dollshow

dollshow

AUSTIN DOLL COLLECTORS SOCIETY

The Austin Doll Collectors Society is an organization of antique, vintage, and modern doll collectors, dealers, and artisans. We meet on the second Sunday of each month and our meetings are fun and educational. We begin with refreshments and socializing, and, following our brief business meeting, there is a special doll-related program and "show and tell." The Austin Doll Collectors Society is a nonprofit organization and is a member of the United Federation of Doll Clubs.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

KLRU's Own Austin Antiques Roadshow

On January 11, 2014, Austin's local PBS station, KLRU, sponsored a mini-version of the popular Antiques Roadshow for local donors.



Members Jenell Howell, Elaine Jackson, and Sharon Weintraub volunteered as appraisers at the Doll and Toy Table.


The day was full of unusual finds and treasures.  This child's folding rocking chair was made by the Collignon Brothers, who invented the first folding rocking chair in 1868. The story goes that one of the brothers, watching pioneers trying to pack bulky rocking chairs in their wagons, was inspired to invent a chair that could be folded for easy moving.  The factory flourished for decades, producing all sorts of folding chairs.


Elaine and Jenell examine an unusual quartet of cloth dolls.  The doll's owner said that she had been told that when her mother was 10-years-old and bedridden with diphtheria, a neighbor woman made the dolls and gave them to her mother.


Instead, the owner was thrilled to learn that the dolls, representing the "Little Women" of Louisa May Alcott's popular book, were in fact the creations of early doll artist, Frances Elinor Diecks.  She married famed French doll artist, Bernard Ravca in 1943, so these dolls are prior to her marriage.  The four dolls are beautifully made and are in wonderful condition.  Each had a paper label under her skirt with her name and Diecks' signature.  These dolls are not common, and finding all four together is a true treasure!


Lights, camera, action!


Two women brought in several delightful dolls from their mother's collection. Here Jenell examines a sweet little Simon and Halbig child. . . .


and her sister, by Schoenau and Hoffmeister.


Another Simon and Halbig, this time all original, from the bow in her hair to her fancy shoes.


As you can see from our appraisers' faces, it was a day of fun and finds!




3 comments:

  1. My name is Dean Wachowicz I am in Austin Texas, I have some vintage, collectable dolls for sale, about 15 of them, all in good condition, if you or someone you know would be interested in looking at them, and or possibly buying them please contact me I can be found on Facebook, as well as Yahoo.com Wachowicz_d@yahoo.com and also Dean Wachowicz on facebook, thank you for your time, Dean

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  2. I will be inheriting a very large collection of Madame Alexander dolls. They are currently in display cases and some in storage bins. Could someone email me and point me in the direction of a possible buyer? There are between 100-200. I will find out more this weekend. My email address is kristyvsimpson@gmail.com

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  3. Hello my name is Theresa I found you on roadshow website I'm looking for Madame Alexander dolls if you have any left please contact me I'm very interested thank you

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