Childhood nostalgia and vintage costume – including a 1920s fancy dress moth outfit – attracted intense bidding at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.
An eclectic mix of lots shone bright in the March 1 Toys, Dolls, Teddy Bears, Model Railway: Costume & Textiles Auction held at the Georgian country house. The sale hammered £47,000 overall and much of that was down to a single-owner collection of railwayana which achieved £20,000.
Other highlights include two rare antique dolls which sold for thousands of pounds from guide prices in the hundreds.
Hansons Auctioneers’ dolls and teddy bears consultant valuer Janet Rawnsley said: “It was a wonderful sale with lots of exciting results.”
Here, Janet shares some of the top lots:
Antique dolls fetch thousands
Two rare Emile Jumeau dolls made nearly 150 years ago smashed estimates to achieve a combined total of £7,000 at auction. Found at a Derbyshire home, they dated back to a rare period of Emile Jumeau doll manufacture, circa 1882. For one year only the Jumeau factory at Montreuille Sur Bois in Paris made a beautiful range of pressed bisque Depose Jumeau dolls, and they were dressed by some of the finest Parisian ateliers of the day. The two dolls came from this era.
Their rarity brought bidders out in force but the results exceeded all expectations. Lot 170, above, a French Bisque BeBe Depose Jumeau 16 inch socket head doll, circa 1885, made £2,800 – more than treble its £600-£800 estimate.
Meanwhile lot 171, below, a 19 inch French Bisque BeBe Depose Jumeau socket head doll, circa 1885, made £3,800, almost five times its £600-£800 guide. The doll’s head featured deep blue paperweight eyes, finely painted features, a wig with original bow and earrings.
Janet said: “It is rare to uncover one doll from this period, let alone two. They were magnificent and I was delighted to see them excel.”
Dress to impress as 1920s moth!
A collection of early 20th century dressing up clothes delighted bidders and included this eye-catching 1920s fancy dress moth costume with integral silk wings.
In the form of an African death head moth, the costume included a drop waist dress, helmet with antennae and silk wings. It sold for £240, well above its £100-£140 guide.
Railwayana steams ahead
A fine single-owner collection of model railway items, boxed and carefully preserved, sparked strong bidding and achieved sales totally £20,000. It included more than 250 trains and locomotives from respected Italian, British and German manufacturers. The collection is so large the final 30 to 40 lots will be offered in Bishton Hall’s Toy & Railwayana sale on April 5.
Auction entries invited
Entries are invited for the next Bishton Hall Toys & Costume Sale at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom. To book a valuation of dolls or teddy bears, email: [email protected]
To enquire about consigning period clothing, designer fashions or textiles, email Virginia Ewart: [email protected]
