Skinner’s Toys, Dolls & Collectibles Auction Offers

All You Want for Christmas and More

Highlights Include Vintage Advertising and Ephemera, Tin Toys and Banks, and the Doll Collection of Shirley Smith;

Top Lot is a French Bisque Bru Bebe Doll
Estimated at $10,000 - $12,000

 

BOLTON, Mass. - December 6, 2001 – www.skinnerinc.com -- Skinner, Inc., one of the nation’s leading full-service auctioneers and appraisers of antiques and fine art, will hold its December auction of Toys, Dolls and Collectibles on Saturday, December 15, 2001 at 10:00 in its Bolton, Mass. gallery.   With over 770 lots for sale, the auction offers antique toy and doll enthusiasts all they want for Christmas and more.  Items of note include a collection of vintage advertising pieces from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries; several lots of mechanical and tin toys including boats, cars, trucks, train cars, steam and river boats; vintage game boards; and cast iron banks.  The doll section of the sale will feature over 150 dolls from the collection of Shirley E. Smith, a long-time collector from Bridgewater, Mass.

 

Advertising and Ephemera

The first section of the sale includes over 130 lots of vintage advertising pieces including posters, tin signs and trays, cabinets, chromolithographs, lamps, and other advertising display items.  Noteworthy posters include an early advertisement lithograph for Phelp’s Arcanum (lot 103), signed and Dated G.L. Brown, 1837, estimated $1,500 - $2,000; a Uneeda Biscuits four Sheet Advertisement Poster (lot 115), depicting a boy with a box in a raincoat, estimated $1,500 - $2,000; a Warner’s Safe Nervine Chromolithographic Poster (lot 119), depicting a classical woman slaying a tiger in a “safe” surround, by Mensing & Stecher, Rochester, NY, estimated $1,000 - $1,500; and an Ayer’s Hair Vigor Chromolithographic Poster (lot 10), copyright 1896, depicting a long-haired young lady, estimated $600-$800; the cover lot, an Owens Pink Mixture Chromolithographic Poster (lot 98) depicting a little girl, estimated $500 - $700.

 

Unique tin signs include a Davis’ Pain Killer Chromolithographic Tin Sign (lot 25), depicting the people’s of the world in a forest setting, estimated $3,000-$5,000; and a Lash’s Kidney and Liver bitters Tin Sign (lot 80), depicting a nude woman in a stream, signed “Rene Thibaut Atelier”, estimated $800-$1,200.

 

Other unique advertising display items include wooden cabinets, with chromolithographic tin doors (lots 27-28 and 62-64), circa late 19^th century, estimated $200-$1,500 each; and a Garfield Tea and Syrup Advertising Regular-style Timepiece (lot 34), in a wooden case with brass letters and single Seth Thomas movement, estimated $800 - $1,200.

 

Tin Toys, Game Boards and Banks

Interest in tin and cast iron toys and banks has never been stronger and this auction offers collectors 180 lots of 18^th, 19^th and 20^th century tin toys and cast-iron banks.  Many of the toys are mechanical in nature and most are in fine condition.  Mechanical items of note include a Lehmann Zig-Zag, tinplate (lot 179) lithographed in red, white, and blue with spring motor and black and white riders, estimated $600 - $800; a Toonerville Trolley (lot 180), made in Germany, lithographed tinplate with erratic movement, estimated $500 - $700; a Strauss Santee Claus (lot 187), lithographed tinplate with Santa, sleigh, two reindeer, and spring motor, in maker’s box, estimated $600 - $800; and lot 188, a balloonist acrobat toy, possibly by Miller & Kaderer, Nuremberg, c. 1910, hand painted tinplate, of a red, white, blue and beige balloon, with an acrobat painted in red, blue and gold, with a spring motor in the balloon activated when pulled down.  It is estimated $300 - $500.   Lot 253 is a Mickey Mouse handcar, with composition Mickey and Minnie, with spring motor and track.  It is estimated at $1,500 - $2,000. 

 

Several cars, trucks, and planes are offered and the more interesting items include a Smith –Miller Hollywood film-Ad light Truck (lot 211), with red cab, battery operated search light and sliver bed, estimated $1,000 - $1,500; a pressed steel U.S. army pursuit pedal airplane (lot 212), painted silver with red and blue details, estimated at $1,500 - $2,000; and lot 214, an early pedal fire truck, circa 1910, painted red with a yellow lining, wood frame and pressed steel body, with ladders and a starting crank.  It is estimated at $1,000 - $1,500.  Lots 288 and 289 are an international delivery truck and a harvester dump truck, both by Arcade.  They range in estimated from $400 - $700.

 

Lots 215-219 include some interesting water vehicles, including a Miss America speedboat by Mengel; a U.S.S. New York battleship by Orkin; a Carette tinplate side-wheel riverboat, circa 1910; a Schoenner-attributed steam launch; and a Radiguet steam-powered launch, circa 1890.  These range in estimate from $150 - $600.  Perhaps the most coveted water toy is an Althof, Bergman & Co. tinplate steamboat (lot 220) named Atlantic, which is hand painted with black smokestacks, a red beam, yellow and red railing, light blue deck, and a light blue and green hull.  This boat is estimated $6,000 - $8,000.

 

Lots 236 – 242 include vintage late 19^th and early 20^th century game boards.  An interesting one of these is lot 236, The Browne Blocks, by McLoughlin Bros./Palmer Cox, 1891.  It includes an illustration booklet and 20 chromolithographic blocks in the maker’s box.  The game is estimated $800 - $1,200.

