Doll News Archive--Week of May 28, 1999
AUCTION REPORT
Theriault's Duet Auction, May 22 to 23, San
Francisco, California
This was the second of the new-format Theriault
"Duet" Auctions held so far in 1999. The auction, as advertised, was
somewhere between a cataloged auction and a Discovery Day (uncataloged) auction.
Overall, the new format seems to be successful and well liked by the attendees.
Prices tended to be lower than at a catalogued auction due to the absence of telephone and
mail bids, and the pace is quicker. Many quality dolls were available, although the
condition of the dolls is much more mixed than at a catalogued auction.
In many ways, the auction seemed to be much closer in feel to a Discovery Day Auction. There is a 10% buyers premium at Duet auctions, as there is with Discovery Day Auctions. And, although bisque and porcelain dolls at this auction come with a "guarantee" (dolls in which damage was not described could be returned after inspection) all vinyl, composition, and hard plastic dolls were sold "as is." Although the Duet auction listings provided short condition reports with some flaws listed, many dolls had hairlines or other flaws which had to be announced at the podium (and I additionally purchased a small Kestner that had an undisclosed hairline, which I did not discover until 2 days after the auction). In other words, the Duets are much more "buyer beware" than the catalogued auctions. Even with this caveat, the Duet was a fun doll weekend, I purchased some lovely dolls at excellent prices, and I plan to attend future Duets.
UPCOMING DOLL EVENTS
Theriault's Duet Auction--Portland Oregon; Crowne
Plaza Lake Oswego, June 12-13
This is the third of the 1999 "Duet" Auctions (see review above).
Previews 9am each day; auctions start 11am.
At the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, 1880 Gaylord Street
Gaithersburg Antique dolls, Toys and Games Show
and Sale, June 5 to 6
Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 10am to 5pm Saturday; 10am to 3pm Sunday
DOLL EVENT REVIEWS: Have you recently attended a doll show, class, auction, or other doll event? Have your report or review of the event appear in "Dolls This Week!." Just e-mail your report to me at collectdolls.guide@about.com; you will be credited for the report, you will have my undying gratitude (since I can't attend them all!), and your web site link (if you have one) will appear as well.
MAGAZINE REPORT
DOLL READER: The July issue of Doll Reader Magazine has just hit the newsstand. The featured article is entitled": "Small Dolls: The Biggest trend in Collecting" Other articles include an article on Knickerbocker's Daisy and Willow and Effanbees Redheaded dolls of the 1920s and 1930s.
CONTEMPORARY DOLL COLLECTOR: July issue includes articles on Vogue's Jill, vintage Mattel Tutti and Todd, and Heubach Characters by Mildred Seeley.
Previous Weeks In Dolls: Theriault Duet Auction; Loss of ODACA Artist Kathryn Williams Klunsman; Review of Anaheim Dollmaking Show
