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July 26, 2026

At the Westin in New Orleans, Louisiana Preview 9AM ET • Auction Begins at 11AM ET

“FLEUR-DE-LIS,” AN EXTRAORDINARY AUCTION OF ANTIQUE DOLLS HIGHLIGHTED BY IMPORTANT SELECTIONS FROM THE LEGENDARY

GAIL COOK COLLECTION

t is seeming that the fleur-de-lis and the doll are intertwined for each is a symbol of historical resilience and timeless beauty. Each has been interpreted over centuries in infinite ways, from royal heraldry to popular culture, from patriotic symbol to universal union, from fine art to manufacturer’s symbol on their objects of commerce such as the doll or the costume or jewelry worn by the doll. And fittingly, the fleur-de-lis is the iconic symbol of New Orleans where Theriault’s annual summer Marquis auction will be conducted on Sunday, July 26. 2026. This very important auction, titled “Fleur-de-Lis” is highlighted by further treasures from the iconic Gail Cook Collection including two of the rarest 200 art series dolls by Emile Jumeau, the exceptionally rare model 106 by Kammer and Reinhardt, series model G and B by Jules Steiner, and an extraordinary example of the ultimate French doll, the Rochard lady with jeweled necklace. Too, the auction features the rarest of

American Schoenhut dolls from the Barbara Stone collection, further treasures from the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, and treasures from the private collections of Fran Oakland of Billings, Montana and LaDonna Dolan of Bellevue, Washington. The dolls are presented in a splendid artistically-created catalog with historical data for each doll, and provenance when possible. A 200 page full color catalog with detailed photographs and historical descriptions of each doll is available by calling 410-224-3655 or order online at Theriaults.com.

Attendance at the auction is welcome. Or bidding is available by live online, live telephone, or traditional absentee bidding. You can also view and listen to the entire auction from your home. For bidding or viewing details and information visit Theriaults.com or call 410-224-3655 where a real person will always greet you to answer your questions. x

Order this important catalog today for bidding purposes or your ongoing research library. Over 200 pages of full-color photographs with historical descriptions of these rare dolls and playthings. The catalog price includes two-day FedEx shipping to you, and after-auction price results. $75. Call 410-224-3655.

(Lot #63)

#153)

SCHOENHUT DOLLS AT THE JULY 26 AUCTION

THE GRAZIANO YEAR OF 1911

NEW DISCOVERIES, MORE QUESTIONS

When the first Schoenhut dolls appeared in 1911 they were clearly marked with the name “Schoenhut” incised on the torso, but with nary a nod to their sculptor except in the earliest Schoenhut catalogs when the reference appears “A famous sculptor made the models for the heads.” But who was this sculptor? It was nearly forty years before the first clue appeared. In the 1948 book, The Dolls of Yesterday, Eleanor St. George stated, “the first heads, those of the 1911 dolls, were from models made by Graziano, a well-known sculptor of the day, who was a member of a noble Italian family.” Whatever her source for this information we are, now, another 78 years later, left to ponder.

Teaching “patty cake” to the young ones, who evidently are delighting in the play. Once again, the variation in character expressions is made evident.

But curiously, after the St. George book, and without further substantiation, the name of Graziano continued to appear in doll literature, first in the Coleman Encyclopedia in 1968, then in Schoenhut Dolls and Toys by Susan Manos in 1976, and eventually in Schoenhut Dolls by Carol Corson in 1993 wherein she said that a Schoenhut family member had confirmed this name. But details

were sparse or not at all. The name, in fact, was variously presented as Graziano, Graziani and Graziana.

What are we to make of this? If the attribution is correct, why was it not made public in 1911 by the Schoenhut company? That answer is simple. A serious artist, wishing to be celebrated for fine works of sculpture, simply did not want to be associated with a commercial enterprise such as doll making. Consider CarrierBelleuse, the renown French sculptor, who secretly modeled the Bebe Triste of Emile Jumeau, or the 1911 art character dolls of Kammer and Reinhardt whose celebrated sculptor, Lewin-Funcke, had remained a secret until 1987 when Jurgen and Marianne Cieslik uncovered a 1928 Thuringer Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper article that stated “the first dolls of this type were created based on the head of a baby modeled from nature by Professor Lewin-Funcke”. After all, doll design was commercial business, it paid the rent and put food on the table to feed the children, but fine art was fine art, and never the two should collide.

