specified techniques and recommends consulting the advice of a professional textile conservator, when warranted, for an evaluation of an extremely valuable garment.

This much needed text consolidates guidelines, tips, and sources of valuable information for the doll collector who wants to learn about and attempt conserving and restoring a doll’s wardrobe. It is an excellent addition to a doll collector’s reference library.

Doll Clothes Restoration is available exclusively from Dollspart Supply, Midland, New Jersey. dollspart.com Softbound, 40 pages $29.95 plus postage

A two-sided pressing board and small iron are examples of useful supplies. The use of white gloves as opposed to routine hand washing when handling antique fabrics remains controversial.

Reviewer’s Collection.

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ecause each collection is unique, I am thrilled to keep serving you in the achievement of your dream.

lease, let me know what you like and I will do my best to bring the treasure you are missing to your doorstep.

6, place Saint Sauveur, 22100 Dinan galeriesamyodin@gmail.com • +33 (0)673013051 ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR FEBRUARY 2025

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Auction News SAS (Specialty Auction Services) SAS (Specialty Auction Services) of Newbury, Berkshire, UK held a teddy bear auction on December 3, 2024 which saw the collection of Ian Pout, owner of Teddy Bears of Witney, dispersed to an eager collector market. Featured among the many lots were a Steiff brown-tipped mohair Teddy Bear, circa 1926. Called “Happy” by the previous owners this bear had black glass eyes with brown backs, white curly mohair and stitched nose, mouth, and claws. The hammer price was £45,000 (approx. $57,504 US) plus the in-person Buyers Premium of 24%.

Also going to a new home was Aloysius, a ca. 1907 American made bear that rose to fame for his role in the 1981 TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited.

Formerly in the collections of Peter Bull and later by Rosemary and Paul Volpps this golden blond mohair bear featured black glass eyes and a swivel head. He sold for £26,000 (approx. $33,252 US) plus the in-person Buyers Premium of 24%.

Frasher’s Doll Auction Frasher’s Doll Auction held its Holiday Matinee Doll Auction on December 2,2024. Among the 134 lots offered to collectors was this lovely 18-inch Bébé by Emile Jumeau.

This closed mouth doll featured brown paperweight eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, rose-blushed eye shadow, and feathered brows. She was on her original straight-wristed composition and wooden Jumeau Medaille d’Or Paris body and wore an antique white cotton and lace dress, pink

Frasher’s Doll Auction Left: This beautiful Jumeau marked 0 over E.J. sold for $4,000 plus BP.

SAS (Specialty Auction Services) Top: Happy was featured on the cover of The Ultimate Teddy Bear Book (Pauline Cockrill New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1991) Sold for £45,000 (approx. $57,504 US) plus BP. Bottom: Aloysius, a ca. 1907 25” American-made bear with his important provenance sold for £26,000 (approx. $33,252 US) plus BP.

stockings, and white leather shoes. The doll sold for $4,000 plus a 20% Buyers Premium for online bids.

Also included in the Frasher’s sale was a 20-inch Madame Alexander Cissy as Queen Elizabeth. This hard plastic doll produced in 1955 had a vivid complexion and an untouched original hair style. Her costume was a delight in white brocade gown with blue sash trimmed with faux jewels, taffeta petticoat, panties, hose, long white gloves, silver sling heels, pearl earrings and necklace, jeweled bracelets, and crown. The hammer price was $475 plus the 20% Buyers Premium for online bids.

Right: Madame Alexander’s Queen Elizabeth commanded a selling price of $475 plus BP.

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Anne Demuth

Buying & Selling Fine Antique Dolls

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Auction News (Ladenburger Special Spring Auction-Continued from page 16)

Theriaults Left: This tuck-comb GrÖdnertal protected in her original glass fronted wooden case sold for $21,000 plus BP. Right: The rare cabinet sized Kämmer & Reinhardt 102 “Walter” sold for $14,000 plus BP.

Theriault’s Theriault presented Rosalie – A Life of Dolls, Part II on January 11 & 12, 2025. This auction included many treasures from the collection of the late Rosalie Whyel. Included in the two-day auction was this 15-inch Grodnertal wooden, ca. 1830 in all original costume. She went to her new home for a bid of $21,000 plus a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

Theriault’s Left: Ca. 1916 doll sculpted by Albert Marque wearing the original folklore style costume with richly embroidered details and symbols bearing Margaine-Lacroix label sold for $90,000 plus BP.

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A 12 inch example of the Kämmer & Reinhardt mold 102 with lightly sculpted hair with deeply comb-marked hair forming into bangs and brushed behind the sculpted ears, a closed mouth and painted eyes wore an antique costume. This character doll, designed by artist, Lewin-Funcke for Kämmer & Reinhardt sold for the sum of $14,000 plus a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

A 22 inch A Marque doll in a labeled Margaine-Lacroix costume featured the hallmark sculpting of this rare doll. The doll had its original brunette human hair hand-tied wig and was on the uniquely modeled body with elongated tapered-shape torso, with wide hips, bisque lower arms with bisque attachedball-joints at the elbows. This beautiful and rare doll had a barely perceptible line (likely original firing line) on the throat which accounted for its hammer price of $90,000 plus a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

Also in the Theriault sale was “Miss 1934,” a 20-inch Simon Halbig mold 1159 on a Heinrich Handwerck body was outfitted with a stylized 1934 era wardrobe, made by her owner, Blanche E. Eaton and friends. Her wardrobe of perfectly recreated fashions of the 1934 mirrored many of the outfits owned by her original owner. This treasure with her doll world provenance went to a new owner for the sum of $38,000 plus a 15% Buyer’s Premium.

Theriault’s Above: Belonging to an early member of the Doll Collectors of America, this Simon Halbig lady doll with custom period wardrobe sold for $38,000 plus BP.

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The Inventive Mind of

Jules Nicolas Steiner

By Linda Edwards

T

he story of Jules Nicolas Steineris the story of a restless mind, always seeking mechanical perfection to bring his fantasies to life. Steiner was born in Dijon France on March 31, 1832, the illegitimate son of a Swiss mother and a French father.

The first four years of his life were spent being fostered before his mother was able to legally adopt him giving him her last name of Steiner. Unfortunately, he was then orphaned after his mother’s death in 1840. The region in which he grew up had a well-established clockmaking industry and Jules was to choose that world of gears, springs and levers as his life’s work.

By 1855 Steiner was living in Paris, where he applied for the first of many patents he would receive throughout his life. This initial patent was for a mechanical baby doll which fussed and cried when placed in its bed. Patent 24828 obtained on September 17th included the first recorded use of the term bébé (baby) for a style of doll.

An 1858 business directory listed him as a clockmaker, but his

This Steiner bébé is marked STEINER, deponiert, A2. She features pierced ears, almond shaped paperweight eyes and delicately shaded eyelids. Her original wood and composition body has bisque hands with beautifully molded fingernails.

This doll is one of the many treasures which will be featured in the upcoming Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion GmbH April 11 & 12, 2025 auction of the collection of Karin Schmelcher.

