Onsite
Highest Bidder
$4,800
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
- Estimate
- $3,000 / $4,000
Description
17" (43 cm.) -30". Each is all cloth with firmly-shaped pressed sateen face, printed facial features, painted eyes, attached lashes, dark eyeshadow, closed mouth, blonde mohair wig, stitch-jointing at shoulders and hips. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Blossom Doll Co. (labels on costumes). Comments: Blossom Doll Co. 1930s, the dolls are said to represent the wedding of Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. The collection of ten dolls includes Groom, Bride, two Bridesmaids, two Flower Girls, Best Man, Minister, Ring Bearer and a blonde haired young flower bearer clearly designed as Shirley Temple. Value Points: the collection is wonderfully-preserved, each doll wearing its original costume, and with accessories such as floral bouquets. Included is 1935 paper doll book drawn by Lucille Webster with very similar costumes.
Stuart's Take
One of the more intriguing and fun presentations from Rosalie's museum. It's widely known that The Blossom Company was relentless in their pursuit of celebrity connections and thus sought out attempts to depict well known actors - as well as celebrity events of the time. This, a fictionalized look at the Gable/Lombard wedding is really quite fun. They went so far as to include Shirley Temple in the wedding. And no, she did not attend. A fantastic party of dolls that gives us a glimpse into the mind of American doll makers in the 1930's. And how celebrity connections became so crucial to success.