Here are detailed examples of the Schoenhut dolls made by the sculptor Graziano, 1911.

Hand carved enhancement of the pressed modeling is evident on back view of model 16/201. Model 16/201 from the Graziano period (MayNovember 1911).

The shaded coloring of hair achieved by swirling curls on model 16/102. Model 16/102, the third original model by Graziano, with dramatic topknot likely inspired by the lady acrobat figures in Schoenhut circus model.

Shown are details of the original painting on the bonnet girl, model 106. Model 16/106 girl with carved and painted bonnet first appeared in June 1912 and is notable for forelock curl centering the bonnet

The classic gentlefaced model 16/301 with original bobbed wig.

Inspired by the German art character dolls which appeared at the same time, is this wistful face model 16/300.

Back of hair of model 16/100 girl. Model 16/100 girl, from the Graziano period (MayNovember 1911) with characterized side swirling curls to hair and closed mouth.

Model 16/203 boy showing deeply grooved curls at back of head. Model 16/203 boy from so-called transition period (November 1911-Spring 1912) with detail of teeth.

Strong comb marks are evidenced on the back view of hair of model 206. Model 206 boy with unusual side-parted hair and two teeth, from the early Classic Period (April 1912-1916).

Extremely rare model 304 from the Graziano period, model 16/403, was in production in 1911 for only about six months.

So, we wonder, just who was this Graziano chap and was he a sculptor of fine art? Here are some fascinating bits uncovered by Theriault’s senior researcher, Suzy Wilson. There was an Adolfe Graziano who arrived at Ellis Island in 1903 with his wife and children Henrico, Anna, and Maria. He arrived with $200 in his pocket. Curiously, he had departed from Le Havre in France,

From the very beginning of the Graziano year, the firm had presented their dolls in imaginative scenes, not only to inspire the notion of creative play, but also to point out the variations in expression and hair technique. Shown here are three first year models, as sailor boy shows off his muscles to admiring friends.

an unlikely departure site from his hometown of Macerata in Italy, and finally, he listed his occupation as farmer. Yet, just seven years later, in 1910, according to census records, this same family was living at 902 Pine Street in Philadelphia while Adolfe (now spelled “Adolph”) was described as a self-employed sculptor who had immigrated to America in 1903, along with his three children whose names had since been Americanized to Harry, Annie and Mary.

And was this Philadelphia Adolph Graziano indeed a sculptor as stated in the census report?

Yes, it would appear so, because on May 7 and June 15, 1910, he registered four copyrights for statues including “Bust of Theodore Roosevelt”, “Girl with a Muff”, “Consolation” and “Two Bathers”. No drawings were submitted with the copyright applications, and each was simply described as “statuette” except “Consolation” which was described as “statuette representing two children”.

It appears that Graziano was only commissioned to model the very first Schoenhut dolls in 1910/1911. The reasons are uncertain why the relationship ended. Nevertheless, just one year later, and with a recommendation from the famous sculptor professor, Charles Grafly, from the nearby Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, a man named Mr. Leslie was commissioned as the designated Schoenhut doll sculptor. And now the next question arises. Who was “Mr. Leslie”? Once again, now the puzzle must be pursued. The search continues.

The dolls shown with this article are from the private estate collection of Barbara Stone, past President of UFDC and, herself, a devotee and student of the Schoenhut doll, authoring many articles about the firm, and appearing as guest speaker on the topic at UFDC conventions. The dolls will appear at Theriault’s Marquis auction on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at The Westin New Orleans. x

THE INIMITABLE GAIL COOK COLLECTION

In every collecting field, in every generation, there are figures of prominence that stand out, shape and define that time. They become legendary. Doll collecting is no exception. And in the past 25 years there can be no doubt that Gail Cook has achieved that legendary status.

