Qualities to consider when buying a Doll

Tonight, I will briefly discuss the qualities to consider before purchasing an antique or collectible doll. The first quality for me as I peruse a booth with several available dolls is which one appeals to me most, it's visual appeal. This is probably one of the individual and subjective qualities, but it is important, after all you have to like what you buy! Visual appeal, the elusive "something" that draws one to a doll, and tells you I'm the one for you. It could be the dress, the hair, the eyes, whatever it is you'll know.

The next quality is marks; fortunately most antique dolls, especially the bisque, are marked. Other types such as cloth or paper-mache, may or may not have a mark or label. Composition dolls and most modern dolls also have marks or labels. Madame Aleanders, for instance, have their hang-tags. Marks can tell you quite a bit about a doll, including the maker, trade names, country of origin, the mold number of the doll. The clothes can also be marked, so don't forget to look. The mark can tell one alot, but don't tell the whole story, you cannot buy a doll on the mark alone.

The next quality is Quality! You need to check how well the doll was made as well as any flaws in the manufacturing. Two dolls from the same company and same mold can vary drastically in quality. You need to check the complexion of bisque dolls, how well (or not) it was decorated, the eyes (I have seen cross-eyed dolls), the wig. Ask yourself is this the best doll of this type I've seen? Is the detail of the face sharp and crisp or flat and faint? The details are very important in certain types of dolls, such as dolls with molded hair or character faces. Some bisque when fired develops black spots (like pepper on snow), or blisters and bumps, some dolls painting is not quite right, these are qualities that make a doll a second choice not first quality. It is ok to accept a doll with minor manufacturing flaws, these are toys, and the manufacturer was in business to make a profit so some unperfect heads were sold, the price you pay should reflect this. Is the hair appropriate for the doll, a synthetic wig on an antique bisque doll is just not right, but on a 1950's vinyl it's expected. Antique dolls had wigs of human hair, mohair or sheep skin, if it's the old original wig, Great, but new and appropriate is acceptable. Also check the eyes, in antique dolls they should be glass, and have a natural appearance. The more fine qualities a doll meets the higher it's price will be, lower standards equal a lower price. Some dolls fall into the exceptional category, meeting and exceeding the qualities of a good doll, these are rare and will bring a premium price.

The clothing of a doll should also be appropriate for the type of doll. Old, original clothes are getting harder to come by as fabrics have a limited life, and each year it's life gets shorter. Old, worn and mended but appropriate clothes on an antique doll, even if not original to the doll, are better than new clothes. On modern dolls the story is a bit different, the clothes must be original, in order to bring a top price! Most manufacturers of modern dolls marked their clothes with a tag, but even when not so marked it is fairly easy to determine if the clothes are original factory made clothes. Sometimes on a modern doll the clothes are the only way to identify it, as many dolls were made using the same face molds.

A note on clothes, since these items are getting rarer, and more expensive, there are several dealers who specialize in just clothing and accessories for antique and collectible dolls. Another doll collecting category, if you like old textiles!

Condition is another factor to consider, not only the clothes but the body and especially the head. Bisque doll heads should be perfect and unrepaired to bring top price. A crack on the head, or a repaired head, especially if the face of the doll is involved drastically lowers the value. A small inconspicuos hairline on a common doll will lower the value also, but somewhat less. If the doll is rare, or very uncommon, a small hairline may not affect the value as much as it would in a more commonly found example. If it is a doll you desire and not commonly found, more collectors will accept a doll with a hairline, rather than not have the doll but the price must reflect that damage. Factory defects, if inconspicuous or hidden in the completed doll, such as firing cracks, kiln debris, bubbles or unsmoothed mold lines, have little to no affect on price. Wear such as nose or cheek rubs, a chip around an earring hole, or wig pulls on bisque dolls, china dolls may have hair scuffs, wood dolls may have scuffs, or worn paint, bodies may have worn joints or missing fingers/toes; remember these are play things and this type of wear is to be expected.

Ok, this is a lot to absorb, and we have more to cover, but I will stop here for now. Tomorrow will bring more in this discussion on dolls. If you are reading this discussion and have specific questions, or more clarification on a subject, please ask.

Good Night!