Doll News Summer 2019 - 104

doll's exquisite costumes and wigs. The basic doll for the Composition
Portrait was a unique face mold and dramatically more sophisticated
than the Wendy 21-inch mold, used on other composition dolls during
the era. ith the greater sophistication, the bust of the flat-chested
doll mold had to be accentuated with an artificial "button" breast
in the clothing to achieve the 'fashion aura' for the doll. The faces
were elaborately painted with extended eye lashes and eye shadow.
Since the dolls were the most expensive dolls designed by Madame
Alexander at the time, these dolls were specially commissioned
to be manufactured, painted and coiffured. These are some of the
most highly desired dolls for Madame Alexander collectors. Finding
them in mint condition is as rare as the dolls. As well, these dolls are
attracting the attention of antique doll collectors as they approach their
75th anniversary. Two of the Composition Portraits sold for more than
$20,000 each at a recent auction.
Another key Alexander bride was the 1951, "Victoria Bride,"
commonly referred to as one of the "Mystery Dolls," since
these dolls were not included in the Alexander catalog. As
the Composition Portrait dolls, they were expensive limitedproduction dolls retailing for around $70. In context for the time,
this would be approximately the cost of an average family's rent
for two months. I believe that these hard-plastic dolls were used in
the same marketing strategy as the Composition Portraits - show
the extraordinary quality and design of Alexander but direct the
customer to a more affordable Ale ander doll. The dolls had a
broader distribution than the Composition Portraits and probably
had the same limited production. In addition, circumstance would
indicate that the 1951 Mystery Dolls were used by Madame
Alexander as examples of her work submitted to the Fashion
Academy of New York, for their Gold Medal Award, for the
"Ultimate in Design, Beauty and Originality." Alexander was
initially awarded the Fashion Academy Gold Medal in 1951.
This was the first time that the award was granted to a doll
and toy manufacturer. Alexander was subsequently awarded the
Fashion Academy Gold Medal in 1952, 1953, and 1954. The award
was discontinued in 1954 with the death of its originator, Emil
Alvin Hartman.
The years 1950 and 1959 were special for Alexander Brides. In
those two years Madame Alexander introduced "plush pink" bride
dolls which were fashionable at the time. Madame never put herself
at risk of turning her customer away by not liking a "modern pink"
Top to bottom: A rare 1948 transitional 18-inch hard plastic bride has an
unusual arched coronet with soutache edging fronted by flared tulle. Her
bouquet matches the flowers on each side of her face. The foil shamrock
wrist tag comes from the 1940s composition-era, as the hard plastic was
the new post-war emerging product for the golden era of Alexander dolls
in the 1950s. This is the only known example of this doll.
A 1948 Lucy Bride, measuring 18-inches tall, stands next to her groom.
On her left wrist is her gold cloverleaf wrist tag.
A Godey Bride and Bridegroom, measuring 14-inches tall are from
1949. Her blonde floss wig has very curly bangs; she wears an ivory
satin gown with fitted bodice, lace-edged overskirt, bustle and train.
He has a center-part blonde floss wig with mutton-chop sideburns,
dressed in a Victorian- style costume.
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SUMMER 2019

Doll News Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Summer 2019