Madame Alexander Dolls
Madame Alexander Dolls Collection
Detailed outfits and ornately decorated collectible dolls is what the Alexander Doll Company is best known for. These collectable dolls have been around for nearly a century and have gotten the reputation of being impeccably designed and truly creative. The Alexander Doll Company was founded in the mid-1920s by the Alexander sisters. Since then, Madame Alexander has developed a reputation for being innovative and beautifully made. With new introductions to the doll industry like sleep eyes and dolls modeled after famous characters it's no wonder why Madame Alexander is still so popular today.
Famous Madame Alexander Dolls
The Company started making dolls in the likeness of people and characters in the 1930's. Madame Alexander Dolls were inspired by famous personalities like Scarlet O'hara of Gone with the Wind or Peter from Peter Pan. This tradition of modelling dolls after well known characters continues today. You can find Alexander dolls in the likeness of Angelina Ballerina, Eloise, Mother Goose and many others. These modern personalities are brought to life with intricately designed outfits and accessories to capture their personalities and bring them to life.
Madame Alexander didn't just produce dolls in the likeness of fictional characters. Dolls were also modeled after real life personalities. One of the first dolls in the likenesses of real people were the Dionne quintuplets. These were the first quintuplets known to survive childhood. The Alexander Doll Company got exclusive rights to create dolls in their likeness. And the baby dolls of these little girls were a huge hit. To give the girls an added touch of individualism, each of the five girls were given unique colors to celebrate their separate identities.
Madame Alexander Dolls
Madame Alexander also introduced sleep eyes on the doll scene. Everything that the Alexander Doll Company produced was made to look as realistic as possible. With characteristics like eyelashes from real hair and limbs in the likeness of chubby baby arms and legs, no baby doll looked more lifelike. Sleep eyes added another element of realism to the design of Madame Alexander dolls. Sleep eyes would open and shut, making them look like real babies that were awake during play and shut while they slept. This was just another innovative way to bring their dolls to life.
Full-figured fashion dolls and patriotic dolls were other new introductions from Madame Alexander. Cissy was the first full figured fashion doll. She was introduced in 1955 wearing beautifully made high fashion clothes. Dolls honoring the armed forces were also a very popular introduction made by Madame Alexander. These patriotic dolls honored different branches of the armed forces as well as popular patriotic personalities.
The Alexander Doll Company has been recognized by the Fashion Academy Gold Medal Award, Doll Reader Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Alexander Doll Company was acquired in 1995 by The Kaisen Breakthrough Partnership LP. Though the company has changed hands, it maintains a high standard for excellence of Madame Alexander Dolls.
Mcdonalds Madame Alexander Dolls
Mcdonalds Madame Alexander Dolls Collections
For more than 77 years Madame Alexander dolls have enticed the hearts of girls of all ages and collectors around the world. Always exquisite, enrapturing and adorable, Madame Alexander dolls remains to be a favorite classic toy and collectible item each holiday season.
The story of Madame Alexander is the story of the evolution of the dolls through the past century, as Madame Alexander entered the Toy Industry's Hall of Fame in 2000.
Madame Alexander was an exceptional woman with a dream and the determination to make that dream a reality. Do take time to meet Beatrice Alexander Behrman, the woman who fulfilled her vision of creating beautifully crafted dolls and made little girls' dreams come true.
Madame's mission was founded on the belief that dolls should engage the imagination and bestow a child happiness and joy and also enhance their understanding of the world. Works of literature, the arts and the different cultures of the world were inspirations for many of her creations.
Mcdonalds Madame Alexander Dolls Series
Under Madame Alexander's direction, The Alexander Doll Company introduced a series of "firsts" that have shaped the doll industry! Ultimately, her perfectly dressed dolls came to reflect the evolving lifestyles and dreams of the 20th century.
They started by creating composition dolls with painted features and sleep eyes using distinctive face molds bringing feature baby dolls to market creating dolls in honor of living people. Based on a licensed character, it led to the creation of dolls based on characters from popular motion pictures. Pioneering the use of hard plastic for the creation of dolls, they introducing the first full-figure haute couture (Cissy (TM)) that is still wildly successful to this day.
The Alexander Doll Company still upholds the primary mission and standards while creating dolls that will appeal to new generations of children and doll lovers all over the world. Through tradition, elegance and innovation, Madame Alexander offers a full line of handcrafted collectible dolls, huggable and lovable play and baby dolls, runway fashion dolls, as well as today's hottest licensed dolls with Disney Princesses and Fairies, Hello Kitty, to the classic brands like Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, American Ballet Theatre, Eloise, Charlotte's Web and Madeline. Making their debut in 2002, Madame Alexander dolls quickly became one of the most popular McDonald's Happy Meals toys of all time.
