The Scrap Booking Club

By Joan Stalker

Production of the well-known Madame Alexander dolls started in 1923. Beatrice Alexander, the founder, had a strong interest in dolls having grown up around her father’s doll shop and hospital. Originally designed with children in mind, they have become a favorite collector’s item for young and old. The dolls are modeled after Dickens characters, celebrities, and fictional characters such as Scarlett O’Hara, Alice in Wonderland and Little Women. These exquisite, top quality dolls are prized for their delicate features, large eyes, and intricate costumes. They are amongst the absolute best collectible dolls available.

For an excellent selection of Madame Alexander dolls, I recommend that you check out: Madame Alexander Baby Dolls.

The first dolls produced by Madame Alexander had cloth faces which were flat and hand painted. Although these dolls remained popular, production of composition dolls began in the 1930s. Beatrice Alexander is as famous for her stunningly detailed costumes as she is for her dolls. The same face and body are used for both male and female dolls which makes them very unique. After the Second World War, Madame Alexander was one of the first to produce dolls made of plastic. The prestigious Fashion Academy Gold medal for excellence in costuming was awarded to Madame Alexander in the 1950s. Many of the Madame Alexander dolls remained virtually unchanged for over forty years.

The condition of a doll must be evaluated before you decide to buy a Madame Alexander doll. Of course, a doll without its original costume, that is stained or worn would have a lower value. The value of the doll would also be affected by the popularity, rarity or age of the particular doll. Dolls in their original condition are preferred by collectors, so restoration can reduce the value of a doll.

Madame Alexander also produces an extremely popular line of baby dolls, the most well-known being Madame Alexander Huggums dolls which have soft hands and feet. Although they are small enough to be held by tiny hands, these wonderful baby dolls also have the same attention to detail usually found in larger dolls.

Another interesting fact is that many of today’s Madame Alexander dolls are still created in the same New York City factory used by Beatrice Alexander. Although Beatrice Alexander passed away in 1990, her exquisite traditional dolls continue to be produced by the company she founded. They epitomize the highest possible standard in collectible dolls and they are treasured by thousands of collectors and children of all ages. The Alexander Doll Company is the only remaining major manufacturer of hand-crafted dolls in North America.

For a fantastic selection of Madame Alexander collectible dolls, take a look at: Madame Alexander Baby Dolls.

Filed under: 01-Articles on May 7th, 2009