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NOVEMBER 6-7, 2021 AT THERIAULT’S STUDIO IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND x AUCTION 11AM EST BOTH DAYS
Call 410-224-3655 to order the full-color catalog. Live internet, telephone, and absentee bidding are available.
the dollmasters PO Box 151 • Annapolis, Maryland 21404 Tel: 410-224-3655 • Fax: 410-224-2515 Follow @theriaultsdolls • theriaults.com
Saturday and Sunday,
November 6-7, 2021 at Theriault’s Studio in Annapolis, Maryland
The Auction Begins at 11AM Eastern Both Days
“WISH LIST” A CATALOGED MARQUIS AUCTION OF FINE ANTIQUE DOLLS Several private collections are highlighted in this important two day auction, highlighted by the personal collection of celebrated dealer/collector Val Star of Naples, Florida, previously Illinois, centering on important French dolls from the most illustrious makers. The private and superb collection of Jacqueline Barr of North Carolina, especially notable for its remarkable Schoenhut dolls, many featured in a recent special exhibition at the 2021 annual UFDC convention. The notable collection of Linda Levi of North Carolina, previously of Miami, who quietly
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assembled an exceptional selection of rare early studio Sasha dolls, which stood alongside her cabinet of wonderful early American cloth dolls. The 224-page full-color catalog with detailed descriptions of each lot can be ordered for $59. For more information or to order the catalog visit www.theriaults.com or call 410-224-3655. There are many options for bidding including traditional absentee bidding, live telephone bidding, live internet bidding, and prebidding on internet. Collectors are invited to telephone Theriault’s customer service at 410-224-3655, email info@theriaults.com or visit www.theriaults.com. Appointments can also be made to remotely view specific lots prior to the auction. x
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Live internet, telephone, and absentee bidding are available at www.theriaults.com.
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Learn more about the Sasha Doll collection featured in the November 6-7 Marquis Auction on Page 12 of this brochure. 4
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To order the catalog or for more information about the auction weekend call 410-224-3655 or visit online at Theriaults.com.
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Learn more about the Schoenhuts featured November 6-7 on Page 14 of this brochure. x For more information visit Theriaults.com
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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 close-ups 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) who can either get the doll you are interested in right then or schedule an appointment with you later. A great way to get a close up look of features and face in a live private video session. Available Monday through Friday 9AM-4PM Eastern.
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For more info call 410-224-3655 and to watch the auction live visit www.theriaults.com.
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The Dolls of Sasha Morgenthaler in the November Marquis Auction INTRODUCTION
manifested in the The mid-20th century creation of toys for doll-making path of her children, first of Sasha Morgenthaler stuffed toy animals followed the historical with hand-painted lineage of others features, and then of ranging from Izannah dolls which she began Walker to Martha to create in 1924. In Chase to Kathe Kruse. the chapter “Endowed Whether the lives Dreams” written by of these women had Annemarie Monteil centered on tending (from the book, to a busy household or Sasha Dolls, edited by raising basic funds for Steffan Biffiger), the family survival, their author wrote “From “doll stories” usually the first, the dolls began with this simple Sasha Morgenthaler task: make a doll for designed and sewed their child, make a for her children and “real person doll”, godchildren were as a sturdy doll, a doll perfect and individual designed not just to as those of her entire look pretty, but to be a future production”. By true companion. First the 1940s, not unlike attempts at dollmaking the earlier American for all these women dollmaker Martha were simple, sometimes Chase, she gathered Sasha studio dolls most definitely do not all look alike. Each just a stuffed sock with of these dolls is facial model I, characterized by a squared talented seamstresses stitched features. Yet and wigmakers to her jaw line with slightly full cheeks, wide lips and small nose. Yet through variation in complexion tones and wigs, shading of lips, their children loved small studio, where, and, most dramatically, size, shape and cast of eyes, different the dolls. Their friends, under her watchful personalities are expressed. The brown eyes are especially rare. too, loved the dolls, eye, they dressed and begging for their own. packaged