Mcdonalds Madame Alexander Dolls
Beatrice Alexander Behrman died in 1990 at the age of 95, but her legacy lives on in exhibits of museums, such as the Smithsonian and the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and in the private collections of doll lovers around the world, who won't want anything less than a Madame Alexander doll. If truth be told, more Alexander dolls are in the hands of adults than children, who aren't old enough to appreciate their quality and design, as Mcdonalds Madame Alexander Dolls possesses a timeless charm that only grows stronger as time passes.
Madame Alexander Dolls For Sale
History of Madame Alexander Dolls For Sale
Beatrice Alexander, (born in 1895 as Bertha Alexander, but later changed her name), grew up around dolls as a toddler. Her step father, Maurice Alexander owned a hospital in New York, U.S.A. for which he repaired these beautiful figures. It was also the first hospital of its kind in the U.S.A., repairing broken dolls for children. In one of her memoirs, she recalled that a man once came to her step father's hospital in the middle of the night pleading to Maurice to have his ailing daughter's toy repaired. He said she was very sick and his daughter needed it back right away. Maurice repaired the figure made of china, that same day! It has been said that Madame Alexander adored her step father and considered him to be her dad. She marveled at his compassion and dedication toward fixing the broken toys for these broken-hearted children. What a wonderful, rewarding feeling it must have been for Beatrice as she would help her dad, mom, and sisters restore dolls, and, restore a child's happiness at the same time! It has been noted that the whole family took part in repairing the toys. Maurice also owned a shop. When times were hard, during World War 1, materials were limited. Beatrice had the idea to make the first cloth Red Cross Nurse figures. These cloth toys were sold off the shelves. She, along with her sisters, helped her parents save the family business. The strength, love, and dedication from her family impressed her and stayed with her throughout her life.
Introduction of Madame Alexander Dolls For Sale
Beatrice learned a trade from an early age, which would make her 'a household name' in many people's homes. There have been many articles, and books written about Madame Alexander, which consistently refer to her as having a strong desire not to be poor and that she was determined at a young age, to become very wealthy. Many of these articles also mention that she witnessed many families struggle through poverty, growing up in the lower east side of New York. I've also read that she continued to educate herself, and strive for success. Her parents had greatly encouraged Beatrice and her sisters to do so.
Beatrice married Phillip Behrman, then, shortly afterwards started her own business. Alexander Doll Company was introduced in 1923.It wasn't long before Madame Alexander had asked her husband to help her manage the business, not knowing who else to trust. According to several articles written about her, she admitted that Phillip reluctantly agreed to help her, but, worked alongside her until he died in 1966.
Madame Alexander Dolls For Sale
Beatrice Alexander was said to be extremely meticulous while designing each of her figures. It was important to her to make attractive, lifelike toys. According to the Jewish Woman Archives, Madame Alexander labored over the design of each figure, until she got the lips, cheeks, eyes, etc. on the face to meet her satisfaction. Her original figures had cloth faces, then, she quickly learned ways to sculpt in fabric to improve the facial features. She also had one of the first known toy companies to use plastic for making their toys.
Madame Alexander loved reading literature. Many of her designs, which were made by the Alexander Doll Company, were based upon the film and book versions of stories which were popular at that time. In the 1930's, she designed figures for Alice and Wonderland, Fairy Tale Series, Heidi and Little Women. Scarlet O'Hara, was said to have been designed by Madame Alexander in 1936, two years before Vivien Leigh played Scarlet from 'Gone with the Wind'. Scarlet O'Hara was not only one of the first known licensed character figures, but it is also presently one of the most sought after, collectibles of its time. Some highly collectible toys designed by Beatrice in the 1950"s, were Cissy, Cisette, and Wendy-Kin- which are still in the Madame Alexander line. There were countless others as well.
Historical events were also very important to Beatrice. Madame Alexander felt that children could learn a lot about history through her toys. Madame Alexander Queen Elizabeth Coronation Dolls were introduced in 1953. They came in a boxed set of thirty-six figures. A Mary, Queen of Scots figure was also adorned in beautiful royal costume years ago. Madame Alexander felt that it was fitting to teach children about the world as they enjoyed her lovely, fashionable figures. Alexander Doll Company still has some of the most sought after collectibles, today.
