Helena Smith Dayton Sold at Auction Prices

RARE EARLY HOLLYWOOD FIGURES

RARE EARLY HOLLYWOOD FIGURES. Modeled as a Gentleman with Straw Hat and Cane, and a Flower Seller, cast in plaster and hand painted, each with Helen Smith Dayton impressed signature and 1915 copyright date. Height 7.25 inches (18.5 cm) each. Helena Smith Dayton (1879-1960) was an American film maker, painter and sculptor working on the East Coast who was an early pioneer of stop motion and clay animation techniques in the 1910’s and 1920’s, one of the first female animators to do so. Her work contributed to the release of one of the first stop motion films in 1917, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. She was also a journalist while living in Connecticut, and spent World War I in Paris working with the YMCA. A 1916 dated edition of The Green Book Magazine, features an illustrated article on these figures which Dayton referred to as "mud-folk" figures and relates that many will be seen in an upcoming (unnamed) movie. SHIPPING NOTICE: Jackson's is your sole and only source for one stop packing and shipping. With over 50 years of experience, our professional, affordable and efficient in-house shipping department will be happy to provide you a fair and reasonable shipping quote on this lot. Simply email us before the auction for a quick quote: shipping@jacksonsauction.com or call 1-800-665-6743. Jackson's can expertly pack and ship to meet any of your needs. To ensure quality control Jackson's DOES NOT release to third party shippers.