the dolls So the career as dollmaker began. she had so carefully modeled and painted. Each year at Christmas time, 200 dolls assembled in this studio ABOUT THE ARTIST were sent to Swiss Craft Centers in Zurich and Berne Sasha Morgenthaler was the last in the abovewhere anxious shoppers lined up from the wee hours of listed lineage of women dollmakers. Born in the morning to be able to purchase even one doll. Berne, Switzerland in 1893 into an aristocratic and intellectual family, she early-on established a life-long Not only was Sasha Morgenthaler influenced by her interest in the arts, and specifically in sculpture for fine art background, but also by her social activism. which she was academically trained in the finest art During the mid-1930s she studied midwifery at the schools. During her years of motherhood this interest Women’s Hospital in Basel, likely the inspiration for
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her very rare realistically-weighted infant doll, Pro Juventate, which was designed as a teaching aid in courses on newborn care; similiar teaching dolls had earlier been made by both Martha Chase and Kathe Kruse. During WWI era she was deeply involved in the children’s refugee centers in Switzerland which offered shelter to children from all over the war-torn world, and then, later in the 1950s, her worldwide travels furthered her fascination with the faces of children as she introduced her “children of the whole world” series. Sasha Morgenthaler continued in the creation of her personal studio dolls until well into the 1960s. After the death of her husband, she was approached by the Gotz factory of Rodental, Germany and under an agreement with that firm the first Sasha mass-produced dolls, marked “Sasha-Serie”, were made by them from 1965-1969. Commercial dolls also appeared from the Frido-Trendon Company of England, beginning in 1966 in an overlap with the Gotz production, but continuing much longer, until 1986. Throughout this time the private collection of Sasha Morgenthaler was preserved by the City of Zurich in the Barrengasse Museum which had been endowed with her artistic estate in 1976. That museum is now closed and in the search for a new location. ABOUT THE DOLLS
A frequently-heard comment about Sasha dolls from the uninitiated is “they all look alike”. Oh no! That is actually so far from the truth. Each of the studio dolls was hand-painted and it is said that Sasha Morgenthaler waited until each doll was assembled, dressed and wigged, when she finally sat at the table, examined the essence of the doll, and began the final painting of the facial features, including choosing the color of the eyes. This style of painting was very deliberate. Whereas formula factory painting of a doll is usually symmetrical – the eyes perfectly paired Ink script marks can often be found on the left foot of the molded body Sasha studio dolls. This foot has the signature of Sasha at the toes, followed by M (initial code for the molder), 182/009 (the 182nd doll made in 1969), CI (type of body and type of face), and 19 (color tint of body).
A variety of bodies used from 1940s onward show different sizes for each era and maker, as well as different styles and materials. The Sasha studio dolls are 20” as compared with the production Gotz dolls which are 16”.
and sized, for example – Sasha believed this was not reality. She followed an asymmetrical approach, in both the modeling and painting of her dolls, because she believed this most accurately mirrored real people. Thus, no two eyes were ever painted exactly alike and arms and legs were never exactly the same length. Skin tones, too, varied; more than 20 different shades were used for the molding material of the body. Early studio dolls were made with one of four basic facial types, identified simply as I, II, III, and IV. The astute collector of early studio Sasha dolls distinguishes the facial type either by a learned eye, or by examining the bottom of the left foot. Furthermore, the left foot can contain a wealth of information about the doll including the color code of the complexion and such detail as that this is 30th doll made in 1967. For collectors wishing to learn more that Sasha dolls there are several excellent books although most are outof-print. A wealth of information, including connections with several clubs and special interest chat groups, can be found in a Sasha search of the internet. x
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At Auction: The World of Toys and Dolls from Schoenhut, 1890-1930 W
