Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: That is not what that was About!! (.com, that is)

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: That is not what that was About!! (.com, that is): Many of you know that I was the last expert guide for doll collecting at about.com.  I loved being the expert guide, and wrote until the dol...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: My Ballerina Dolls on ABC Show The Toy Box

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: My Ballerina Dolls on ABC Show The Toy Box: I exchanged emails with the creators of My Ballerina a year or so ago, then wrote a post on them for About.com. I hope they do well. I took ...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Bach and Dolls

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Bach and Dolls: Public Domain Image What do the great composer Johann Sebastian Bach and dolls have in common--well, Bach was from Thuringia, where so...

Theriault's April 5th; all Photos Courtesy of our Friends and Theriault's

Don't forget to pre-register here. Theriault's Rendezvous, Nights at the Auction, are conducted at Theriault's headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland. Plan in advance, get registered, and when the auction is set to begin - 7 PM EDT - click the audio/video on button.

Join Theriault's for a fun and fast and fact-filled one-hour auction of great antique dolls. Just have fun and maybe bring home a doll. The dolls are all available for viewing and bidding online. You can leave pre-bids, you can absentee bid, or you can make a reservation to bid by telephone at the actual time of the auction. Or you can be there online when the fun begins and watch the live audio/video feed. For technical help with bidding live online call Proxibid toll free at Theriault's Premier Line at 855-264-8262.

To receive notice of Theriault's auctions, go to www.theriaults.com and register to receive email notices. If you would like more information call Theriault's at 800-638-0422, internationally at 410-224-3655 or email info@theriaults.com. 

Dolls and Hawkeyes in Space- an Old Capitol Musem Exhibit

Antique Sofa, Old Capitol

On a recent trip, we were lucky enough to visit this exhibit in Iowa City.  This was an exhibit of space artifacts, many created at the U of I.  I include it here, because an erector set, a toy, influenced Prof. James Van Allen, one of the scientists heavily involved in these projects which included Galileo and other space probes.  Also included here are pics of the detailed, miniature scale models.  Miniatures of all kinds are in the realm of  dolls and doll houses, and those who collect them.  Of course, our beloved Herky Hawkeye mascot is also made as a doll, and we have several in the museum.  Doll collectors are never single-minded.  Enjoy these extraordinary photos.

Erector toys belonging to Prof. James Van Allen

Trends in 21st Century Collecting-French Bisque

Verlingue French Bisque. Tsagaris Collection

As with everything else, there are trends in collecting dolls.  Among Antique dolls,

French and German bisque dolls continue to hold their own.  Those considered elite collectors focus

on one of a kind German dolls, as the K*R that cost nearly $400,00 at auction and the precious Jumeau 201 that

scored a record for Theriault's, as did the rare Marque they auctioned two years ago or so.

All French bisque dolls were hot during the late 70s through 90s, and the Coleman's spent more time in Vol. I of their encyclopedia on Jumeau and Bru, then on marque, who only earned a couple lines.  Even reproductions of French dolls seem to gain in price on ebay.

The charm and craftsmanship, as well as they mystique, make these very special dolls to collectors.   I wouldn't collet them to the exclusion of my other dolls, but they are among my all time favorites.  The dolls pictures here are a few from Dr. E's Doll Museum. Some are old, and some are vintage artist dolls.  Dolls are courtesy Susanne's Dolls, jerryveryjerry, Theriault's, my husband Dino Milani, Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears, ebay, and my own.  Some are not perfect, but I love them all.