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business soon grew to encompass automated toys and other mechanical items. By 1862 his business listing expanded to say he was engaged in business making mechanical toys, window displays, musical articles and a new braking system for toys on wheels. This braking system was the object of his second patent. By 1864 Steiner was describing his business as a “fabrique spéciale de poupées et bébés parlants, méchniques et articules” (special factory of talking, mechanical, and articulated dolls and babies). 1864 was the year he purchased property at 60 rue de Montreuil which included multiple workshop and living spaces. It seems evident that unlike so many artistically minded doll makers Steiner was possessed of not only an inventive nature but also a head for business.

This would serve him well over the years as he negotiated a number of business loan deals, acted as a landlord to a variety of tenants and even negotiated a third-party transaction to buy out the financial interests in their joint property when he and his first wife divorced, thereby retaining ownership of the property where his business was located.

Through the second half of the nineteenth century Steiner would take out patents for both new ideas and improvements on existing ideas. The subjects of his patents ranged from innovations pertaining to mechanical toys including a toy horse with life-like movements, a magical box which was a form of animated picture amusement, to bicycle improvements, a safer landing system for dirigibles, and even improvements to toilet design. But it is his doll related patents that intrigue doll collectors most. These included: • Patent 24828, September 17, 1855 for baby doll that moved its arms, legs and one lip while crying when laid down.

• Patent 52929, February 2, 1862 for a doll’s voice mechanism which could say Papa and Maman.

• Patent 57803, March 13, 1863 for pull-string talking doll.

• Patent 137333, June 18, 1880 for a new type of sleeping eye mechanism. Later improvements patented December 13, 1880, May 19, 1881 and June 20, 1881.

• Patent 140916, February 2, 1881 for a method of making doll and toy animal eyes using a lithographed iris under a crystal dome. Later improvements patented May 19, 1881.

• Patent 162061, May 15, 1884 for a method of using compressed air to form molded papier-mâché bodies for dolls and other toys.

• Patent 199084, June 20, 1889 for unbreakable ceramic heads for dolls.

• Patent 206131, June 4, 1890 for a walking doll. Later improvements patented October 7, 1890.

Steiner dolls can be found on a variety of body types following the trends of the decades during which they were made. This style, referred to by today’s collectors as a Taufling body or bisque-hip Steiner was made in imitation of the Japanese baby dolls exhibited at the 1855 Paris Exposition.

The cloth segments attaching the bisque parts of the doll created the illusion of a baby needing to be supported as it was held. These early Steiner dolls have unmarked heads. All doll photos in this article are courtesy of Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion.

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Though introduced during a period when most bisque dolls had closed mouths Bébé Gigoteur had an open mouth to allow the sound of her voice to emerge. The distinctively shaped teeth are a hallmark of those found in Steiner dolls.

Bébé Gigoteur (called a “kicking Steiner” by American doll collectors) is a baby doll which included mechanisms to cause the baby to cry and thrash its arms and legs like a fussy infant.

The body is constructed of a mixture of papier-mâché and kid leather parts with the key-wind mechanism and start lever protruding from the side of the hip of the doll. These dolls were made from 1862 into the later years of the nineteenth century.

Steiner sold his marvelous dolls on a wholesale basis to retailers such as Au Nain Bleu as well as selling them to other doll making companies.

During the first 25 years of his business Steiner was known to have purchased bisque doll heads from other sources including those from his friend Eugène Constant Barrois. Barrois sold heads supplied to him by the porcelain factory of Lazare Frayon. After Barrois’ death in 1874 Steiner began purchasing heads directly from Frayon.

In 1878 he exhibited his dolls at the Exposition Universelle where he met with success, winning a silver medal for his work. An account of the day described his display saying Patent 52929 illustration. “the bébés he exhibited were strikingly realistic and perfectly executed.”

In 1880 Steiner sold his doll business to Jules Achilles Bourgoin. Bourgoin took a lease on workshop and living space within the property owned by Steiner. This arrangement freed Steiner from the day to day running of the business enabling him to focus on his inventions. It would seem that Steiner’s relationship with Bourgoin was more than that of just landlord. The patents 24

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Patent 24828 illustration.

Patent 57803 illustration.

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Patent 137333 illustration and an image of Steiner’s unique porcelain eye mounting design made from the patent.

Steiner received for innovations for doll eyes, doll design, and articulation were readily applied to the dolls Bourgoin manufactured The Series model Steiner dolls were available six different mold sculpts which came in under the Steiner business name. twelve sizes ranging from the 8 ½-inch size 4/0 to a 38-inch size 8 doll. This Series mold It is from this period that the first doll heads C doll is the 32-inch size 7 model. bearing the name Steiner are found. The earliest of these are the dolls bearing the Series designations.

These heads bore a stamped, fired-in marking with the name Steiner and their mold designation along with the signature of Bourgoin. Throughout the 1880s dolls marked Sei (standing for Series) were produced. This Series of different faces included models A, B, C, E, F and G. The name Steiner Where other French and German doll makers continued to be associated distinguished their various mold sculpts by numbers with high quality and Steiner used alphabet letters to differentiate his various innovative dolls within the designs in the Series group of offerings. The impressed Her body has the unjointed wrists and small chubby marking Sei C 7 along with the patent registration doll industry and an 1885 fingers most often found on the Series dolls. notice and the signature of Bourgoin used on the doll article in Progrès Industrial in the previous image. Steiner’s lever operated eye mechanism can be seen here. mentioned this doll ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR

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Steiner dolls usually have a papier-mâché pate rather than the cork pate found on other French dolls of the era. This papier-mâché and that of the Steiner bodies is often purple in color.

In the late 1880s Steiner was offering five new head models bearing the FIer (Figure) designation plus their corresponding alphabet designations. As with the Series group of designs, the Figure group were not only individual sculpts but each model received its own decorative treatment in their painting styles as seen in the A, B and C models shown here.

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business saying, “Steiner is the French originator of the Bébé industry.” While not strictly true, this sentiment indicates the high regard for his impact on the French doll trade.

Although the exact date still appears to be somewhat obscure it seems that sometime between 1887 and 1889 Steiner once again took over the directorship of the doll company bearing his name. It was during this period that the dolls with the FIre (Figure) markings begin to be seen. This group of sculpts included dolls with designations of A, B, C, D, and E. In 1889 Steiner’s display at the Exposition Universelle saw him awarded the gold medal for his dolls.

In 1890 the Steiner business was sold to Amédée Lafosse. Advertising from this date states that the company held 23 patents by Steiner.

Amédée Lafosse died in either late 1892 or early 1893. By May of 1893 his widow Marie Lafosse had taken charge of running the business and had signed a lease agreement with Steiner which included an option to purchase the property.

Madam Lafoss would go on to take out a number of patents in her own name for improvements on Steiner’s earlier designs.

In 1899 Lafoss sold the business to Emile Joseph Jules Mattais. Jules Steiner passed away on February 4, 1902. The business he started almost fifty years earlier would continue on into the 1900s with ownership passing from Mattais to Jean Charles Edmond Daspres in 1903. Daspres ran the company until its closing in 1913. The inventive mind of Jules Nicolas Steiner is still expressing his desire to bring fantasy and play to life one hundred and fifty plus years later, much to the delight of collectors of dolls and automata.