Beatrice Alexander honoured other real people such as the Dionne Quintuplets, born in a small farmhouse on May 28th, 1934 in Callander, near Corbeil, Ont. Canada. They were the first known surviving identical quintuplets in the world. The announcement of their birth, posted in the North Bay Nugget (in Canada), attracted over three million tourist to the area during the Great Depression. Beatrice Alexander immediately secured a license to make figures of their likeness, from the time they were newborn babies, and continued, throughout their maturity. The reborn baby dolls, which were designed to look like the Dionne Quintuplets, were said to bring her company to the "top of the toy world". Madame Alexander received the first 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from Doll Reader Magazine in 1986, four years before she died. In 1995, the Kaizen Breakthrough Partnership acquired the company, and, Madame Alexander, a new company, was formed, to honour the famous toy designer, and, exceptionally enterprising business woman, Beatrice Alexander. People, who buy Madame Alexander's collectibles today, are said to be collectors between the average ages of fifty and sixty. Many of Beatrice Alexander's collectibles can be admired, today, at the Smithsonian Institute, and, the Brooklyn Children's Museum for Madame Alexander Dolls For Sale.
Vintage Madame Alexander Dolls
Favorite Vintage Madame Alexander Dolls
One of my favorite vintage Madame Alexander dolls is Scarlett. December 1939 was the debut of the new line of Madame Alexander composition Scarlett O'Hara dolls. These exquisite dolls were the first creations to portray the beauty and intrigue of our favorite Southern Belle.
Madame Alexander was inspired by Scarlett's character from the moment that she read Margaret Mitchell's book. After reading the book, Madame requested and received permission to make a Scarlett O'Hara doll. While there is some question as to exactly when the first dolls were made, there were official Scarlett O'Hara dolls by Madame Alexander advertised in the Atlanta newspapers on the day of the film's premier in 1939.
Famous Vintage Madame Alexander Dolls
Legend has it that when Madame Alexander heard that David O. Selznick was bringing Margaret Mitchell's fabulous book, Gone With The Wind, to the screen; she, hoping to gain the market rights, made a Scarlett O'Hara doll and sent it to him. Long before the part was given to Vivien Leigh, Madame Alexander received a contract from MGM to do the dolls. It was uncanny how closely Madame Alexander's conception of how Scarlett looked matched the actress that would eventually play her.
Vintage Madame Alexander Dolls
Madame Alexander chose to launch her Scarlett doll line with a mix of colors and fabrics reminiscent of the ante-bellum era. Hundreds of dresses and coat and dress combinations were created between 1939-1943. The composition Scarlett dolls were attired in dresses of various prints and trim detailing. Most Scarlett dolls wore either a straw hat or a fabric bonnet.
The popularity of the Scarlett doll led Madame Alexander to make even more dolls based on the movie. The Gone With The Wind Collection dates from the early days, when the movie was released, right up to the present day. You can now find a doll for nearly every character in the movie of Vintage Madame Alexander Dolls.
Madame Alexander Dolls Value
Expensive Madame Alexander Dolls Value
A lot of the most expensive dolls in the market are those that are hand-crafted by Madame Alexander. Made of the highest quality and materials, their dolls are created with elaborate designs and exquisite accessories. Founded by Beatrice Alexander along with her three sisters in 1923, she hand-sewed and painted their first few dolls which were made of fabric and flat doll faces. Over time their dolls' faces have become molded and rounded which made it more appealing. She also based her creations on children's literature like the books of Charles Dickens, and Louis May Alcott.
Madame Alexander Dolls Value Collection
By 1935-1939, Madame Alexander made an 8-inch doll collection which was composed of wood pulp and glue. This doll collection was the Tiny Betty series which depicted famous fairytale characters of Goldilocks, Hansen and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. These dolls were marked with Mme. Alexander and the batch that came after that was already marked differently. The dolls also now stand 9 inches or 11 inches high and they are designed with side-glancing eyes. There was also a collectible set around the same era which was designed after the Dionne Quintuplets who were born in Canada and now it can fetch around $1,500 in value.
In 1948, the company introduced the Maggie face doll which was made of plastic that has sleep-eyes. These dolls are marked "ALEXANDER". The designs were patterned after the characters in Alice in Wonderland, Me and My Shadow, and Annabelle. Then the Wendy doll was introduced on 1953 which was named after Madame Alexander's granddaughter. This one is still made of hard plastic with straight non-walker legs. However, the subsequent versions of the Wendy dolls are made with walker legs which were designed after the characters in Gone with the Wind, The Bible, and Little Women.
Madame Alexander Dolls Value
By 1961, the international series was launched in which dolls were made to represent several different counties. It stands 8 inches and has a bent-knee walker designed body. This designed was used in the dolls until 1964. Around 1965 to 1972, the series did not have bent-knees and cannot make a walking gesture. There were several developments in the materials and designs of Madame Alexander's dolls over the years. Today, even recently released dolls are expensive and are highly valued. The earlier series of MA dolls especially those that were hand-crafted prior to the death of Beatrice Alexander are regarded today as the best collectibles. Nevertheless, the newer doll series available are still interesting but the value of vintage Madame Alexander Dolls Value is astounding.