It’s every Jumeau doll collector’s dream: finding a Jumeau doll in a junk shop.
This happened recently in Stockport in the UK. The doll was found in a Children’s Society charity shop. The doll was in a pile of other items that had been donated and was picked out by a sharp eyed worker at the shop. The doll is from 1885 and still with it’s original Jumeau doll dress.
The doll was put up for auction at Bonhams and there is no surprise that it fetched £5,200 (over $10,000). The sale was a great windfall for the charity and couldn’t have gone to a better cause.
Last week in Denver saw a doll auction going for a grand total of $1.5 million. Despite an economic downturn, there seems to be no such problems in the doll collecting world. The 340 lots were originally estimated to sell for $1.2 million but exceeded this significantly.
Amongst the dolls sold at the auction were a number of very high quality and much sought after Jumeau dolls including:
A first series Portrait Bebe Jumeau from around 1878 which fetched $29,900.
A thirteen and a half inch, 1885 Tete Bébé Jumeau with original clothing was sold for $16,100.
A size 1 Tete Bébé Jumeau fetched 14,950.
There were plenty of auctions of other dolls on the day including many other antique French Dolls. You can find out more here.