The style of marks used on the Figure model dolls is shown here.

The name Le Peite Parisienne was registered by the Steiner company for use with its pullstring talking bébé.

The inclusion of the Medal D’Or marking on this 15-inch Fre A example indicates it was made after Steiner’s 1889 gold medal award at the Paris Exposition Universelle.

Author’s Note: This article is the story in brief for this most innovative doll maker. For further detailed study of the subject, I refer you to my bibliography: Dorothy S., Elizabeth A., Evelyn J. Coleman The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Dolls Vol. I & II. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1968 & 1986 Dorothy McGonagle The Dolls of Jules Nicolas Steiner.

Grantsville: Hobby House Press, 1988 François & Danielle Theimer The Encyclopedia of French Dolls. Annapolis: Gold Horse Publishing, 2006 Lydia Richter Treasury of French Dolls Album 2. Tucson: HP Books, 1981 Mildred & Vernon Seeley How to Collect French Bébé Dolls.

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FACE TO FACE:

Meeting the Japanese Friendship Dolls of 1927 A Special Exhibition

By Alan Scott Pate ast summer at the UFDC National Convention in Kansas City, we were presented with a rare and wonderful opportunity to meet face to face six of the original Japanese Friendship Dolls of 1927: Miss Fukushima/Ehime, Miss Kyoto-shi, Miss Shizuoka, Miss Okayama, Miss Nagano/Aichi and Miss Kantoshū/ Yamagata. By rare I mean that it is truly a special occasion when these girls can get together. In fact, the last time six dolls were brought into contact with one another was almost exactly 96 years ago in July of 1928. So, our sextuple is truly fantastic.

Drawing on the generosity of both private collectors and public institutions, the exhibit presented both the dolls in all their glory as well as a bit of their personal back stories, helping to individualize the dolls and

shed a light on some of their unique experiences over the last 97 years since their initial arrival in the United States in November of 1927. Represented are dolls by the celebrated masters Hirata Gōyō II (1903–1981), Takizawa Kōryūsai II (1888–1966), and Iwamura Shigesaburō (Shōkensai I, 1892–1968), as well as the opportunity to see one of the more elusive City dolls by Okamoto Menya Shōjirō (Menshō XII, d. 1944).

But of course, these six lovely ladies represented only a small fraction of the whole 58 dolls that were sent by the children of Japan to the children of the United States as gestures of friendship and good will. Visual documentation of the early history of these dolls is unfortunately scarce. In fact, the only known photograph of the entire group was taken immediately after their

The only known photograph of the 58 Friendship Dolls taken upon their arrival in San Francisco, California in 1927.

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arrival in San Francisco. This amazing image, captured at the Kimono Gakuen school, shows them all arrayed like a graduating class on the stage of the school auditorium in four expansive rows, flanked by crossed American and Japanese flags. This image has proven to be an invaluable resource for those interested in the Japanese Friendship Dolls, particularly in helping to identify our 11 sadly missing dolls.

But, of course, this archival image was taken long before the advent of color The dolls that are colorized in the black and white photograph have been located. photography, and so we are deprived of the intense beauty and grandeur of their colorful kimono as they were arrayed that day. I have frequently tried to imagine the startling impact they must have had on visitors entering into the auditorium, catching their first glimpse of these beautiful ambassadors of good will with all their varied hues of green and red and blue and gold, with silk brocades catching the light, their white gofun Life-sized photographic enlargements replicating the 1927 photograph lined one wall in the exhibit faces framed by jet-black hair, room. This exhibition of six Friendship Dolls was notable in that it was the largest gathering of Friendship Dolls in the United States since July of 1928. and their gingko-shaped eyes on foam core, with the intent of recreating as exactly as staring out on their over-awed admirers. possible the Kinmon Gakuen scene. However, I forgot To help recapture the moment, I have in times past to take into account ceiling height! So, we were forced used digital technology to insert color images of these to arrange the dolls in only three levels, instead of four, dolls as they are today over the original black and white and had to exclude most of our missing dolls and five image, insinuating them into the scene in their exact of the six dolls present for the exhibit in order to fit the positions in 1927. This has proven both effective and reduced space. helpful in highlighting their beauty as well as shining Still, the effect was amazing and visitors were treated a spotlight on our missing dolls which must invariably to the visual panoply of 44 of these amazing works of remain in black and white. doll art, arrayed together side by side for the first time in But for the exhibition, I had hoped to create an even 100 years. greater impact and take even further steps towards The use of the foam core also allowed for some great capturing the frisson that Kinmon Gakuen spectacle must Instagram-worthy moments as visitors could take selfies have elicited nearly a century ago. So, for the exhibition, holding their state’s doll.

I decided to create life-sized enlargements of each of Now let’s meet the real stars of the exhibition. the dolls, both present and missing, and mount them ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR

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MISS KANTOSHU/ YAMAGATA Miss Kantoshû, representing the former colony of Manchuria, is by Iwamura Shôkensai I. Miss Kantoshû is unusual in that she was originally shared by two museums, the Fairbanks Museum of Natural History in St Johnsbury, Vermont and the Currier Gallery in Manchester, New Hampshire.

This special A full-length photograph of arrangement, with the doll Miss Kantoshu. Miss Kantoshu was originally shared by two spending six months at one museums—the Fairbanks location, before spending Museum of Natural History in Vermont and the Currier Gallery the next six months at in New Hampshire. She spent the other, resulted in an six months at one location and unusually large record of six months at the other. She is her history from 1928 until in a private collection today. the war years when it was decided that she would no longer travel or be exhibited.

She remained largely in storage in Manchester, until the Currier Gallery decided to auction her off in 1983.

Unfortunately, this was done in separate lots, with the doll, her passport and parasol, her slippers and her travel trunk in one lot, the remainder of her furnishings in a separate lot.

Miss Kantoshû was purchased by Phyllis Kranzberg who kept her in her private collection until she was

Miss Kantoshu and Miss Nagano-Aichi as they were displayed in the special exhibit.

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purchased by Rosalie Whyel and placed in her doll museum in Belleview, Washington. She remained there until the museum sadly closed in 2012. At this point she became part of Rosalie Whyel’s personal collection, until Rosalie passed in 2023.

In January of 2024, Miss Kantoshû was again put up for sale, this time through auction at Theriault’s. This resulted in very lively bidding with Alan Scott Pate being the ultimate winner.

Miss Kantoshû is now in private hands and was part of the special exhibit through the generosity of her new owner.

Through archival photos Miss Kantoshû has been identified as the original Miss Yamagata.

MISS NAGANO/AICHI Miss Nagano is by the artist Hirata Gôyô II. In June of 1929, she was placed in the Roger Williams Park Museum in Providence, Rhode Island.

Not much is known of her life there after her original placement. It was not until 1983, while the museum was conducting a large inventorying of their holdings, that it was discovered she was missing.

Her accessories all remained Miss Nagano-Aichi was originally placed in the Roger (shown in a photo within Williams Park Museum in the case), but Miss Nagano Providence, Rhode Island. herself was gone.

