doll Archives - H is for Home Harbinger

Practically every person has owned and played with dolls when they were kids. It’s an altogether different kind of person that collects dolls and dolls’ houses as an adult – especially when the value of these dolls can run into the tens of thousands of pounds.

To be honest, it’s not the thing for me. I wouldn’t mind owning a mid-century modern dolls’ house, with all the period furniture. Antique bisque dolls – a bit like clowns do for some people – give me the heebie-jeebies. So, let’s face our fears together, I’ve included an antique bisque clown doll in the line up below!

Later this month, The Joy McQuade collection of dolls’ houses & a private collection of 130 dolls by Bru, Jumeau, Winkler, Danel and others are going to be auctioned by Gorringes. 141 lots will be up for sale on Tuesday 25^th April 2023, from 10am.

Buyer’s premium
The Conditions of Sale oblige buyers to pay a buyer’s premium of 25% plus VAT* plus any associated live bidding fees on the hammer price of each lot purchased.
These live bidding fees are charged as follows:
EasyLive charges
If using EasyLive Bidding, there is an additional charge of 3% (total 28% plus VAT) or a flat fee of £3 to register to bid with EasyLive.
The Saleroom charges
If bidding via The Saleroom there is an additional charge of 4.95% (total 29.95% plus VAT)
Invaluable charges
For buyers live-bidding, via Invaluable, there is a 5% charge (30% plus VAT).
VAT on hammer prices
*VAT (†) indicates that VAT is payable by the purchaser at the standard rate (presently 20%) on the hammer price as well as being an element in the buyer’s premium.

Lot 7: A Moritz Gottschalk furnished dolls’ house

Circa 1885, elaborately made as a grand double-fronted house, the central porch flanked by bay windows, French doors on the first floor flanked by pairs of arched windows, the detailing in cream against the red brick ground, the interior with original wall and floor papers with attractive paper borders, arranged as one large ground floor room and one large first floor room, together with two Evans & Cartwright tinplate fireplaces within wooden surrounds, the furnishings including large scale ‘Yellow Cherry’ pieces and a cast metal chair, 90cm high.
Illustrated by Jean Latham, Dolls’ Houses, A Personal Choice, (1969), p.154 and 155. The underside of this house is marked in pencil ‘1901’. A similar house is illustrated by Evelyn Ackerman ‘The Genius of Moritz Gottschalk’ (1980), p.34
Condition: The roof coloured green, the exterior papers throughout in generally good clean condition with only minor cosmetic blemishes commensurate with age, the façade lacking several glass panes, the hinges working freely to reveal an interior with mostly original papers.
Estimate: £2,500 – £3,500

Lot 10: ‘To The Golden Goose’: A rare German musical toy modelled as two storey half-timbered building

Circa 1890, twin doors at the front opening to reveal two dolls set within a mirrored interior, when handle at the side is cranked, the dolls rotate and the music plays, a polyphon disc mounted at the back playing the tune ‘The Soldiers of the Queen’, retailers label for Douglas & Co, London, 39cm high
Condition: When the handle turns the mechanism internally seems to work freely, both figures internally rotate, the hinged doors possibly later and need re-fixing, overall condition commensurate with age and play.
Estimate: £1,000 – £2,000

Lot 13: ‘Dunster House’: A back-opening furnished dolls’ house

Mid 19^th century, set on its original stand with porcelain castors, with a double-fronted rough cast facade and handsome panelled front door, the interior with opening panelled doors and delicate staircase, the original wall and floor papers still in place, the kitchen with fitted dresser and brass grate, the furnishings of mixed date but including some contemporary pieces, carrying handles to the sides, 125cm high
Condition: The roof and façade in seemingly original condition with blemishes throughout commensurate with age, one window sill frame possibly replaced, the rear hinged doors opening cleanly to reveal an interior mostly lacking papers, the stand and castors in sound order.
Estimate: £1,500 – £2,500

Lot 17: A German ‘birdcage’ dolls’ house

Late 19^th century, modelled as half-timbered house with red roof and dormer window, another window in the gable end, the lower two storeys comprising the cage, with metal bars, a small extension to one side hinged to allow access for feeding, 56cm high
Condition: Generally sound with condition commensurate with age and use throughout.
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 20: ‘The Valley Farm’. A German stable

Early 20^th century, of half-timbered form, the hayloft above access by small door, a coach house to the left, 30cm high. Handwritten note ‘Bryan McQuade played with this farm in this very room in the 1920s’., the label attached a later date reading ‘The Valley Farm, J. Constable’.
Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 21: A suite of Paul Leonhardt larger scale dolls’ house furniture

Circa 1925, painted in cream with gold highlights, comprising a display cabinet, desk, sofa, pair of chairs, armchair, piano stool and two round marble-topped tables.
Illustrated by Jean Latham Dolls’ Houses, A Personal Choice, (1969), p.119. Exhibited at The First Convention of the Doll Club of Great Britain 1974. Similar pieces are illustrated in the 1925-26 Universal Toy Catalogue of John Hess. The factory is discussed by Margaret Towner, Dolls’ House Furniture (1993), p.50.
Condition: Some re-glueing to chair frames, the marble top tables possibly later re-painted, the stool with later turned spindle and re-glued leg, the settee missing three back rail spindles, condition throughout generally worn commensurate with age and use.
Estimate: £300 – £400

