ISunday
July 20, 2025
At the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, VA (directly across the street from the Norfolk Marriott) Preview 9AM ET • Auction Begins at 11AM ET
“FANTASTIQUE,” AN EXTRAORDINARY AUCTION OF ANTIQUE DOLLS HIGHLIGHTED BY IMPORTANT
mportant selections from the Gail Cook Collection of Dallas, Texas are highlighted by a very rare doll from the 200 Series Fantastique of Emile Jumeau and an outstanding art doll by Albert Marque in 1915. And that is just the beginning as more than 40 dolls from the Cook collection are featured. Rare models by Bru include the Bébé Gourmand, Bébé Modele, as well as classic Bru Jne bébé dolls, while dolls from Emile Jumeau include early portrait examples, the elusive EJA bébé, Bébé Triste, and others in original couturier costumes. There are beautiful bébés by other French firms including Schmitt, Gaultier, Thuillier and Steiner, as well, as well as French poupées and German art characters including the rare large painted eye model by Marseille.
Adelaide Huret, but also many choice antique costumes and accessories. Featured, too, in the auction are fine early English and German wooden dolls from the 18th century, an early Regency dollhouse in charming petite size, mid-1800s rarities in paper mache, porcelain and cloth including Izannah Walker, other cloth dolls including an important cloth doll by Roxanna Cole, and 25 Lilli Baitz art dolls from the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art. A 200 page full color catalog with detailed photographs and historical descriptions of each doll is available by calling 410224-3655 or order online at Theriaults.com.
Also featured in the auction is Part I of the collection of Marion Falabella of Delaware, dolls carefully chosen and cherished over a several decade period, and including not only very fine French bébés and poupées, including sought-after examples by
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.
THE CATALOG BOOK“FANTASTIQUE”
AUCTION CATALOG
Order this important catalog today for bidding purposes or your ongoing research library. Over 192 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.
x Attendance at the auction is welcome. Or bidding is available by live online, live telephone, or traditional absentee bidding. For bidding details and information visit Theriaults.com.
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 “Fantastique” on Sunday, July 20 at the Norfolk Hilton The Main, in Norfolk, Virginia. x
Meet and Greet Theriault’s Team in Norfolk Sunday, July 20
9 AM ET until end of daY
The Theriault and Holbrook family and team members will greet you at the Norfolk Hilton at the phenomenal one-day Marquis auction “Fantastique” where you can greet many longtime friends from around the country while viewing a museum-quality collection of dolls and remembering the fun that collecting should be all about. All are welcome.
Monday and Tuesday, July 21 and 22
Join Stuart Holbrook at the Barry Art Museum where he escorts you through their treasured doll gallery. Contact UFDC office for more information.
Thursday evening, July 24
Stuart Holbrook and Florence Theriault welcome you to the private residence of Norfolk philanthropists and founders of the Barry Art Museum, Richard and Carolyn Barry for a meet and greet reception. Reservations required. Contact Janet Saxe at 410-224-3655.
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. To order
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
BY
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.
Anniversaries of Past Auctions REMEMBER THESE?
Ten Years Ago, 2015
Love, Shirley Temple
The once-in-alifetime auction of the movie costumes, dolls and childhood memorabilia from her personal archives. After touring the collection for a year in museums around the United States, it was presented in a grand fifteen-hour auction that was celebrated by laughter, singing and cheers throughout. If you missed it, the auction can still be viewed on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/theriaultsdolls
Five Years Ago,
2020
The Doll
Collection of Huguette Clark
The celebrated New York heiress to the William Clark Gilded Age fortune died at age 105, a five-year recluse in a hospital private room. Her 5th Avenue home, the family estate of Bellosguardo on the California coast, and her extraordinary doll collection remained behind, untouched.
The auction of the dolls took place in January 2020, coinciding with Theriault’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The gala event, described by some as “the best doll event I ever attended” was followed within weeks by the lonely year of Covid.
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.
Call 410-224-3655 to schedule a no-obligation appointment.
Stuart Holbrook’s
Table Talk
THE TABLE TALK TOURS CONTINUE
Six months into the year, Stuart Holbrook, President of Theriault’s has been welcomed into the homes of enthusiastic collectors at 28 Table Talk meetings with doll clubs around the USA from Findlay, Ohio to Reno, Nevada, and all points in between. His informative and laughter-filled events, offering new perspectives on collecting, also have been proven to be delightful and entertaining sessions filled with wonderful stories of his life on the road as “the doll man”.
Follow Stuart Holbrook’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stuart.holbrooktheriaults
Here you can read about every visit he makes and see photographs of the people he meets. Read about the Tulsa cowboy hat he was presented or the Baby Stuart shirt stitched up just for him, and so many more amusing recounts of his travels.
THE TOUR CONTINUES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, AND HERE’S THE SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER.
September 2
September 6
Topeka, Kansas Cherished Doll Club of Topeka
Elk Grove, Illinois
September 15 Denver, Colorado
Fireside Doll Workshop of Illinois
The Denver Dollers
September 17 Omaha, Nebraska Can’t Stop Collecting Doll Club
September 27 Wichita, Kansas Wichita Doll Study Club
San Antonio Doll Collectors Club
Sierra Nevada Doll Club & Just About Dolls
Doll-licious Doll Club & Motor City Doll Club
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.
AUGUST 2025 50FORWARD AuctionS
THEY’RE ONLINE ONLY, TIMED-STYLE, AND EVERYTHING STARTS AT $50
It’s simple. Everything starts at $50. It’s only on-line, and it means more at-home bidding fun!
So just start bidding, just like old-time country auctions and watch where the prices go. You’ll find treasures no one else noticed, you’ll find dolls and accessories and toys in need of your loving care, you’ll find dolls worth many hundreds of dollars and others designed for bidders on a budget. SOLD AS IS…just like old-time country auctions. No you won’t find dolls that Theriault’s offers in catalog auctions, but you might find just that little treasure that warms your heart this week. It’s all up to you.
Mid-Century American Dolls
Friday, August 8 at 7:00 PM Eastern
Antique
Dolls
and Friday,Ephemera August 15 at 7:00 PM Eastern
The World of Barbie & Friends
Friday, August 22 at 7:00 PM Eastern
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 to complete your doll research or just to see what’s new!
Subscribe Now to Theriault’s Award Winning Catalogs
Get fabulous savings and the assurance that the catalog you want will never be “sold out”. On a ten issue subscription, the individual catalogs are only $29.90 – that’s a whopping 60% savings!
Order Form for Doll Auction Catalog
❒ “Fantastique” Marquis Auction Catalog
Featuring Selections from the legendary Gail Cook Collection and the Private Collection of Marion Falabella (prior to UFDC Convention) $69
❒ Ten-Issue Subscription
Receive the next ten doll auction catalogs at a 60% reduction of single-issue price. US: $329. Canada: $459 International: $499.*Maryland residents add 6% sales tax.
No Shuttle Bus This Year! the Hilton Norfolk The Main (Theriault’s Location) is directly across the street from the UFDC location, so a Shuttle Bus will not be needed this year.
Absentee, Telephone and Live Internet Bidding
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 Hilton Norfolk The Main, 100 East Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510. 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.
To order the auction catalog for $69 call 410-224-3655 or visit