French bisque dolls from golden age to highlight Morphy's auction

A collection of French bisque dolls from the golden age of European production will lead Morphy's specialist auction of dolls on April 27 in Denver.

The doll's pressed bisque head was made for Aristide Halopeau by the prestigious porcelain factory of Frayon in Montreuil, France

Made in the 1870s and 1880s, the dolls originate from a time when French doll designers were producing their most exquisite examples. Leading bids is a 20 inch "H" doll by Halopeau at $60,000.

"You just can't find H dolls - they're among the rarest of all French bebes," said Jan Foulke, the auction house's doll consultant.

"Morphy's auctioned one in 2008, but this is the first one that has come to auction since then."

In January, doll auction specialist Kammer & Reinhardt set a new world record for the most valuable German made character doll at $212,000.