Preview 9AM Eastern • Auction Begins at 11AM Eastern Each Day
“WHERE THE HEART IS” A CATALOGED MARQUIS
OF
AUCTION
FINE ANTIQUE DOLLS
Highlighted by the esteemed estate collection of Juanita Dickson of San Rafael, California whose sense of doll collecting was as preservationist of childhood past, just as she also admired the historic preservation work of naturalist John Muir, who had earlier worked to preserve the natural forests of their mutual redwoods region in his formation of the Sierra Club. A very private collector, Mrs. Dickson acquired and carefully preserved an exceptional selection of antique dolls for more than a quarter century, and all are being presented at this twoday cataloged Marquis auction. Her natural curiosity led her to collect in many different categories, from the most elegant of French poupées and bébés to
dolls of American childhood such as Schoenhut, from frisky German bisque urchins to beautiful art characters of pensive expression. And always, the search for a well-preserved doll was her quest, seeking dolls in their original state of preservation.
Also highlighted in the auction is a fine collection of antique dollhouses, doll rooms and miniature furniture from the collection of Dr. Robert Reyes of California including the very rare Mystery House whose provenance traces through the celebrated collections of Jean Schramm and Ann Meehan. And the notable toy milk wagon collection of John Gulino, author of An Illustrated Guide to Toy Milk Wagons, whose collection is highlighted by the very rare Schoenhut milk wagons made for four years only and of which few exist.
There are over 500 fine antique playthings and dolls in the auction. A full color catalog is available for $69. Call 410-224-3655 or visit Theriaults.com to order. The entire auction can also be viewed online at www.theriaults.com. Collectors are invited to attend the auction in person, please call for a reservation. Or bid live online, bid live by telephone, or leave absentee bids. The entire auction is streamed live each day beginning at 11 AM EST. For further information or assistance call 410-224-3655. x
Among the rare poupées at the September 28-29 auction is “Regina” by Pierre-François Jumeau, with all-wooden fully-articulated body and very extensive trousseau, in early box labeled with the name Regina. The doll is featured on the cover of “The Panorama of French Parisiennes” as shown here.
A one-owner collection of cloth Mickey Mouse and friends dolls from makers ranging from Steiff to Hermann to Knickerbocker will delight collectors at the auction.
The artwork of Chloe Preston, one of the celebrated early 20th century American women artists, come to life in this delightful collection of all-bisque character dolls and novelties, of which a small selection from the auction is shown here.
Dollhouses and Miniatures are Featured in the September 28th and 29th Marquis Auction
The rarest may well be the house known as “Mystery House” for the simple reason that its maker is unknown. What is documented is that the house, and a few companion models, were first offered by FAO Schwarz of New York in the 1890s, but that is all that is known with certainty. The houses were named “Mystery Dolls Houses” by Flora Gill Jacobs, owner of the Washington Dolls’ House and Toy Museum and author of several books about antique doll
houses. The early ownership of this particular house is not known, but about 1966 it came into the possession of Jean Schramm, owner of the famous Enchanted Doll House of Manchester Center, Vermont, then from 1988 passing into the collection of noted miniaturist Ann Meehan, and in 2018 becoming the prized centerpiece in the collection of Dr. Robert Reyes of Laguna Woods, Ca. where it has resided, perfectly preserved until this day. According to Ann Meehan, noted dollhouse historian, who has seen about ten of these houses, each is different although each is of the distinctive similar style of construction. She adds, that the houses were found to have originated in a small northern New England region near the Canadian border, although precise details are not known. The Mystery House is notable for its unique construction of decorative chamfered wood and unusual flooring which, at first glance appearing as parquet, is revealed on closer inspection, to be scored and stained to appear as parquet.