Today she is in a private collection.

Her fate remained a mystery until an auction company discovered her sitting on a piano during a local estate sale in 2010. Sadly, however, she had lost her kimono, and her hair wig had been shorn into a short bob cut. Although the museum was contacted, they opted not to try and reacquire her, and so she was sold at auction.

Alan Scott Pate was the fortunate winner and in the spring of 2011 he took her back to Japan for some much need conservation work. At this time she was also re-outfitted with a vintage child’s kimono from the late 1920s.

During this time, using archival images, she was identified as the original Miss Aichi.

She now belongs in a private collection and was generously shared in the special exhibit by her owner.

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MISS KYOTO-SHI Miss Kyoto-shi represents the City of Kyoto and is by the artist Menshō XII. Structurally she is quite different from the other dolls presented in the exhibition. She, along with the five other city dolls and Miss Japan, was created in Kyoto through the auspices of the important atelier Maruhei Ohkiheizo, multi-generational A full-length photograph of Miss supplier to the imperial Kyoto-shi. Structurally she is quite family. She is of an alldifferent from the other dolls in wood construction with the exhibit. She is all wood with articulated joints vs. a soft-joint articulated joints known construction. She was originally sent as mitsuore, rather to the Arkansas Museum in Little than the soft-bodied Rock, Arkansas in 1928. Today she resides in the Museum of Discovery construction of classic in Little Rock.

Tokyo-made ichimatsu.

She was originally sent to the Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1928.

Sometime around the beginning of the war years she migrated into private hands, before being returned to the museum in 1953. During this time, she had been amateurishly repaired and dressed in a new kimono. She had also lost all of her accessories except for her fan, her parasol and her pokkuri lacquered sandals.

In 2011, she returned to Japan for much-needed conservation, redressed in her original kimono and a new obi tie belt was woven for her using the specifications for the original.

Upon her return, she was presented with a new display case donated by UFDC doll clubs in the region to help preserve her for generations to come.

Today she resides at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock.

MISS OKAYAMA Miss Okayama is by the artist Takizawa Koryûsai II. Late in the summer of 1928, she was placed at the Masonic Lodge in Fargo, North Dakota where she was immediately embraced by the Lodge’s museum and library director, Clara Alida Richards, who staged many special trips and created opportunities for the doll to be shown to a wide variety of people.

Richards took a special interest in the doll and wrote frequently of her and the number of people her message was reaching in her reports to the main lodge, speaking eloquently of how the doll touched people, both adults and children alike.

Miss Okayama remained at the Masonic Lodge until the building was closed in 1968.

At this time she was placed under the care of the local American Miss Okayama was placed at Red Cross until she was the Masonic Lodge in Fargo, North Dakota late in the summer finally transferred to the museum at the University of 1928. Since 1973 she has resided in the University of North of North Dakota in Fargo Dakota Museum in Fargo, North Dakota. She is part of their Emily in 1973.

Reynolds Historic Costume Miss Okayama is Collection. a rare bird, in that she has retained her original identity throughout the years. Today, Miss Okayama remains in the University museum as part of their Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection.

Our final two dolls were hometown representatives from Kansas City, generously lent by their home museums for this exhibition.

Miss Kyoto-she and Miss Okayama were displayed together in the special exhibit.

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MISS FUKUSHIMA/EHIME Miss Fukushima is by the artist Takizawa Kōryūsai II. She was originally sent to the Houston Fine Arts Museum in September of 1928.

In 1990, she was auctioned off with all of her accessories at Butterfield & Butterfield in San Francisco, where she was purchased by a private collector.

In 2007, she was again purchased by Alan Scott Pate and sent back to Japan for conservation and a special homecoming celebration in Fukushima Prefecture.

In 2009, she was placed at the National Museum of Toys/Miniatures in Kansas City where she remains to this day.

Given this history, it is particularly notable that she retains nearly all of her original accessories as well as her travelling trunk, all of which were on display at the exhibition.

Through archival images she has been identified as the original Miss Ehime.

A full-length photograph of Miss Fukushima. She was originally sent to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts in September 1928.

She retains nearly all of her original accessories as well as her traveling trunk.

Miss Fukushima was displayed with her impressive array of accessories in the special exhibit. Today she is in the collection of the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Panels explaining the stories behind each Friendship Doll were displayed with the dolls. This is Miss Fukushima’s panel.

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MISS SHIZUOKA Miss Shizuoka is by the artist Hirata Gôyô II. She was originally sent to the Kansas City Public Library, which also contained an art and an ethnographic museum, but it is unclear where in the library she was displayed.

Around 1940, Miss Shizuoka was transferred to the new Kansas City Science Museum, but little is known of her life or how the war impacted her during this period.

In 1988, she was sent back to Japan to participate in an important exhibition that saw 19 of the original Friendship Dolls reunited for the first time since 1927. It was at this time it was discovered that she was inexplicably wearing a replacement kimono designed for another doll, Miss Kobe. Miss Kobe is now sadly among our missing dolls.

In 2016, Miss Shizuoka was sent back to Japan for some needed conservation. While there she was feted at a homecoming ceremony in Shizuoka and was presented with a special kimono specifically designed for her bearing the two most famous sites in that Prefecture: Mt Fuji and the Miho Pines.

For the exhibition, Miss Shizuoka was displayed wearing her new kimono, along with the kimono originally designed for Miss Kobe.

I want to thank the generosity of the individuals and museums and their curators who made this exhibition possible, particularly Susan Curtis from Fargo, North Dakota who personally drove Miss Okayama down to Kansas City so that she could participate in this special exhibition.

This full-length photograph is of Miss Shizuoka.

Photograph by Bruce Matthews.

Miss Shizuoka was originally sent to the Kansas City Public Library in 1927. In 1941 she was gifted to the Kansas City Museum, where she resides today.

Miss Shizuoka’s descriptive panel.

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by Kate Reed Photographs by Don Reed except as noted wedish doll makers, tucked in the far north of Europe, are sometimes overlooked by American doll collectors. Magda Boalt (“BOOalt”), who created cloth dolls, I feel deserves a closer look. Born in 1901 in Stockholm, Boalt lived her entire life there, passing away in 1984.

Magda was the oldest of three children and completed eighth grade before leaving school. Her jobs varied including porcelain painting, making lampshades, and eventually office work. She was also a social worker and secretary for a pediatrician.

The first doll she created was a result of a request from her niece for a doll. World War II had restricted the import of dolls and Magda spent 450 hours making her first one. Although she never had children of her own, all her nieces and nephews were gifted a doll made by Boalt as her business grew. She wanted the dolls to look like real children and have a soul.

They needed to withstand wear and tear from being played with. The dolls were described as being Full length photo of made by hand, only machine stitched at the arm doll undressed. and leg seams. At this time Magda was working as a hairdresser and saved clients’ hair to use for the wigs. It took anywhere from two weeks to three months to make a doll, either a boy or a girl and each one was unique. The dolls are tab jointed at the shoulders with disk jointing on the hips and hand painted faces. Looking closely at the eyes, two white highlights, one large and one small, are visible. Eyelashes are feathered and the lips are outlined. Three seam lines are found on the back of the head. The ears are molded and blushed. The hands are stitched to indicate fingers as are the feet stitched to resemble toes.

