Theriault's annual premiere doll auction will be held at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Newport Beach, California on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The weekend auction, called "Bon Appétit!" this year, promises five delicious doll auctions in three days as well as lectures, a banquet and other events.

On Friday evening, "Lady Dolls of the 19th Century and the Costumes They Wore" will feature china dolls from the collection of Mildred Seeley, and fabulous French bisque poupees, highlighted by the extremely rare painted teeth Huret lady, some from the collection of the late Claude Detave of Paris. More than 150 dolls along with rare costumes and complete trousseaux by Parisian couturiers of the 1860 era.

Saturday's catalogued auction, "Dolls, A Moveable Feast," features antique and collectible dolls including German character dolls, gorgeous French bebes, rare early china dolls (more from the Mildred Seeley Collection), all-bisque mignonettes, rare-size impish googlies, rarities such as 18th century wooden court dolls (from the private collection of the late Claude Detave of Paris), and superb diminutive furniture.

Sunday features three auctions, "Vintage Alexander," featuring dolls from the golden age of the Madame Alexander firm; "Toy Stoves, 1850-1950," featuring cast iron American and French stoves and German metal stoves, many by Maerklin; and "Discovery Day Auction," 250 dolls from every category of collecting, including German bisque and china ladies with sculpted hair (many from the collection of Mildred Seeley) and French fashion poupees of extraordinary rarity, several previously not known to exist.

For more information about Theiault's Bon Appetit doll auction, visit http://www.theriaults.com/news/article.cfm?aid=46