hen the character dolls of the Schoenhut firm of Philadelphia playfully paraded onto the scene in 1911, the company had already been in business for 39 years. Or arguably, even longer. Because when the founder of the firm, Albert Schoenhut, had immigrated to America in 1866 from Wurtemberg Germany, he brought with him a century-long German family tradition of wooden toy and doll making. All history is a cycle. It is reported that young Albert Schoenhut’s youthful ability to repair German toy pianos landed him a job at a Philadelpha department store. By 1877, that job had evolved into his own production of sturdier toy pianos than those being imported from Germany. Other toys were soon added, ranging from metal xylophones to shooting galleries to boy-toy paraphernalia such as helmets and swords and sail boats. Success was evident. The factory outgrew itself, moving to ever larger locations, more than six times in the next quarter century. The final factory, in 1908, was six stories in height and covered more than five and a half acres of floor space. In the next five years, and for nearly a decade thereafter, the Schoenhut firm became the largest doll and toy manufacturer in the world, an important fact that is overlooked by most doll collectors today. During this time the firm greatly expanded its Humpty Dumpty Circus of 1902, introduced its line of RollyDolly toys and Teddy Roosevelt Adventures in Africa series, and, then in 1911, proudly announced its forthcoming dolls with a pronouncement
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in Playthings Magazine that “At last!! Everybody predicted Schoenhut would do it – and he did”. Such a bold statement seems rooted in competition, so it is useful to look around at similar doll and toy enterprises of the era. One comparison seems particularly interesting, the Steiff firm of Germany. Both the Schoenhut and the Steiff firms had arisen from the vision and energy of one person – Albert Schoenhut in one and Margaret Steiff in the other. Each firm had remained a family enterprise; interestingly, Schoenhut’s six sons were raised in the business from very early years, while Steiff, who never married, had the services of her six nephews. Both firms energetically surveyed the passing social scene in the search for new
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“Good Old Santa Claus with his Sleigh and Reindeer” is how Schoenhut described the extraordinary carved wooden display piece, over five feet long, available by special order through their 1914 catalog. Only five examples are known to exist today.
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product ideas, curiously often overlapping such as in the creation of comic character figures including Foxy Grandpa and Max and Moritz, in the production of toys related to the circus, or in toys inspired by the legendary Teddy Roosevelt, whether it be his bear hunting sagas or his adventures in Africa.
A group of rare dolls, toys and special orders created by Schoenhut include, clockwise, carved hair boy in football uniform, Ringmaster in large mannequin form, Santa Claus Rolly-Dolly in large size, Koko the clown in original costume, Teddy Roosevelt, guide from African Adventures, small Santa Claus Rolly-Dolly, and special order The Japanese Man of which five examples are known to exist.
Both Schoenhut and Steiff centralized their production by the construction of a large “modern” factory, each designed around a central courtyard which was aimed at allowing the greatest possible light into the worker’s rooms. The style of toy created by each firm was specifically related to the easy availability of quality materials, for each insisted on the best quality of materials for their toys and dolls; for Schoenhut it was basswood, which was plentiful throughout the northeast United States and known for its ease of carving; and for Steiff it was pure wool felt from her own mail-order felt firm which advertised “I offer under guarantee pure wool materials”. And both Schoenhut and Steiff believed in promotion! “Advertise, advertise, advertise” was the mantra of each firm. Marketing was never restricted to their homeland countries; rather, international trade created booming
sales. While German toymakers had traditionally relied on an international market, this was new for an American firm. Yet before the first decade of the 1900s ended, Schoenhut was shipping their toys and dolls to Europe, South Africa, South American and Australia. And then there were the dolls. The origin date of each firm’s doll production is virtually the same if one allows for a broad definition of dolls. For Steiff it was the simple paper mache/felt-bodied doll shown in their 1892 catalog which by 1902 that had morphed into the caricature Steiff cloth doll, at first with velvet face on felt body and by 1909 with felt face and body. The development of the classic Schoenhut doll was also evolutionary and closely corresponds to the Steiff timeline. There were, first, in the 1890s the large articulated display
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Rolly-Dolly appeared in 1908 it featured a number of character doll faces including some, such as Schnickelfritz, which soon also appeared as spring-jointed dolls.
The ingenuity and imagination of the Schoenhut firm is evident in this photo. Their production lines ranged from dolls to comic character toys to rollydollies, and even super-sized clowns.