The dolls were sold dressed in children’s play Closeup of face showing eye clothes or in traditional folk costumes of Sweden. highlights.

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Back of head showing seams.

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A story is told of a family who was able to leave a Magda Boalt doll in bed with their child when they went out, not needing a babysitter since the child thought she had a live playmate with her. Along with dolls and their clothing, beds, dressers, and other accessories were created to improve the play value for children.

What started as a cottage industry reached the international market when in 1949 Boalt exhibited dolls at the Toy Fair in Liljevalch Art Hall in Stockholm and also Paris. The Liljevalch Gallery featuring contemporary art was founded in 1916 and still exists today focusing

on creativity and innovation. In the photograph included in this article, Boalt holds a basket with four of her dolls. Three are dressed as children and one girl is in a regional costume, or folkdräkt. Cinderella, Snow White and other fairy tale dolls were exhibited the next year. In 1950 Magda travelled to the United States and appeared on television. Her stops included Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Hollywood. More travels to England, Africa and Japan followed. The newspapers covered many of her visits. Paper dolls were also sold in later years.

ABOVE: Magda Boalt paper dolls featuring traditional regional costumes called folkdräkt and Saint Lucia and Star Boy costumes for the Christmastime holiday.

LEFT: Magda Boalt holding basket with four of her dolls for the Toy Fair at Liljevalch Art Hall, May 15, 1949. Svenska Dagbladets Bild Arkiv.

In 1954 she married Bodvar Liljegren, a professor.

Sometime later a fire at their apartment destroyed many of her completed dolls and supplies. It is believed she then stopped making dolls. Upon her death, the remaining dolls were inherited by a nephew’s wife and later displayed at the Toy Museum at Tidö Castle in Västerås, northwest of Stockholm, in a large exhibit.

Magda Boalt first came to my attention in the early 1990s when I discovered her dolls at the Leksaks Museum in Stockholm. The sweet childlike faces have a very pensive gaze with the larger dolls reminding me of Käthe Kruse dolls. They were made in a variety of sizes from possibly 4 or 5 inches to 18 inches tall.

Cinderella and her coach were displayed here. The Leksaks Museum closed within the last decade after the death of the owner and the current location of the Boalt dolls displayed in the collection is unknown.

Cinderella’s coach and driver. Leksaks Museum collection.

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Smaller dolls. Leksaks Museum collection.

Pair of dolls about 16–18 inches tall dressed in folkdräkt and as a hunter. Leksaks Museum collection.

Today, examples of Boalt dolls can be seen in the Sörmlands Museum in Nyköping, Sweden. These dolls are about 14 inches tall. The doll in Brunstad costume, pictured in this article, has a handwritten tag which says “The doll is made by Magda Boalt and is called Annida.” The doll’s clothes are primarily made of the same materials as the real costumes. The Brunstad costume was composed in 1955. The second doll in the museum collection is wearing a summer formal dress, for an unmarried woman, from Vingåker in the Södermanland region of Sweden. This doll is also believed to have been made in the 1950s.

Closeup of a doll in folkdräkt.

Leksaks Museum collection.

In the Katrineholm Library in Sweden I discovered an unidentified Magda Boalt doll. She resides on the top of a bookcase along with a few other dolls which appeared to be made of papier mâché. Her face is instantly recognizable and she wears traditional folk clothing.

My Magda Boalt doll is 18 inches tall dressed in her original cotton clothes. Her checked bonnet, short dress and romper pants have faded from red to a subtle pink tone. Underneath she wears a crisp white collared dickey which snaps in the front. Her heavy cotton knitted socks have red trim and on her feet are soft suede tie shoes.

There are no identification markings or tags on the doll.

Doll wearing summer formal dress of Södermanland region. Courtesy of the Sörmlands Museum.

18-inch child in original children’s play clothing.

Katrineholm Library discovery.

Katrineholm Library collection.

Annida. Courtesy of the Sörmlands Museum.

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Another all original 18 inch doll in folkdräkt still retains her original paper wrist tag identifying her as “Kersti.” The beautiful embroidered pocket at her waist contains a note describing her clothing as from Karesuando in the far north of Sweden. Her brunette hair may be from Salon Helene in Stockholm where the dolls were advertised for sale. The bright floral costume accentuates her lovely face painting but even her shoes deserve attention. They are also handmade with a matching tab on the back to thread the tie through and bring to the front.

The surprising number of the Magda Boalt dolls found is a testament to their fine quality construction. They were mostly toys for children and could probably tell us some amazing tales of their adventures, if they could talk.

I would like to sincerely thank Susan Hedrick for sharing images of her doll and also thank all the Swedish museums that kindly allowed photographs of their dolls to be used. If anyone has Magda Boalt dolls from her United States tour in 1950, I would be very interested to see them.

A portion of this article was published in the Doll Collectors of America Journal 2024.

18-inch doll, “Kersti” in original folkdräkt. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

Original wrist tag. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

Back of doll. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

Kersti’s shoes. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

ABOVE: Note in Kersti’s pocket. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

RIGHT: Closeup of face. Courtesy Susan Hedrick.

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OTHELLO the Titanic Mourning Bear Tokyo’s 34th Japan Teddy Bear With Friends Convention

By Rebekah Kaufman

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n October 19th and 20th, 2024, The Japan Teddy Bear Association held its 34th Japan Teddy Bear With Friends Convention in Tokyo at the Haneda Airport Garden convention center. This annual event is the largest Teddy Bear show in Asia, and typically attracts nearly 5,000 attendees over two days. It also brings in top industry brass; this year’s VIPs included executives from Steiff, the Japan Toy Culture Foundation, and the Japan Teddy bear Association, among others.

The star of this year’s Japan Teddy Bear With Friends Convention was Othello, the all-original Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear that set a new world’s record at the Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion in July, 2023 for the most expensive antique bear ever sold at auction.

Antique DOLL Collector shared Othello’s story as part of its October, 2023 Auction News coverage. Othello now lives in Japan and is dearly beloved by his new owner. It is clear that Japan now has an honorary new Crown Prince.

Here is a little history on Steiff’s legacy Titanic Mourning Bears, and how this particular example was celebrated and admired at this important arctophile gathering.

Steiff produced its Titanic Mourning bears starting in 1912 specifically for the British market to commemorate the 1,500 or so victims of the Titanic

Othello close-up

Huge billboards promoting the Teddy Bear convention and Othello were displayed throughout the Haneda Airport Garden hotel and adjacent airport.

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These three Othello interpretations were created by German artist Natalia Iunia.

disaster. This catastrophe hit the British people hard, with many individuals across the country losing a friend or relative or knowing one of the people who did die as a result of this shipwreck. Steiff used their standard Teddy Bear pattern to create these mourning bears, but added red felt under the eyes so it appeared that the bear was crying in grief and made him in black which is a traditional color associated with funerals, mourning, and death.