The “Mystery House” is notably different from other commercial dollhouses of the late 1800/early 1900s. These “new-style” doll houses of both German and American manufacturers were able to suggest an infinite range of architectural fancy
through the use of lithographed paper design. And, in fact, it often seems as though firms such as Gottschalk created their homes on whimsy rather than architectural sense. Would you like a window here or another one there? Let’s make this one a cut-out version and the other a lithographed paper design complete with curtain and drawn shades.
Who can deny the beauty of the lithographed designs? in these lithograph-decorated homes all is in order, all is properly proportioned, despite the
fantastical flights of whimsy. The use of lithography allowed the dollhouse maker to create architectural splendor and details without actually constructing those elements. Any house, for example, might exhibit all or any of these architectural elements: stucco finish with inlaid brick designs, round attic windows with elaborate woodwork, windows with stone lintels, broken pediments, and wood framing, gable windows with printed balustrades, brickwork in dormers, wooden doors with definition of panels and leaded windows. And that’s without mentioning the interior lithography featuring a variety of floor and wall papers.
As time went on, actual architectural details, made possible by new industrial techniques, were added to the designs, including die-pressed roof shingles, and pressed-tin accessories such as shutters or window frames. Also, mechanical novelties or gimmicks were introduced which allowed the manufacturers to substantially increase their selling prices. Toilets, electricity, even elevators were easy to install, but allowed manufacturers
to claim their houses were up-to-date and modern. In one example, the Parisian toy shop, Au Paradis Des Enfants, offered a Gottschalk doll house which cost 38 francs with stairs, or 125 francs with electricity, or 170 francs with electricity and elevator.
The wish-list of what collectors seek in a dollhouse or other miniature building is as infinite as the types of houses themselves. Some wish for a house furnished, a “ready-to-go” display arrangement or an accurate historical moment
in time. Others wish for an empty house, one they can put their own mark upon. Others care little about furnishing the house; they enjoy its stark emptiness that allows the building to exhibit its architectural features. Some seek a mansion, while others just long for a little house by the side of the road.
The antique dollhouses shown here are part of the collection of Dr. Robert Reyes of Laguna Niguel, California, and will be presented by Theriault’s at their Marquis auction “Where the Heart is” on September 28 and 29 in Annapolis, Maryland, along with many lots of antique dollhouse furnishings and accessories.
Rare Set of Little Nemo Characters featured in the September 28 Marquis Auction
Few collectors know of the “Little Nemo” character dolls. Here is their story.
“Little Nemo was a boy who never made a fuss about going to bed on time” begins the story of Nemo who rushed to bed each night so he could enter the wonderful dream world of his Slumberland. Little Nemo and his adventures came to life in an early comic strip first appearing in the New York Herald in 1905. Nemo (“no one” in Latin) was a lonely little boy whose
life was made exciting by his dream adventures which abruptly ended each morning as he awoke. So popular was the comic strip that it thrived for more than six years at the Herald, and then another three at the New York American.
The popularity of the comic strip is credited not only by its imaginative storylines, but also by the exceptional talent of his artist/author Winsor McCay (1866?-1934). His fantastical artwork in Art Nouveau style was unique in its time, foreshadowing the later graphic styles of the Fleischer studios and Walt Disney’s feature films. McCay, is, in fact, named by some historians as the “greatest comic artist of all time”, a pioneer of animation as well as illustration.
In the story line, Little Nemo meets with a regular, yet ever expanding, cast or characters which included The Princess from the Candy Islands, Impy the black doll, Flip the Clown, and Dr. Pill. So popular was the comic strip that in true American spin-off fashion, it inspired the creation of related merchandise. Ranging from rolly-dollies to postcards to bisque figurines by Schafer and Vater, and toys such as a beanbag toss toy by Bliss, and bell toys each featuring the characters from the story line.
A pair of valentines depicting Little Nemo and other characters, copyright 1907 by New York Herald Tribune.
Little Nemo Flip the Clown Impy Princess Dr. Pill
Right:
The set of Little Nemo comic strip character dolls shown left to right: Dr. Pill, Little Nemo, Flip the Clown, Impy and Princess.