Lot 22: Evans & Cartwright: Two kitchen ranges and a large scale fireplace

The ranges with typical scrolled backs, the fireplace with a border of florets and a gilded grate (3)
Estimate: £400 – £600

Lot 82: A Bath & Proschild for Kley & Hahn bisque character doll

German, circa 1912, impressed 531 8, with open / closed mouth, dimples in cheeks, intaglio blue eyes, moulded brush stroked bead, jointed wood and composition body, in original black suede dungarees and red knitted cardigan 19in.
Condition: Head and body good; clothing fair
Estimate: £120 – £180

Lot 88: A Simon & Halbig bisque character doll

German, circa 1880, impressed 749 DEP 3/0, with open mouth and upper teeth, weighted blue glass eyes, the jointed wood and composition body, in original black and cream satin ‘Pierrot’ suit and hat, 9in.
Condition: One finger chipped
Estimate: £150 – £200

Lot 99: A Bru bisque swivel head fashion doll

French, 1870, impressed L on the head and Bru L on the shoulder, with closed smiling mouth, fixed blue glass paperweight eyes, pierced ears, dark real hair wig over cork pate, the shoulder-plate with formed breasts leading to kid body with wooden lower legs and bisque forearms, in original gold figured satin long train dress and lacy net bonnet, original Bru shoes, 20in.
Condition: Original cork pate still in place, tiny flake to right ear lobe
Estimate: £6,000 – £8,000

Lot 106: A Simon & Halbig swivel head bisque fashion doll

German head on French body, circa 1875, unmarked, with closed mouth, fixed blue glass eyes, pierced ears, fair mohair wig over cork pate and gusseted kid body with bisque forearms, in black silk and velvet scalloped edged long dress and net bonnet, 22in., together with a large quantity of fashion doll clothes, one hat, a parasol and an umbrella.
Condition: Tiny firing crack at edge of neck on the shoulder-plate, two thumbs missing, two fingers chipped
Estimate: £1,500 – £2,000

Lot 123: A Simon & Halbig bisque Oriental doll

German, circa 1910, impressed 1329 Halbig 5, with open mouth and upper teeth, weighted brown glass eyes, black mahogany wig and jointed wood and composition body, in cream and pale purple kimono, 17.75in.
Condition: Broken right eye
Estimate: £300 – £400

Lot 138: A Simon & Halbig bisque doll

Mould 1078, sleeping eyes and open mouth, jointed wood and composition body, sequinned cream and red velvet dress, 19in.
Estimate: £80 – £120

Doll houses are a much-loved and well-established toy for children of all ages. But is this traditional treasure being superseded by a new, modern version of playing with doll houses?

Whether it’s Barbie, Cindy or an Action Man, many children love playing with dolls and, let’s face it, all these dolls need a place to live, don’t they? For a child, doll houses can provide hours of joy and entertainment, they can enter a world of unlimited imagination and fun fantasies. Many enjoy decorating their doll houses with furniture and accessories and revel in the opportunity to create a perfect pad of their own.

Parents often encourage their children to play with toys such as dolls and Palm Pals because, not only is it a simple and enjoyable pastime, it can be an educational toy as well. Through play, children can learn values and useful skills which they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. Through using their imagination, children begin to learn to think for themselves. Through decorating doll houses, children cultivate their creativity and thus develop their own minds and opinions and acquire specific tastes. Through a family doll house a child can also learn the dynamics of a household and appreciate family values and family unity. This can also help during difficult periods, such as a clean break order and other marital issues, as it’s a simple way of communicating with children in a way they can understand.

However, nowadays, with the internet and technology playing such an integral role in society, many children are turning away from the traditional toy and opting to play with doll houses that are available online. There are hundreds of websites that provide doll games where children can decorate and design their own doll house as well as their own dolls.

Many parents may be wary or disappointed by this as it’s turning away from tradition and they may fear that no benefits can be gained by using a computerised version. However, there are also key skills and valuable traits to be picked up by playing such games on the internet. First of all, a child will become familiar with using a computer and in this day and age that is frankly, essential. Thus, the earlier a child learns to pick up basic computer skills the better. If you’re worried about your child accidentally accessing anything they shouldn’t online, that can be solved by using a firewall or other online child protection methods available. Playing with online doll houses is also a positive because it’s cheaper as most games are free, whereas with a traditional toy house there are many pieces of furniture to buy, not to mention the dolls themselves!

To conclude, it’s essential to point out that both versions of doll houses should be readily embraced. Whilst it’s important to keep traditional play alive and let children be children it’s also crucial to let them keep up with the times; perhaps a healthy dose of both is what’s needed – you may find your child actually prefers to play with the physical version.

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H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: doll

Auction alert: Collection of dolls’ houses & dolls

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