Very few of these Titanic mourning bears were produced, and just a handful are still in existence today. Othello is exceptional because of his amazing condition, unusual center seam facial construction, very appealing presentation, impressive size, and of course, his world’s record status.

The event’s theme of black and red—to reflect Othello’s black mohair fabric and red felt backed eyes—was apparent the moment attendees approached the venue. The event managers constructed a semi-private room where Othello and related materials were exhibited. The space measured about 20’ x 30’ and was configured for easy foot traffic flow, access, and viewing. The outward facing side of the room was used as a stage

This Othello interpretation was created by German artist Karin De Lorenzo.

This photo portrait of Othello was taken and framed by Japanese artist Mari Katayama.

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Othello rendered in traditional Japanese embroidery.

Keeping with the theme of black and red, the event space featured a presentation of black mohair bears owned by members of the Japan Teddy Bear Association.

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to host talks and presentations, and was outfitted with a podium, chairs, decorative flowers, and a large television screen showing a video loop of Othello’s record-breaking auction sale.

Once inside the Othello room, visitors enjoyed a number of visual treats. On one wall, there was an exact to scale replica of the Titanic ship, along with a four-panel history of the vessel and its ties to Steiff’s black bear production in 1912. On the wall adjacent to this display was a charming presentation of newto-vintage black mohair bears owned by members of the Japan Teddy Bear Association. Another lit, glass showcase featured various bits of ephemera related to Othello, including his auction catalog and listing from his May 18th, 1990 sale at Sotheby’s; a letter from Sotheby’s approving a financial transaction between his previous owner and the auction house in regard to his payment; and newspaper and magazine clippings concerning his 24,000 GBP auction price tag—which was extremely newsworthy at the time.

The Othello space also featured a number of artistic renderings of the now famous cub. Award winning German artist Karin De Lorenzo designed and made a very lifelike looking black cub with extremely well rendered facial features, claws, and foot and hand pads. Natalia Lunina, also an awardwinning artist from Germany, created three versions of Othello: a mirror image of him as he appears today; him imagined as a youthful toddler; and him as he might appear as a big-headed star of an anime film.

Also on display was a magnificent photo portrait of Othello, taken by Japanese visual artist Mari Katayama. Katayama has had her works on display at the at Tate Modern and other premier venues.

This square 20” x 20” image showed Othello sitting comfortably on a simple couch, with his distinctive red felt backed eyes looking upward in a hopeful way. It was housed in a handmade wooden frame, decorated with seashells and found objects.

Perhaps the most delightful—as well as unexpected--tribute to Othello was in the form of a nearly photographical representation of Othello produced in traditional Japanese embroidery called “Nikon Shishu.” The work itself measured 11-inches tall and 8-inches wide and was made from 100% silk.

It was produced by the Kurabe Embroidery Co., Ltd. of Kyoto; this company has been in business since 1921. The work used dozens of shades of custom dyed black threads and took 12 to 15 hours per day for 70 days for the craftsmen to complete. “Nikon Shishu” was introduced through India and China during the

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Right: A variety of Othello and Teddy Bear signage greeted and instructed event attendees.

Below: A full-length view of Othello in his custom display vitrine.

5th century and uses plied multicolored threads to bring designs to life. Because Nikon Shishu silk threads are manufactured without twists, each embroiderer has the ability to choose the color and the strength of the ply they need, according to the piece they are creating. It is clear that this classical technique was able to capture Othello’s unique coloration and texture in a most authentic and breathtaking way.

According to Mr. Kunio Kurabe, master embroiderer and Yuzen Kimono painter who supervised this project, “Normally, in order to create a flawless surface, we do not use a heavy thread and do not over stitch.

The silk is usually lightly plied, but in order to create the texture of the thick fur, we did not ply the silk on purpose. Using this thread, we stitched over and over in the same area in order to create the texture. And rather than to follow the traditional method, we followed our intuitions by using silks in different tones, weights and methods. For example, the stitch used for the bottom of the feet is ‘Yori-Ito Tojiage-nui’. A tightly plied silk is used for this area, finished with very fine thread on top.”

Of course, Othello himself was the star attraction of this informative, visually stunning, and once in a lifetime exhibit. He was presented in a custom-made gold and glass vitrine which measured about 20” x 20” x 72”. He sat on a red velvet cushion, with a copy of The New York Times newspaper from 1912 announcing the sinking of the Titanic displayed behind him. He was transported to and from this showcase via a foam lined, metal case and always handled with white gloves. Understandably, event attendees lined up to take selfies with this one-in-a-million rarity.

As such, there was always a security guard within 10 feet of him at any time during the convention.

When I first handled Othello in person in 2022—before he sold at auction and moved to Japan—he was so nearly perfect that I could not believe my eyes. I thought he was a replica. Mrs. Wiley, his previous owner, loved Othello with all of her heart. And I am confident that she would be delighted to know that he was the star of this international Teddy Bear convention and attracted so much worldwide attention.

Personally, I too am very grateful for the people of Japan who took Othello into their hearts and made Japan his wonderful new home.

All images from the author’s collection.

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The 182nd Eastern National Gaithersburg

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Antique to Modern Dolls, Toys & Bears Show & Sale December 2024

ollectors and dealers from across the country—and across the ocean—gathered for the much-anticipated Gaithersburg show on December 7th and 8th, 2024.

The holiday season was in the air as two extensive floors of dealers offered something for everyone. Dolls from antique to modern, toys, teddy bears, costumes and accessories, fabrics and trims, restoration supplies and doll parts covered the tables and filled the cases in the booths.

Sincere appreciation to Stephanie Bellman and her staff and to the dealers for giving us such a glorious holiday event.

Follow the Eastern National Doll Show on Facebook: www. facebook.com/groups/EasternNationalDollShowGroup

Billye Harris, Ashley’s Dolls and Eastern National Show Producer, Stephanie Bellman

Kathy Turner and Elizabeth Ann Coleman holding a copy of their book, Inside Porcelain Shoulder Heads

Gail Lemmon, All Dolled Up

Marty, Tracyann, and Ali Andrewski, Nostalgic Treasures

Far Left: Mary Ann Spinelli, Nelling, Inc. Left: Valerie Fogel, Beautiful Bébés Right: Billye Harris, Ashley’s Dolls and Deanne Dodson, Beautiful Bébés

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Countess Maree Tarnowska

Margaret Gray Kincaid

Jennifer Moyer and Cheryl Hoiler, My Little Dolls

Pia Fast Seidel and Julia Johnson, Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion

Alicia and Charles Carver, Signature Dolls

Ron and Robyn Martin, Straw Bear Antiques

Nancy McCray, Fine Antique Dolls

Rebecca Cherry

Kathy’s and Terry’s Dolls

Marion Greer-Maus, Marion Maus Antiques

Joyce Kekatos, Grandma’s Attic Dolls

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Kathie Bass, Kathy’s Antiques

Jackie Allington, Fine Antique Dolls & Accessories

Brigid Jones and Louise McHugh, McHugh’s Dolls, Toys & Estates

Diane Drake, Diane’s Doll Shoppe

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Amy Miller and Joan Farrell, Les Poupées Chéries

