Madame Alexander Doll

When I was a little girl, I just loved baby dolls.

I always asked for a doll that looked like a real baby - soft and cuddly.

I have discovered some beautiful dolls that are quite similar to those that I received for Christmas years ago.

Today these Madam Alexander Dolls are collected by women of all ages. They are prized for their large eyes, delicate features and intricate costumes.

You can even get her dolls in Halloween costumes.

History

Beatrice Alexander, daughter of a Russian immigrant, is the founder of the company. She began producing her famous Madame Alexander dolls in New York in 1923. Her father had made dolls and ran a doll hospital to fix broken dolls. She often played with the dolls that were waiting to be mended, and she eventually decided to create handcrafted dolls for children.

Her vision was to capture the imagination of children, expose them to the world, and contribute to their happiness. At age 28, she started her own doll company on her kitchen table. Later she moved into a studio in downtown New York City, and finally established her business in Manhattanville, Harlem, where it remains to this day.

At first the Madame Alexander dolls had very plain flat cloth faces on which the features were hand-painted. While these first dolls are still collectibles and popular, the dolls have evolved over the years. She originally used the same body and face for both male and female dolls.

Inspiration for new dolls came from fictional characters from literature, like Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Scarlett O'Hara, Dickens characters, different cultures, and also live celebrities.

To see a full line of Madame Alexander Dolls

http://www.madamealexander.com/index.php

Beatrice began to create stunningly detailed costumes for her dolls. She took great pains to make her dolls stand out from the rest and is well known for many firsts:

• First to introduce dolls based on licensed characters from movies and literature
• First dolls with eyes that opened and closed (sleep eyes)
• First patriotic dolls to honor the U.S. Military
• First to utilize hard plastic which was a new technology by DuPont
• First to create dolls honoring living people including Queen Elizabeth and the Dionne Quints
• First to introduce the first full-figured fashion doll in 1955 (Cissy)
  

Beatrice Alexander received the Fashion Academy Gold Medal Award for excellence in costuming in the 1950s. She also won a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1986 by Doll Reader magazine.

Her baby dolls, which remind me of those I loved as a child, are called the Madame Alexander Huggums dolls. They have soft hands and feet. These baby dolls are perfect as a first doll for your child, and they have the same detail in the features and clothing that go into the larger dolls.

Sadly, Beatrice Alexander died in 1990 at the age of 95, however her wonderful dolls are still manufactured in New York City by the company she founded.

For Collectors:

If you are considering collecting Madame Alexander dolls, you would want to assess the condition of the doll carefully. A doll attired in the original costume is more valuable than a replacement. Significant wear or stains will devalue the doll.

Factors that determine the value of a collectible doll:

• Age
• Popularity
• Rarity

Alexander dolls represent the highest standards in collectible dolls. They are treasured by children of all ages and are sought by thousands of collectors.

Madam Alexander dolls come in many categories:

• Americana
• Ballerinas & Tutus
• Disney
• Gone With The Wind
• High Fashion & Couture
• Holidays
• Hollywood
• International
• Little Women
• Princesses & Fairies
• Special Occasion Gifts
• Sonja Hartmann
• Storyland
• The Arts
• The Wizard of Oz