Madame Alexander
Encyclopedia
Madame Alexander is a brand of American collectible doll
s introduced in 1923.
Madame Alexander is also the business name of Beatrice Alexander, who was born Bertha Alexander, later changed her name to Beatrice, married Philip Behrman and then started her doll business. She was an American entrepreneur who created the first "collectible" dolls based on a licensed character – Scarlett O'Hara
from the book and movie Gone with the Wind
. She was also one of the early creators of mass-produced dolls in honor of living people, with dolls of the famous Dionne quintuplets
in 1936 and a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth II
dolls to commemorate the 1953 coronation celebrations in Britain. In 2002 two Judy Garland
portrait dolls were introduced.
Other popular dolls have been 'Pussycat' a large baby doll dressed in fine coat and dress and a Mary, Queen of Scots
Portrait Doll as well as Heidi
, the characters from Little Women
, and a series international dolls in native costumes. She has created many topical doll series. "The First Ladies of the United States" depicting each in her inaugural gown as well as "The Opera Series", "Fairy Tale Series" and many more.
Her 8" Wendy doll, introduced in 1953 which is still being made today, is considered collectible.
A December 2005 article in Forbes
magazine analyzed the most popular American toys by decade, with help from the Toy Industry Association
. The Madame Alexander collectible dolls led the list for the 1920–1929 decade, beating out even the yo-yo
.
Alexandra Fairchild Ford is a line of 16" collectible fashion doll
for adult collectors.
As of 2009, Madame Alexander began creating dolls for Dollie & Me, which specializes in matching clothing for girls and dolls.
The Madame Alexander Doll Club is separate from The Alexander Doll Company, but the company supports club efforts by creating new limited edition dolls for club events. The club holds events and conventions all over the US. The club also publishes a quarterly magazine for members called The Review.
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s introduced in 1923.
Madame Alexander is also the business name of Beatrice Alexander, who was born Bertha Alexander, later changed her name to Beatrice, married Philip Behrman and then started her doll business. She was an American entrepreneur who created the first "collectible" dolls based on a licensed character – Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O'Hara
Scarlett O' Hara is the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and in the later film of the same name...
from the book and movie Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
. She was also one of the early creators of mass-produced dolls in honor of living people, with dolls of the famous Dionne quintuplets
Dionne quintuplets
The Dionne quintuplets are the first quintuplets known to survive their infancy. The sisters were born just outside Callander, Ontario, Canada near the village of Corbeil.The Dionne girls were born two months premature...
in 1936 and a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
dolls to commemorate the 1953 coronation celebrations in Britain. In 2002 two Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
portrait dolls were introduced.
Other popular dolls have been 'Pussycat' a large baby doll dressed in fine coat and dress and a Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (film)
Mary, Queen of Scots is a 1971 Universal Pictures biographical film based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. Leading an all-star cast are Vanessa Redgrave as the titular character and Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I. In the same year, Jackson played the part of Elizabeth in the TV drama Elizabeth...
Portrait Doll as well as Heidi
Heidi
Heidi is a Swiss work of fiction, published in two parts as Heidi's years of learning and travel and Heidi makes use of what she has learned.It is a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care, in the Swiss Alps...
, the characters from Little Women
Little Women
Little Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott . The book was written and set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts. It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869...
, and a series international dolls in native costumes. She has created many topical doll series. "The First Ladies of the United States" depicting each in her inaugural gown as well as "The Opera Series", "Fairy Tale Series" and many more.
Her 8" Wendy doll, introduced in 1953 which is still being made today, is considered collectible.
A December 2005 article in Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine analyzed the most popular American toys by decade, with help from the Toy Industry Association
Toy Industry Association
The Toy Industry Association is a trade association that promotes the marketing of new toys, games, and puzzles. The organization usually has trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City during February. Consumers in general are not able to attend...
. The Madame Alexander collectible dolls led the list for the 1920–1929 decade, beating out even the yo-yo
Yo-yo
The yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of twine looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool...
.
Alexandra Fairchild Ford is a line of 16" collectible fashion doll
Fashion doll
Fashion dolls are dolls primarily designed to be dressed to reflect fashion trends. They are manufactured both as toys for children to play with and as collectibles for adult collectors. The dolls are usually modeled after teen girls or adult women, though child, male, and even some non-human...
for adult collectors.
As of 2009, Madame Alexander began creating dolls for Dollie & Me, which specializes in matching clothing for girls and dolls.
The Madame Alexander Doll Club is separate from The Alexander Doll Company, but the company supports club efforts by creating new limited edition dolls for club events. The club holds events and conventions all over the US. The club also publishes a quarterly magazine for members called The Review.
External links
- The Alexander Doll Company with The Heritage Gallery
- Madame Alexander Doll Club
- Brooklyn Children's Museum Online Collection search "exhibits" to see Madame Alexander Queen Elizabeth Coronation Dolls