Alexander 1946+ Vintage Dolls Identified USA
19 Mar 2019 – The Rodney Waller Collection of Madame Alexander Dolls – fashion dolls of the 1950s part two, (auction sold 17 Mar 2019) YouTube video courtesy of Theriault’s
The Alexander Doll Company was founded by Bertha “Beatrice” Alexander in 1923. By the late 1940s all the US doll makers had transitioned from dolls made of composition to the new hard plastic material.
Plastic is a lighter and more durable material, redesigned face molds will have more defined, sharper facial features and fingers more defined and thinner than composition. This early plastic is ochre to a grayish color so the dolls are painted a flesh color. These dolls will not develop the fine crazing lines as composition dolls often do.
Alexander Dolls 1923+ | 1937+ | 1940+ | < 1946+ > | 1950+ | 1955+ | 1960s | 1970s
1946+ Alexander Margaret O’Brien doll 14-15″ tall, celebrity actress, all composition jointed body, sleep eyes, closed mouth, mohair wig, doll usually marked Alexander, Alex or unmarked. Dresses in a white short sleeve shirt, red and white checked suspender pleated skirt, white socks, black oilcloth shoes and black straw hat. More than fifty-five different dolls used the Margaret face mold in both composition or sharper features in hard plastic.
1946-1949 Alexander Karen Ballerina doll 15″ tall, late 1940s 18-21″ tall, all composition jointed body, Margaret face mold, sleep eyes, closed mouth, mohair wig with a braid coiled around the ears then over the top of the head, came dressed as a ballerina and ballet slippers, doll usually marked Alexander, Alex or unmarked. Other dolls that used the Margaret face mold are; Alice in Wonderland and Hulda. In 1948-1949 Alexander Karen Ballerina 15-18″ tall was made of hard plastic who is shown.
1947+ Alexander Butch baby doll 11″ tall, composition head with a short wig, sleep eyes, closed mouth, soft stuffed cloth body composition limbs, dressed in a pink and white gingham romper, knit cap, socks and oilcloth shoes, doll mark ALEXANDER.
1947 Alexander Sleeping Beauty doll 14 or 18″ tall, the Wendy Ann face mold, all composition, jointed at the neck, shoulder and hips, wigged, sleep eyes, closed mouth, dressed in a red satin gown trimmed with gold braid and wearing a gold crown, doll marked WENDY ANN or WENDY ANN Mme. ALEXANDER New York.
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1948-1949 Alexander Karen Ballerina doll 15-18″ tall, all hard plastic jointed body, sleep eyes, wigged closed mouth, Margaret face mold, dressed as a ballerina, usually marked: Alexander or Alex.
ca. 1948 Alexander Kathryn Grayson doll 21″ tall, celebrity doll, actress and Opera Singer, Portrait Doll with the Margaret face mold, hard plastic jointed body, sleep eyes with a double set of eyelashes, wigged, closed mouth, dressed in a pale beige strapless satin and tulle gown, usually marked; Alexander or Alex. Other Margaret face mold 21″ Portrait dolls are 1948-1951; Deborah Ballerina doll, Deborah Bride doll, Judy doll.
1948-1954 Alexander Maggie doll, 14-15, 17-18, 20-21, 22-23″ tall, all hard plastic, jointed body walker – or non walker, floss human hair (not used after 1950), mohair, nylon or saran wig, chubby chipmunk cheeks, sleep eyes, closed mouth, Maggie face dolls are marked Alex, Alexander or (usually) unmarked. At least thirty+ dolls used the Maggie face mold over the years, including 21″ tall Portrait dolls; blonde Champ Elysées doll, red floss wig Pink Champagne doll of actress Arlene Dahl, Kathy Skater, Polly Pigtails + others.
1948-1950 Alexander Mary Martin doll 14 or 18″ tall, the 14″ doll came in a white formal, the 18″ doll came in a sailor suit or chambray outfit. Short curly wig, sleep eyes, hard plastic jointed body, used the Margaret face mold. Doll usually marked ALEXANDER.
Madame Alexander 1946+ dolls not shown:
1947-1956 Alexander Little Women dolls 14-15″ tall; mother Marmee March doll and the four March sisters; Meg March blonde hair doll, Jo or Beth March are both brunette dolls and Amy March a blonde hair doll, all hard plastic, jointed body, wigged, sleep eyes with real eyelashes, closed mouths. Used the Maggie or Margaret face molds. Character’s from the Little Women book by author Louisa May Alcott. See 1952 for the Alexander Little Men dolls.
The Alexander Little Women dolls clothing will have the character’s name, ALEXANDER NY., NY. on the tag. Maggie doll face molds are often unmarked, Margaret doll face mold are usually marked ALEXANDER.
1949-1951 Alexander Nina Ballerina doll, 14, 18 or 21″ tall, blonde wig, all hard plastic with a jointed body, dressed in several various ballerina costumes, used the Margaret face mold, doll usually marked ALEXANDER.
Alexander Dolls 1923+ | 1937+ | 1940+ | < 1946+ > | 1950+ | 1955+ | 1960s | 1970s