The introduction of the Teddy Roosevelt Adventures in Africa set in 1909 was a most important evolutionary step in the creation of the classic Schoenhut doll of the next 20 years. That is because the 8-inch Teddy figure and other members of his hunting party had spring-jointed knees, which were, as Carol Corson notes in her landmark book, Schoenhut Dolls, A Collector’s Encyclopedia, (Hobby House Press, 1993) “a miniature version of the spring joint that was to become the hallmark of Albert Schoenhut’s next great invention, The Schoenhut Doll”. In a fascinating historical sidenote both Margarete Steiff and Albert Schoenhut, who over saw the birth and development of their companies, died just after their dolls were introduced. In both cases, their families carried on the business.
Musical instruments including the xylophone followed upon the company’s original piano models, and their toy line expanded to novelties such as the “Rubber Ball Shooting Gallery”, comic characters, and eventurally to their wonderful wooden-bodied art character dolls.
figures of Santa Claus and Palmer Cox Brownies made to special order, as well as 42-inch mortise and tenon jointed wooden characters with interchangeable heads, designed for display of Schoenhut’s popular children’s costumes. The early Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus featured many 8” dolls depicting various circus performers with character faces. And when the wildly-popular
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The Schoenhut wooden doll had arrived on the scene in 1911, just as the industry-wide art character reform movement was taking root. Right in line with other models of that year, the 1911 Schoenhut doll portrayed highly-characterized children’s faces ranging from moody to mischievous. The first year’s models were carved by M. Graziano, “a well-known sculptor of the day, who was a member of a noble Italian family”, according to Eleanor St. George in The Dolls of Yesterday (Bonanza Books, 1958); other details concerning M. Graziano have not to this day been found.
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Later production of the Schoenhut firm, under special commission, is the set of Pinn Family members, made with charming use of “clothespin” constructed arms.
But in one very specific way, the Schoenhut doll differed from other dolls of the era. One was in the method of articulation. Rather than the typical cord stringing or simple pin-jointing, the doll was entirely metal spiralspring-jointed, allowing for infinite and sturdy articulation and posing. The jointing was an important part of the doll’s purpose which was durability.
Schnickelfritz character doll is rubbing the hair of the grand-sized rolly-dolly doll, perhaps remembering that, in his first appearance, he was also a rolly-dolly. Two other Schoenhut dolls look on.
During the next 13 years 1911-1924 the Schoenhut doll blossomed, not only through the introduction of new models, but also by tweeking existing dolls with variations in style, costume, and even techniques of production. The dolls – and the entire Schoenhut firm – thrived during this period, becoming the largest toy and doll company in the world. History has its way of intervening in the best-laid plans. World War I had not only interfered with the marketing of the Steiff dolls and toys in America and some European countries, but, on the flip side, had laid open the field for the rapid growth and expansion of the American made Schoenhut doll. Then, firmly established by War’s end, the Schoenhut firm grew further and thrived until the mid/late 1920s when prosperity began to falter. Some say failure was imbedded in the very product – the creation of dolls and toys that did not break, thus lessening the market for replacement dolls. Others blame the luxury aspect of the dolls, the use of fine woods where other firms now used the budget-priced composition material. Like all of history, the answer is never simple but the trail is fascinating. x
The world awaits! Two 21-inch Schoenhut dolls play with travel toys from the Schoenhut line. The sailing boat with patented iron keel design would actually float realistically, while the later lightwood Aeroplane was clearly inspired by Lindbergh’s flight as the box design shows the Spirit of St. Louis flying over the Atlantic, the Statue of Liberty at one end and the Eiffel Tower at the other.
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Bidding Is Easy At Theriault’s 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 Theriault’s President and Head Auctioneer, Stuart Holbrook
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.
Every Theriault’s auction brims with new discoveries for your collection. So why not join Bid Absentee in on the bidding fun? It’s Place your bids right up to the time of auction by mail, fax, easy. Choose your favorite email or phone. Advise us of the way to bid and prioritize lots and your top bid. We will bid for you fairly and competitively. your choices.
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.
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Dollmastery Vignette Series Watch Florence Theriault’s educational videos about antique dolls — available for viewing on YouTube.
Simply visit YouTube.com/TheriaultsDolls After October 15th, watch for new videos featuring rare dolls from the November 6-7, 2021 auction to be sold at the Marquis Auction Event at Theriault’s Studio in Annapolis, MD.