The dolls are wearing their factory original costumes.
Perhaps rarest of all this related “merch” was a set of composition dolls depicting the characters from the strip. Over the year, collectors have hinted at the existence of these dolls, but no one could find such a set.
Now this rare set has appeared from the estate of the late Gwen Pogue of La Mesa, California. The set comprises five characters from the comic strip: Nemo, Princess, Flip, Impy, and Dr. Pill. Each has a composition head with uniquely sculpted facial features and hair, and each is painted in a highly characteristic way. The bodies are firmly-stuffed muslin with composition hands and sewn-on black cotton feet designed to appear as shoes. Each is wearing its original costume which is well-preserved.
The maker of the dolls is uncertain, but a likely
probability is the Louis Amberg firm of New York whose foray into the production of composition dolls coincided perfectly with Little Nemo. Further the texture and painting of the composition heads as well as the body style is a nigh-duplicate to that of their other dolls produced at the time. And finally, the production of Little Nemo coincides with other celebrity-type dolls which the firm made at the time, such as Sis Hopkins, John Bunny and Charlie Chaplin, indicating the firm’s inclination to move into that arena. It is not certain if Amberg was the manufacturer as no records to this effect have been located, but it is certain, based upon the virtual non-existence of the dolls today, that their presentation was a grand failure.
At this time, this is the only known example of the set, indeed a true rarity.
THE CATALOG BOOK
“WHERE THE HEART IS”
ANTIQUE DOLLS AND DOLLHOUSES COLLECTION
Order this important catalog today for bidding purposes or your ongoing research library. Over 196 pages of full-color photographs and read the historical descriptions of these rare dolls and playthings. The catalog price includes two-day priority shipping to you, and after-auction price results. $69. Call 410-224-3655.
Get Close-Up and Personal with Your Favorite Dolls from Theriault’s
Face2Live is Theriault’s new service that allows you to view on live video feed closeups of a few dolls you are most interested in. Call 410-224-3655 or email info@theriaults.com to schedule an appointment. Then simply go to theriaults.com and click the handy button on the side of the main page. From there you will be connected to one of our staff on video chat (you do not have to be on video yourself). A great way to get a closeup look of features and face in a live private video session. Available Monday through Friday 9AM-4PM Eastern.
The Private Collection of Antique Toy Milk Wagons of John Gulinoto To Be Sold
September 28-29th
In early 1800s America, nearly every family had their own cow, so fresh milk was never a problem, not until the end of the century. So, simply, milk needed to be delivered. And it needed to be delivered daily. So rose the tradition of milk delivery to homes.
Although milk delivery by horse and cart was predominant until the late 1920s when motorized truck delivery entered the limelight in a major way, it is a curious point of toy history that the wooden toy version of the delivery horse and cart really did not even come on the scene until the late 1920s, and then largely disappeared by the mid-1930s.
Schoenhut, for example, presented its first offerings in 1929 and a few short four years later in 1933 ended their production. Why? The closing date is easier to explain, because in 1935 the entire company closed its doors, brought down by the Great Depression. But why offer a brand-new toy in 1929 that symbolized an increasingly outdated activity? The answer is two-fold: nostalgia and target marketing. Nostalgia for the good old days as an antidote to the final frenzy of the Roaring 1920s could surely have inspired their production. But, even more than general nostalgia marketing, was a very direct marketing push. Just as today’s diecast toymakers create miniature toy trucks with specialized advertising for soft drink and gas companies, surely Schoenhut had the same idea. Not necessarily aiming at direct sales to kids for play (although that would be great, too), but specially created with the hope that
Right: The Milk Wagons are featured in the book “An Illustrated Guide to: Toy Milk Wagons” by John P. Guilino.
