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Composition
Marie
America’s First Collecting Madame’s Dolls Antoinette
Fashion Doll When collecting Madame Alexander photo: Theriaults

Ponytail Cissy wears Perhaps one of the Dolls, so much depends upon personal
preference. Every detail—from the doll’s
a rare carnation print most successful dolls
day dress. created by Madame was persona to the color of its outfit—can
photo: Theriaults “Cissy.” It made its debut influence even the fussiest of collectors.
in 1955, pre-dating A good piece of advice is to determine
Barbie by four years! The the purpose of your collection and learn
doll was 10” tall and made as much as you can about the full scope
of hard plastic. of dolls within that theme.
Cissy was jointed at If you are a fan of Little Women, you
the neck, shoulders, hips, can gather several editions of the character
and knees, and had dolls over time. For example, Madame
“high-heel feet.” She created the line as both cloth dolls and
was made until 1963 and plastic dolls.
officially called an For Madame’s iteration of the
“Alexander Cissette.” Dionne Quintuplets, sometimes the
For collectors, this doll accessories are as important as having all five members of this famous
has it all. Her meticulous family, like the pink baby pillow or the cart to pull them around, which
costumes covered a long can only add to their value.
list of trendy costume Specialty dolls such as the Bridal Lucille Ball Doll from 1955 or the
options for any character “Fashion of a Century” doll can go for many thousands of
ranging from debutantes dollars.Whether you want to collect dolls from a particular era, or a
to ballerinas, queens, certain size, or hunt down the most valuable, turn to the experts and
socialites, Gibson Girls, ardent collectors of these all-American dolls. Then, decide which
brides, and some that even ones you would like to talk to,
wore pants! and begin.
But, while this more sophisticated doll set the fashion world ablaze,
critics of the doll felt it was the first to emphasize looks and sexuality
above communication and play.
In a blog posted by www.dolledition.com, “This era was all about
silhouettes, voluminous skirts, and a tiny waist to the body-hugging
sheath. Popular are tea-length dresses with petticoats for fullness, slim
sheath dresses, and tailored suits. More casual are capri pants, high-
waisted jeans, and twin-set cardigan sweaters. All accented with jewelry:
pearls, animal brooches, sweater clips, and anything with rhinestones.
Essential are matching accessories: gloves, hats, belts, and handbags.
Every activity had its outfit and its hat - millinery (the word “milliner”
comes from the word Milan) was a massive industry in itself. Hats were
worn daily by almost all women, [so they were] a part of their complet-
ed layers of attire built off of a rigid point of view.”
An interesting note also from this blog stated, “An occasion that
became popular with Madame Alexander retailers and department
stores in the mid-fifties was the store ‘Doll Fashion Show.’ Sometimes
Madame Alexander herself hosted the event, and sometimes it was an Set of 5 Madame Alexander Dionne Quint Toddlers with
Alexander Doll Company representative. In smaller locations, it was a their original hang tag, circa 1935.
toy buyer or department manager. It was a way to showcase the product photo: Rubylane.com
line, especially ‘Cissy.’”

Caring for Madame Alexander Dolls

Good Housekeeping, Blog entry July 8, 2019:

Certain classic Madame Alexander dolls—especially those from the 1940s and
1950s—might be worth well into the thousands, according to antique doll collector,
historian, and expert Dr. Marsha Trentham Hunter, who has been a member of the
Madame Alexander Doll Club since the 1970s.

An important resale guideline, if your doll is not in its original packaging:
“Cleaning is not recommended,” says Hunter. And if your vintage Madame
Alexander’s comps are high, a pro can sell her for you quickly (standard offers
tend to be 40 to 60 percent of the estimated resale value). “The dealer or auction
house will advise if the condition is detrimental to the selling of the doll and
include any professional repair or cleaning in its offer or estimate.”

And if you’re not ready to part with your Madame Alexander, as saleable as
she may be? Store her properly so that she ages with beauty. “I recommend a
container that is not air-tight — moisture can be trapped in an air-tight one —
using archival tissue paper as the wrapping material, and putting the container
inside the temperature-controlled house, not 1980s miniature showcase
in an attic or garage,” she says. international series number 578 Ireland,
in box sold for $19 at etsy.com
20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles