$12,000 Bru French Fashion doll starts the Christmas season for collectors

Skinner's special Holiday Discovery auction will see a selection of classic toys and music boxes for sale

Whilst old-fashioned, it's likely that many parents are hunting round for dolls to give their children this Christmas. Some of those at Skinner's special Holiday Discovery auction however, are best to keep well-looked after, and will not stand for too much rough play.

Major highlights include French Fashion Dolls by Bru and Juneau, a fine selection of German Bisque head dolls, and several examples of early Continental wooden dolls, as well as cloth dolls by Izannah Walker and Martha Chase from several major private collections.

Bru French fashion doll ($8,000-12,000)

Dolls are highly collectible, and many would be surprised at how valuable they can be. For example, a doll dressed by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter sold for £4,000 at Bonhams earlier this year.

Of course in that case the doll had a royal memorabilia connection, but some of the dolls in this auction are likely to sell for more, even without that attribute. In fact classic Bru Bebe dolls in excellent condition can sell for $15,000 and $30,000.

Those leading the auction include two Bru French Fashion Dolls, estimated at $2,000-3,000 and $8,000-12,000.

Also included is a Gypsy Automation/Music Box with a fine bisque head and clothing (expected to sell for $2,000-4,000), as well as doll houses, clothes, and related material. Tin and cast iron toys, teddy bears, and ephemera will also be included.

Skinner's auction takes place on December 16 in Massachusetts and online.

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Also featuring contributions by Stella McCartney and Joan Collins, the bears are selling for charity

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: Skinner