The Peverly Dairy horse and cart by Schoenhut sadly never featured zebras like the real Peverly wagons in 1929 St. Louis. But wonderful they are, nevertheless, with their delightful image of “Baby First” on the sides and complete with driver and case of milk bottles.
these dairy companies would buy in bulk as giveaway promotions for their outlets. It seemed a natural winner as a new product. But, evidently, not so much. Because if rarity is any indication, it is likely that few of the carts were ever made.
Schoenhut, however, did continue one rule of profitability learned from their early circus days. You offer the main product, and then you offer “extras” – at an added cost, of course. With the circus, for example, one purchased the basic set of animals and people, and then could add to this any one or two or three of the dozens of additional animals or accessories available. The milk wagon add-ons were not as bountiful, but they must have been profitable to the company. The basic sets included beautifully decorated wagons being pulled by the German platform horse at a cost of $3. But also available, at extra cost, were wooden milk crates in two
Among the rarest Schoenhut dairy horse and carts is that for the Fairfield Western Maryland Dairy which also offered cream and buttermilk and proclaimed themselves in wagon labeling as “distributors of Walker-Gorder Laboratory products” which included the progressive “Rotolactor”. This set also includes the driver in original uniform and case of milk bottles, while a Schoenhut child girl stands nearby.
Right: The cow head medallion was used on the wagons of both Alderney and Hood, and the Alderney wagon also advertised that their products were “laboratory controlled and tuberculin tested” which was a constant health risk at the time. The set includes a uniformed driver and case of milk bottles, and an alert Schoenhut boy stands nearby balancing a tin milk barrel.
The Jacrim Mfg Co of Malden, Mass created a series of “Ride-em” wagons about 1924 designed for classic child play. Curiously, the wagon has a large sign “Danger” on the back drop-down, although that exact purpose seems a bit puzzling.
different sizes at 21 and 34 cents, wooden bread crate with 12 loaves of bread at 34 cents, and a wooden carved driver in blue uniform at a whopping $1 which
The Louis Marx toy company also created tin horse and dairy wagon toys, introducing their Toyland Farm Products line in the 1930s. This beautifully preserved and illustrated example is found in its original box.
seems shockingly high considering that the driver was merely a re-costumed figure from the contemporary reduced size Schoenhut circus.
Schoenhut created a wonderfully artistic wagon for H.P. Hood & Sons Dairy Products featuring a colorful medallion of cow head, and noting that their milk was Grade A. The uniformed driver and case of milk are included with the wagon as is the sadly prophetic original 1933 calendar illustrating the horse and wagon and being the final year of its production.
We will never know if the short four-year life of these incredible Schoenhut milk wagons was due to the general Depression Years economy, a failure to generate consumer interest, or the final financial breakup of the Schoenhut firm. But the few examples that remain are testimony to their artful and imaginative designs, and a valuable symbol of actual American businesses serving the public at the time.
The wagons shown with this article are featured in the informative book, An Illustrated Guild to Toy Milk Wagons by John Gulino and will be offered at auction, along with many others, on September 28 and 29, 2024.
The cow head medallion was evidently a generic artwork for Schoenhut as it was used as wagons for several dairies including Alderney and Hood. Left: Delightful artwork on the Fairfield wagon depicts an eager young child crawling toward her waiting bottle of milk.
Sheffield Farms Dairy was located smack in the center of New York City at 524 West 57th Street. Note the flat-dimensional horse and the unusual wire carrier with glass milk bottles.
Rich’s dairy cart is helpful to the collector as the horse is actually lettered
the side
Dollmastery Vignette Series
The history of dolls as told through the fabrics and styles of the clothes they wore, from gowns and dresses to bonnets, shoes, and accessories, is told in this specialty catalogued auction of antique doll costumes and accessories from the Nancy Smith and Rosalie Whyel Collections. The collection features over 300 lots, some comprising complete ensembles, other being notable individual pieces ranging from exquisite gowns and dresses to rare signed shoes, Paris
After September 10, watch for new videos featuring rare dolls from the September 28-29, 2024 auction to be sold at the Marquis Auction Event at Theriault’s Studio Gallery in Annapolis, MD.