Sue Brightwell

Mary Jo and Arthur Koets, Mary Jo’s Enchanted Doll Closet

Richard Saxman, Richard Saxman Antiques

Laura and Jamie Turner, Frizellburg Antiques Tory-Beth Radwick, Dolls of Chester Springs

Holly Hepworth, Holly Hepworth Antique Dolls

Lynn Bartol, Lynn’s Dolls and Rosemary Kanizer, Rosemary Kanizer’s Dolls

ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR FEBRUARY 2025

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Auction Calendar Frasher’s Kathy Libraty’s Antique Dolls

Paula Claydon 914-939-8982

Eyelash27@aol.com Member NADDA & UFDC

www.evelynphillipsdolls.com

Sat., Feb. 1, 2025 Preview: 9 AM; Auction: 10 AM “Heart’s Desire” Auction 2323 S Mecklin Sch. Road Oak Grove, MO 64075 816-625-3786 | frasher@aol.com | frashersdollauction.com

Sweetbriar Auction

Sat., Feb. 1, 2025 and Sat., Apr. 5, 2025 Doll & Toy Auction Crescent Shrine, 700 Highland Drive, Westampton, NJ 410.275.2213 | sweetbriar@live.com | sweetbriarauctions.com

Theriault’s

1) Gorgeous 17.5” Tete Jumeau in Stunning Rose Printed Frock......................................................................... $5,350 2) Heartwarming 14.5” Gebruder Kuhnlenz in Antique Silk Dress..........................................................................$1,295 3) Lovely Rare 16” Closed-Mouth DEP in Pastel Pink Dress.....$2,995 ~Layaway Always Available~ Call us at: 718.859.0901 Or email: KathyLibratysDolls@gmail.com www.rubylane.com/shop/kathylibratysantiques

Viking Girl Dolls Buy - Sell - Repair Liisa Niemi – owner From this:

To this:

Wed., Feb. 5 and 12, 2025 Rendezvous: Wednesday Night at the (Live) Auction Sat., Feb. 22, 2025 Rendezvous: More Dolls from the Rosalie Whyel Collection Theriaults Gallery | 410.224.3655 info@theriaults.com | www.theriaults.com

SAS (Special Auction Services) 13” Bisque Hip Steiner. Circa 1870’s. Rare, Beautiful little cherub. Extremely pale bisque. Original Steiner chemise. Not often found especially in this size.

Just an exceptional example........................................................................$5375.00

Hope to see you in February with loads of fresh inventory!!!

Check us out on Facebook!

Working on new arrivals for our re-opening on Thursday Jan. 30th 11-5 at the Frizellburg Antique Store!

Frizellburg Antique Store

LiisaNiemi73@gmail.com - Tel: 774-266-3335 www.VikingGirlDolls.com

1909 Old Taneytown Rd., Westminster, MD 21158 410-848-0664 or 410-875-2850 OPEN every Thurs - Sunday 11-5

SARA BERNSTEIN DOLLS Do you have a doll or small collection you want to sell in the Emporium?

ADVERTISE IN THE EMPORIUM Send us a photo or a digital photo of your 1-3 doll(s) or accessories with a description and your check or credit card information. We do the rest!! Take advantage of this special forum; the cost is only $95 for a 2.4”w x 2.9”h ad space.

For More Info, Contact: Louann at (872) 216-8842 or email louannw@antiquedollcollector.com

View Quality Dolls at affordable prices. 100’s of pictures and prices at my Ruby Lane Shop...

santiqbebe@aol.com • 732-536-4101

www.sarabernsteindolls.rubylane.com

Tue., Feb. 11. 2025 Toys for the Collector Auction Tue., Apr. 15, 2025 Popular Dolls & Teddy Bears Auction Newbury, UK | +44 (0) 1635 580 595 mail@specialauctionservices.com | specialauctionservices.com

Withington Auction

Mid-Feb., exact date TBD Doll Auction DoubleTree by Hilton, 2 Somerset Pkwy, Nashua, NH 603.478.3232 | withington@conknet.com www.withingtonauction.com

Alderfer Auction

Tue., Mar. 25, 2025 10:00 AM Online Auction Catalog of Antique and Other Fine Dolls 501 Fairgrounds Road, Hatfield, PA 19440 215.393.3000 | www.alderferauction.com

Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion Fri.-Sat., Apr. 4-5, 2025 Spring Auction 0049 (0) 6203 13014 | mail@spielzeugauktion.de www.spielzeugauktion.de

Morphy Auctions

Wed.-Thu., May 21-22, 2025 Toys & General Collectibles 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517 877-968-8880 | Fax: 717-336-7115 | morphyauctions.com

Auction News correction Correction for January 2025, page 45: A 22-inch Schoenhut model 308 sold for $1000 plus an online bidder’s buyer’s premium of 33% at their October sale. The doll was previously listed in Auction News as selling at $325 plus BP. ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR

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ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR’S EXCITING BACK ISSUES FEATURING STEINER!

These popular issues are available FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD on our website for only $10 each.

Go to the ‘Back Issues’ tab at antiquedollcollector.com

The digital advantage: • Searchable pdf files • No need to cut up your magazine • Just print out the select pages • Instant satisfaction!

CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF BACK ISSUES FEATURING Steiner: 11-1997

Jules Nicolas Steiner by Christine Jeffery

05-2003 Hermann Steiner Googlies by Nikki Kvitka 03-2009 Julia - Tracing A Steiner’s Past by Roberta Gallison Cunningham 04-2011

Who’s Afraid of Early Steiner Bebes? by Samy Odin

06-2015 Our Little Family of Steiner Dolls by Alf Ertsland 03-2021 The Golden Age Of French Bébés by Susan Foreman

For print availability: call 631-261-4100 or email backissues@antiquedollcollector.com

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Calendar of Events Send in your Free Calendar Listing to: Antique DOLL Collector, c/o Calendar, P.O. Box 349, Herndon, Virginia 20172 or events@antiquedollcollector.com If you plan on attending a show, please call the number to verify the date and location as they may change. Auctions in Blue.

Some events have additional information online. Check antiquedollcollector.com > events.

LONG TERM Nov 2, 2024 - Feb 2, 2025 ~ Basel, CH (Switzerland). Preview Christmas exhibition.

Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel. Steinenvorstadt 1, CH-4051 Basel. +41 61 225 95 95. info@swm-basel.ch. spielzeug-welten-museum-basel.ch/en/ exhibitions/2024/preview-christmas-exhibition.html.

Until Mar 3, 2025 ~ Kansas City, MO. “Portrait of Childhood: Black Dolls from the Collection of Deborah Neff” runs through at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. Located at University of Missouri-Kansas City. 5235 Oak St. 816-235-8000.

FEBRUARY 2025 1 ~ Leesburg FL. Annual Doll Show & Sale.

Orange Blossom & Hills and Lakes Doll Club.

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Morrison United Methodist Church, 1005 W Main St. Admission: Adults: $5.00; 12 and under: FREE. Parking: FREE. For Vendor information contact Richard Ziller.

703-627-7763. rjziller@hotmail.com.