 

Train cars and accessories are also featured in the sale and the best of these are lots 262-267.  They include a number of Marklin Gauge and American Flyer cars and freight sets.  These range in estimate from $100 - $600.  A noteworthy train item is lot 268, a Pratt and Letchworth cast-iron Floor train estimated $1,000 - $1,500.

 

Lots 291-298 include a number of horse toys, namely a Wilkins pony cart (lot 295, estimated $400 - $600); a Hubley three horse Circus Chariot (lot 296), estimated $500 - $700; a Wilkins cast-iron one-horse trolley, estimated $700 - $900; and a Hubley cast-iron four seat brake, estimated $2,000 - $3,000.

 

Over 50 tin and cast-iron banks are offered in the sale, and many are in fine condition.  Noteworthy banks include a Punch and Judy bank (lot 322) by Shepard, estimated $1,000 - $1,500; a Jonah and the Whale bank (lot 329) by Shepard, estimated $2,000 - $3,000; a Bad Accident Box bank (lot 345) by Stevens, estimated $300 - $400; a Clown on a Globe bank (lot 349) by Stevens, estimated $1,000 - $1,500; a Mason bank and a Circus bank (lots 354 and 355), both by Shepard and estimated $1,500 - $2,000 each; an Afghanistan bank (lot 356), by Mechanical Novelty Works, depicting a Russian bear and a British lion in front of the gates of Herat, estimated $1000 - $1,500; a New Bank (lot 357), by Stevens, estimated $1,500 - $2,000; and a Boy and Bulldog bank (lot 358), estimated at $200 - $300.

 

Dolls

One of the major highlights of the auction is the diverse doll collection of Shirley E. Smith of Bridgewater, Mass.  A longtime collector with a broad range of interests, Smith’s collection reflects her varied interests seasoned with some personal touches.  The strength of the collection is found in numerous large-sized bisque dolls, notably German bisque babies from various fine manufacturers.   Of the more than 400 lots of dolls and related items in the doll section of the sale, nearly 150 are from the Smith collection. 

 

These include a stunning large closed mouth size 18 Kestner (lot 685), who stands a commanding 30 inches tall.  Her crisp pouty mouth and thick full curled blonde mohair wig first suggested to Shirley’s daughter the character Nellie Olson on Little House on the Prairie. 

 

So “on” is the observation that Dorothy McGonagle, Skinner’s doll specialist and noted author says that for her that mold will now always carry the name Nellie.  Nellie graces the front cover of the catalog along with a lovely Hilda baby from the firm of J.D.Kestner.   Other fine German bisque dolls include lot 420, a large Simon Halbig 949 closed mouth doll and lot 663, a similar doll, mold 939.

 

Several baby dolls to be sold measure 25 to 27 inches in length, life size and larger.  Examples include lots 592, 596, 541, and 655.  A nice array of black bisque baby and child dolls is also being presented for sale.

 

French bebes from the collection include a 15 inch Portrait Jumeau (lot 553), a Figure A Steiner (lot 588) , a Schmitt bebe (lot 587),  and Circle Dot Bru (lot 563), the top lot in the sale.  Also offered are several SFBJ characters, including the 252 character pouting toddler, (lot 559).   French fashions are also part of the collection, including lot 578, a smiling lady from the firm of Bru.

 

Several fine cloth dolls are offered, including a Lenci Mary Pickford (lot 489) and character monk, (lot 465).  Also offered is a sweet Kathe Kruse Doll VIII (lot 488).

 

In addition to the Smith collection, many other fine dolls from other consignors are featured in the sale.  These include French bisque bebes such as lot 568, a 10 inch FG bebe, several fine closed mouth Jumeau bebes (lots 567, 555), a wonderful cloth Philadelphia or Sheppard baby  (lot 492) a handsome black Martha Chase mammy (lot 449), and a unique all cloth tennis player signed Jane (lot 490).  Also offered are a number of primitive or one of a kind cloth dolls, with oil painted or inked features (lots 695-703), and a charming Door of Hope kindergarten child (lot 684), which retains the provenance of the original child owner who received the doll though her Sunday school class.  The class had sent donations to the Door of Hope mission, which then responded by sending each child in the class a doll.   

 

In addition to antique dolls, a fine assortment of collectible dolls of composition and hard plastic are also being offered.  One collection is from a Boston area owner whose careful preservation of her dolls from the 1940s and 1950s, gently played with, makes it seem as if time has stood still (lots 730 and onward).

 

Also presented is a special collection of never before played-with Barbie dolls, original store stock from 1963.  This includes a never-opened case of twelve Barbie dolls with separate wigs, a boxed gift set Barbie and Ken, and five boxed dolls, never removed from the boxes.  

 

Skinner Toy & Doll sales always include Steiff animals, and the December sale is rich in offerings.  A large collection of over 200 mohair Steiff animals will be presented.  Highlights also include a very early velvet bulldog (lot 626), numerous other dogs in bright condition, cats, wild animals and the like.  Bears from Steiff and other manufacturers are offered, including a 1910 Steiff (lot 627) with a blank ear button.   This packed and diverse sale will surely offer something for everyone, and promises to be a perfect way to mark the holidays. 

 

Illustrated catalog #2121 is available for $26 ($35 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at Skinner/Bolton (978-779-6241 ext. 261).  Prices realized at the auction will be available at www.skinnerinc.com following the sale.  For more information, call 978-779-6241, fax 978-779-5144, or visit www.skinnerinc.com.

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Note to Editors:

Photos available upon request.  Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.

 

About Skinner:

With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art.  Regularly seen on the PBS series, The Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses.  Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction.  Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20^th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery.  For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.