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Come Visit The New FlorenceandGeorge.com In the early 1970s Florence and George Theriault cast off their lucrative and stable careers to open a small country auction house in rural Pennsylvania. They didn’t make more money, they made less. They didn’t work fewer hours, they worked more, but they were their own bosses. Within ten years that small auction company became an internationally renowned antique auction firm. Later Theriault’s moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and a sister company, Dollmasters, was founded by Florence and George. Where Theriault’s would offer people unparalleled antique collectibles, Dollmasters presented collectors with a mix of hand-crafted art pieces and old store stock discovered by Florence and George as they toured the world gathering antiques. Dollmasters distinguished itself as the mail-order company that didn’t simply offer every item it could find; they picked and chose the ones they would be proud to have in their own homes.
Shopping couldn’t be easier at the great new Florence and George! Better, faster, and still the name you’ve come to trust with F&G!
Four decades later, Dollmasters changed its name to Florence and George to celebrate the original entrepreneurial spirit of its founders. But like Dollmasters, Florence and George is still committed to offering you nothing we wouldn’t put in our homes. Florence and George: For collectors, by collectors.
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Overwhelmed? Moving to a smaller home? Faced with handling a family estate? Or just deciding to downsize your collection. Collectors tell us the word that most describes their feeling is “overwhelmed”. Not to worry. For more than 50 years, Theriault’s has been the “little engine that could” in helping collectors and families accomplish that task effortlessly. We listen to you. We evaluate your dolls and lay out a plan to accomplish your goals. And then, if you agree, we do all the work. Our full-time professional staff travels to your home, inventories your property, carefully packs and transports in our own secure vehicles, prepares and markets your dolls for auction,
and presents them to collectors worldwide whose trust in Theriault’s is borne out by the prices they are willing to bid. You just sit back and breathe a sigh of relief. Stuart Holbrook, President of Theriault’s, is traveling throughout the country now, visiting with collectors by appointment. If you have questions or would like to schedule a noobligation complimentary appointment, call Theriault’s at 410-224-3655 or email info@theriaults.com.
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Yes, It’s the Best Market for Dolls Seen in 20 Years This is the question being asked daily by collectors worldwide. The results achieved at Theriault’s since March of 2020 are testament to a rise in collecting not seen in 20 years. x Every auction since March has seen dramatic increases in engagement that continues to rise each month. With the January event registering the most bidders and bids experienced in decades. x As well, Theriault’s has added the largest percentage of new customers and collectors seen in years. x People have discovered and rediscovered the joy of collecting at a time when the comforts and assurance of our hobby has taken on new meaning. And the result are prices and demand not seen in years. x Yes, the collector or family who is considering selling all or parts of a collection is, indeed, in a position of unique opportunity.
If your curiosity is piqued and you want to learn more, why not schedule a safe and private meeting with Theriault’s president, Stuart Holbrook. He carefully travels solo around the country during these times and is ready to meet with you, vaccinated, masked and properly socially-distanced in your home. Even better, Stuart will be traveling throughout the US during the next 30-60 days. His market expertise and work with collectors at crucial moments is regarded worldwide.
And, even if you are not sure quite yet, he can provide plans and steps towards the future as well. If you would like to schedule a noobligation get-together in your home with Stuart, simply call 410-224-3655. One of our staff will gather your info and work to get you an appointment during this window. And what a window it is! For those who have been waiting for the right time, this is indeed it.
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x Visit 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 to complete your doll research or just to see what’s new!
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Join the Auction in a Live Video Presentation. Call Today for More Details.
schedule
OF
events
S AT U R DAY & S U N DAY
November 6, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern. “Wish List” Day One. Marquis Auction Event Begins.
November 7, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern. “Wish List” Day Two. Marquis Auction Event Begins.
For more auction information or to discuss selling your dolls call 410-224-3655 or visit www.theriaults.com.
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 auction will take place at the Theriault’s Studio in Annapolis, Maryland. For auction information call Theriault’s at 410-224-3655 M-F 9AM-5PM EST or go online to theriaults.com. Email queries to info@theriaults.com anytime.
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