2 ~ Lynnwood, WA. Doll Show & Sale. Antique Doll & Toy Market. Embassy Suites Hotel, 20610 44th Ave. Lisa Pepin. Call/text 206-669-7818. pepins4@msn.com.

8 ~ Schertz (San Antonio), TX. 33rd Biannual Hill Country Doll Show & Sale. Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Pkwy. 9 AM-4 PM. For more info call/text 830-606-5868.

16 - Garden Grove, CA. Orange County Doll Affaire. Doll, Teddy Bear, Collectible & Miniature Show & Sale. Rowbear Presents. 10 AM - 3 PM. Adults: $6; Children 12 & under, Military Families: FREE. Embassy Suites Anaheim South, 11767 Harbor Blvd. Featuring Antique to Modern Dolls, Bears, Toys, Miniatures, etc. Rowbear Lowman. 831-438-5349.

RowbearPresents@charter.net.

22 ~ Largo, FL. 48th Annual Doll & Bear Show & Sale. 9:30 AM - 3 PM. St. Petersburg Doll Club. Largo Event Center (Minnreg Building), 6340 126th Ave North. Featuring Antique, Vintage, Modern, Reproduction & Art, Dolls, Bears, clothes parts & supplies. Fun time for all Doll & Bear lovers. Door Prizes, Charity, Display/Exhibit, Identification/Valuation, Restringing; Minor Repair, Handicap Accessible, Food for Purchase On Site. Admission at the Door: Adults: $5.00; Children Under 12: FREE; Parking: FREE. Josephine Valente, 727-384-1708. aldopip@tampabay.rr.com.

31st, 2024; $50 after that. Kellyann Herrington. admin@dollcondallas.com. Text 469-630-2205.

MARCH 2025 1 ~ Escondido, CA. Cameo Doll Club Show & Sale. 10 AM - 2:30 PM. New Location: Escondido Elks Club. 2430 S. Escondido Blvd.

Info: Nancy Verdugo. 760 546-5023.

1 ~ Phoenix, AZ. “Celebrating the World of Dolls” Doll, Bear, Miniature Show & Sale.

World Doll Day Shows & Events. 10:00 AM 3:00 PM. Shrine Auditorium, 552 N. 40th St. Door Prizes, Raffles/Helpers (Benefits Local Charities). Mary Senko. 425-330-1770. Mary.

Senko@worlddolldayshows.com.

WorldDollDayShows.com.

7-9 ~ Rock Island, IL. Antique Spectacular Vintage Market. Fri. 4 PM-8 PM; Sat. 10 AM-6 PM; Sun. 10 AM-4 PM. QCCA EXPO CENTER, 2621 4TH Ave. $10/FREE Parking. Kimberly Schilling, Melting Pot Productions, Inc. 712-326-9964. Kim. aspectacular@gmail.com. AntiqueSpectacular.com.

8 ~ Lakeland, FL. Tropical Doll Study Club Doll and Bear Show and Sale. 10 AM - 3 PM. Lake Mirror Auditorium, 121 South Lake Ave. 40 plus dealers. Antique to modern dolls, accessories, toys and miniatures. Doll Appraiser, Doll Doctor, Helper drawings.

Lunch in the Dolly Deli. $5 for Adults, $1 for children up to 15. Nancy Nunn, 863-646-9409, GSMOM527@aol.com or Diane Milla, milladiane@gmail.com, 863-644-1144. tropicaldollstudyclub.com.

9 ~ DeWitt (Lansing), MI. Lansing Antique & Collectible Doll Show & Sale. 9:30 AM - 3 PM. Banquet & Conf Ctr of DeWitt, 1120 Commerce Park Dr. (off I-69). Come join in the fun and camaraderie! Find that special treasure you have been looking for. Dealers from four states displaying a wide variety of Antique, Vintage, Modern, Art Dolls, Bears, Dollhouse & Miniatures of all types and ages, along with other doll related items such as clothing, shoes,

wigs, parts, jewelry & accessories. All for your viewing (and buying) pleasure! Handicap Accessible. Admission at the Door: Adults: $5; Children under 12: $1. Sandy Johnson Barts.

269-599-1511. SJBbetsys@comcast.net.

Lansing Doll Show.com.

9 ~ Maquoketa, IA. 2nd All Iowa Doll Show, 9 AM-3 PM, , AmericInn, 1910 Nairn Dr., $5 admission, early bird 8 AM $10 admission.

Antique, Vintage, Collectible and all things dolls. Kim S. All.Iowa.Doll.Show@gmail.com.

319-939-7539.

25 ~ Online. Catalog of Antique and Other Fine Dolls. 10:00 AM. Online Auction at alderferauction.com. 215-393-3000.

29 ~ Jonesborough, TN. Doll Show & Sale. The Dollhouse. 9:30 AM - 3 PM. Jonesborough Visitor Center, 117 Boone St. FREE Admission.

Donations taken for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Ellen Stafford. Call or text 423-753-0022. ellen@jonesdollhouse.com.

29 ~ Waldorf, MD. The Third Annual Best Little Doll Show in Southern Maryland. 10 AM - 3 PM. Black-eyed Susan Doll Club. Old Waldorf School, 3074 Crain Hwy. Featuring all kinds of Dolls, Bears, Clothing & Accessories, Old & New and so much more! Admission at the Door: Adults: $5; Children 12 and under: FREE. Parking: FREE. Pat Magruder. 301-843-0541. p.l.magruder@verizon.net.

More doll events at antiquedollcollector.com > Events

22-23 ~ Dallas, TX. DollCon Dallas 2025 (primarily BJD and modern dolls). Westin Central Park Dallas 12720 Merit Dr. Registration required: $35 through October ANTIQUE DOLL COLLECTOR

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MARCH 2025 CONT’D FROM PAGE 47 30 ~ Portland, OR. Portland Doll & Bear Show.

Embassy Suites - Portland Airport, 7900 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97220. Joe Koury. joe@queensofthedollaisle.com. 650-3034140. www.queensofthedollaisle.com. Hours 11 AM - 4 PM. Admission $10. Free Parking.

APRIL 2025 5 ~ Hebron, KY. Triple Crown Doll Club Show

& Sale. 10 AM -3 PM. Hebron Lutheran Church, 3140 Limaburg Rd., 2 miles from Cincinnati airport. Deanna Parobeck. Parobeck.d@twc.com.

5 ~ Madison, WI. Madison Area Doll Club “Dreams Do Come True” 53rd Annual Doll Show and Sale. 9 AM - 3 PM, Early Bird at 8 AM. Exhibition Hall, Alliant Energy Center. 1919 Alliant Energy Way. Admission $10 (12 and under FREE). Parking $8. Vicki. vickijkutz@gmail.com.

608-279-5298.

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5 ~ McClellan (Sacramento) CA. “Celebrating the World of Dolls” Doll, Bear, Miniature Show & Sale. 10 AM - 3 PM. World Doll Day Shows & Events. The Officers’ Club, 3410 Westover St, Admission: General (13 and up): $10.00; Parking: FREE. Mary Senko. 425-330-1770.

Mary.Senko@worlddolldayshows.com.

WorldDollDayShows.com

More doll events at

antiquedollcollector.com > Events

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