She is an unlikely hero, a seemingly accidental collector of the doll. Because when entering her Dallas home which is at the absolute cutting edge of modernism and minimalism, one wonders what it is about the antique doll that could possibly attract her. There are midcentury Le Corbusier chairs, square boxes by the famed contemporary artist Donald Judd, and paintings by Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler dramatically perched over stark white spaces. And not a doll to be seen. Until that is, you are escorted into an elevator and whisked to the lower level of her home, well away from the modernism of the room above, into a world of yesterday. That is the Gail Cook world of antique dolls from the golden years of 1860-1915.

Gail’s start in collecting was much like many others in the world of dolls. It began with a simple German doll. Nothing fancy, certainly

not rare, but a gift from her husband Dan (who, like most husbands that innocently gift wrap what is thought to be just one doll, looks back with humor in having started the whole thing). Gail was instantly intrigued. And so, it began. She pored through books, educated herself endlessly, and developed the eye of the collector.

Gail Cook has served as an ambassador for doll collecting for more than four decades, not only within the encircling world of doll collectors, but also in her insistence to the non-collecting world that dolls are an important instrument of artistic expression, Gail brings respect and dignity to a hobby as being something more than “grown-ups playing with dolls”. It is best seen in the endless footsteps of artists, dignitaries, socialites, even leaders from around the globe that have paced the trail of dolls with Gail and have a new-found appreciation of what they represent. So it is, in many ways, because of her, that doll collecting today is just that – growing up.

A selection of her dolls will be presented at Theriault’s Marquis auction “Fleur-de-Lis” on Sunday, July 26 at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. x

Bidding is FUN 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

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.

Stuart Holbrook

Luke Theriault

BOOKS FOR THE DOLL LOVER

IN PERSPECTIVE, THE GAIL COOK COLLECTION

For 30 years, the insightful collector has aimed her sights on only the rarest of antique dolls examples so remarkable that, in some cases, no other examples are known to exist. They are all superbly photographed and described in this art volume. BT-242. $39.

ARCHIVES, A DOLLY MADE TO LOVE BY

BERNICE MILLMAN

An extraordinary study of the woman behind the dolls, her life story and the story and techniques of the dolls she made. 100 pages. Fullcolor. Just

Published, available July 27, 2025. BB-905. $39.

THE DOLLS OF JULES NICOLAS STEINER

DOROTHY A. MCGONAGLE

Written and published in 1988 from original materials in French archives, the important study book has long been out of print. We have located a small number of these books in a forgotten archive. 240 pages, hardbound. Only 15 copies available. BB-906. $49.

To order these special

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.

FALL 2026 SCHEDULE at

Saturday, September 26

Sunday, September 27

Saturday, October 10

Saturday, October 17

Saturday, November 7

Sunday, November 8

Saturday, November 21

Saturday, December 5

Sunday, December 6

The world of collecting and collectors is a curious one… and it’s where Stuart Holbrook has spent most of his life.

As President of Theriault’s, the world’s leader in the auction of antique dolls and figurative art, Stuart has traveled the world managing the often personal and always wild experience of collecting and being a collector. Now, he’s bringing his expertise and knowledge of trends to life in his new podcast, The Curious Collector.

In each episode, Stuart will share his insight, experiences and real-life stories, along with sage advice on building great collections while enjoying the happy life of a collector. No matter what you collect—whether you’re just beginning or have been at it for years—this podcast is guaranteed to surprise and enlighten, all while keeping the fire burning to find that next elusive item to add to your collection.

Ten-Issue Subscription

Receive the next ten auction catalogs at a 60% OFF of single-issue price (you can opt-out of specialty catalogs) . US: $329 . Canada: $459 . International: $499 *Maryland residents add 6% sales tax.

Twenty-Issue Subscription

Receive the next ten doll auction catalogs at a 60% OFF of single-issue price (you can opt-out of specialty catalogs). US: $599. Canada: $679. International: $879 *Maryland residents add 6% sales tax.

AUCTION SCHEDULE

No Shuttle Bus This Year! The Westin in New Orleans, LA (Theriault’s Location) is directly across the street from the UFDC location, so a Shuttle Bus will not be needed this year.

We welcome absentee bidding, live telephone bidding, and live bidding on the internet. Too, you can “tune-in” 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 Westin located at 100 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. For auction info call Theriault’s at 410-224-3655 M-F 9AM-5PM ET or go online to theriaults.com. Email queries to info@theriaults.com.