An unusual City Dairy horse and wagon by Rich Toys is the only City Dairy Co with a phone number stenciled on the back panel. Its two wooden milk bottles are labeled Rich Milk and Cream.
A double-teamed tin horses and Milk wagon with colorful illustration by Converse of Massachusetts about 1915.
“A Rich Toy”,
panel is lettered “Rich’s 1922” and the “Rich’s Little Man”.
years of the American composition dolls are celebrated in this wonderful auction including celebrity dolls,
The auction will be posted at www.theriaults.com and bidding begins on September 30, closing on October 11 at 7 PM EST.
It’s simple. Everything starts at $50. So just start bidding, just like old-time country auctions and watch where the prices go.
The Fifty-Forward auctions happen on Friday evenings at 7 PM ET. It’s always a timed 200-lot auction so you can place your bids anytime and get ready for some fun.
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls
The important Gardner Collection of Willoughby, Ohio featuring hundreds of pristine and perfectly preserved rarities from the keystone American doll Nancy Ann firm are offered in this delightful group. The auction will be posted at www.theriaults.com and bidding begins on October 7, closing on October 18 at 7 PM EST.
Bidding Is Easy At Theriault’s
Every Theriault’s auction brims with new discoveries for your collection. So why not join in on the bidding fun? It’s easy. Choose your favorite way to bid and prioritize your choices.
Bid Live on the Internet
Plan to spend the day at the auction in the comfort of your home. Watch and listen to the auction live, and get ready to bid live when the dolls of your choice come up for auction.
Bid on the Telephone
Choose your dolls, and then call our office to make a reservation for telephone bidding. We call you when your dolls of choice come up for bidding, and you bid just as though you were there.
Bid Absentee
Place your bids right up to the time of auction by mail, fax, email or phone. Advise us of the lots and your top bid. We will bid for you fairly and competitively.
We Can Answer All Your Questions
Call Theriault’s at 410-224-3655 or email info@theriaults.com and we’ll review all the details and help you choose the option that’s best for you. We also now offer scheduled private video previews.
Theriault’s President and Head Auctioneer, Stuart Holbrook
NEW! Theriaults.com x
Featuring educational videos about antique dolls, up-to-date doll news, and great resources.
Theriaults.com always has something new, with great information and highlights in a clean and simple place to discover them.
Explore our upcoming auctions, stunning doll photography, and invaluable resources for collectors. All in one easy-to-navigate website. Go to theriaults.com
2024 Calendar of Dolls
Featuring beautiful antique dolls from the Rosalie Whyel Museum. Sixteen full-color photographs featuring gorgeous antique dolls. 24” x 12”. $22.
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Order Form for Doll Auction Catalogs
❒ “Where the Heart Is” Marquis Auction Catalog Featuring Antique Dolls and Dollhouses — At Theriault’s Gallery in Annapolis, MDSeptember 28-29, 2024. Over 196 pages. Softbound. $69.
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AUCTION SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
September 28, 2024
“Where the Heart Is”
9:00 AM ET. Preview. 11:00 AM ET. Auction.
SUNDAY
September 29, 2024
“Where the Heart Is”
9:00 AM ET. Preview. 11:00 AM ET. Auction.
Absentee, Telephone and Live Internet Bidding
We welcome absentee bidding, live telephone bidding, and live bidding on the internet. Too, you can “tunein” to the online auction and watch and listen to the entire event. Questions? Give us a call and we’ll help you choose the bidding option that is best for you.
Auction Information
The auctions will take place at the Theriault’s Gallery, 2148 Renard Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. For auction info call Theriault’s at 410-224-3655 M-F 9AM-5PM EST or go online to theriaults.com. Email queries to info@theriaults.com.
To order the auction catalog for $69 call 410-224-3655 or visit Theriaults.com.
An extremely rare French poupée by Georges Most, whose history is detailed in “The Panorama of French Parisiennes.”
