Collectible Dolls buying guide

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Collectible Dolls

As a tested and proven popular gift, many children may have dolls, but collecting them is another realm of doll ownership. A collection can start in childhood, or later, depending on the interests of the collector. Collections tend to have themes, such as time periods, doll materials, countries of origin, brand names, doll characters, or antiquity, it really depends on the collector and what he or she gravitates toward as far as doll purchasing and collecting goes. There are countless guides, guidelines, and rules when it comes to collecting dolls, but when it comes down to it, it really just matters what makes the collector happy. No one can choose a collection for someone else, so here are some basics if collecting dolls tickles your fancy.

Popular Collectible Materials

Cloth Dolls

Composition dolls

Bisque Dolls

Papier Mâché Dolls

Many of these dolls come pre-made, but some come with only materials and instructions, so they can be made at home.

Rag dolls date back to ancient Rome.

Traditionally made from clothing scraps.

Some have two heads, called topsy turvy dolls, which are a collection category of their own.

Sawdust and glue mixture.

Include celluloid dolls, which are rare, since they deteriorate and are highly flammable.

Popular from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century.

Most dolls have crazing: a cracking of the lacquer finishing that come with age.

Replaced by hard plastic dolls.

Date back to the late 1860s.

Unglazed porcelain.

Most bisque dolls have cloth bodies, but bisque heads.

Very fragile, not for playing.

Unpainted and unglazed bisque dolls are known as parian dolls.

Introduced in the early 1800's in Germany.

Easily moulded and painted.

9" to 28" tall traditionally.

Displaced wooden dolls as the premier material, later replaced in popularity by porcelain.

Hard Plastic Dolls

Porcelain Dolls

Vinyl Dolls

Wooden Dolls

Introduced after WWII.

Less breakable than prior materials, also less prone to fading and catching on fire.

Some companies still produce hard plastic dolls, but in a hard vinyl form.

Faded in popularity in the 1950s when vinyl dolls became available.

Glazed bisque dolls, sometimes called china dolls.

Popular from the 1830s to the 1930s, with a resurgence in the 1980s.

2" to 30" tall, generally with cloth bodies or porcelain legs and cloth abdomens.

Many china dolls have no markings, so determining which company manufactured the doll is very difficult.

Became popular in the 1950s because dolls are virtually unbreakable, softer than plastic to touch, and inexpensive.

Many dolls manufactured presently are vinyl: some soft, but others in harder vinyl, which are primarily for collectors.

Since it is a relatively new material, vinyl has not been proven to age well or badly.

One of the first doll materials, some wood dolls are from the 1600s.

Most wooden dolls are hand made, and are still crafted, but primarily for collectors.

Very expensive; many are in museums.

The majority were made before the 20th century.

Some companies are trying to revive natural organic material dolls, and wood is becoming more popular as a doll-head material, but they are not on the collectible market yet.

What to look for

Dolls are measured by many factors, and their worth is determined by the doll market, with prices ranging from the inexpensive to the priceless. The most important factor is how well preserved the doll is. This matters to all doll collectors. There are some who collect for the purpose of refurnishing the dolls, but for the most part, if a doll is cracked, ripped, missing eyes, or has insanely tangled hair, it isn't worth much unless incredibly rare. For those who wish to restore dolls, there are doll hospitals available for a price to clean up, repaint, or re-glue old dolls. Another important factor is how old the dolls are. Some collectors only buy antiques, while some wish only to purchase vintage, and there are even some who wish to only buy modern dolls. The three categories are ever-changing with the times, but are generally split up as: modern dolls have been made within the last 25 years, vintage dolls have been made within the last 75 years, and antiques that are more than 75 years old. One of the main arguments within the doll collecting community is whether or not to separate modern dolls from their packaging, since some claim that dolls are meant to be handled, while others claim that playing with dolls depreciates their value. It is really a decision for the individual collector to make. The main rule is: find the kind of doll or dolls that makes you happy, and work to collect them. It should be fun, somewhat relaxing, but most of all pleasurable.

External Links

About.com: An online guide to doll collecting.
Vam.com: Doll exhibit and background information at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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Cloth Dolls	Composition dolls	Bisque Dolls	Papier Mâché Dolls
Many of these dolls come pre-made, but some come with only materials and instructions, so they can be made at home. Rag dolls date back to ancient Rome. Traditionally made from clothing scraps. Some have two heads, called topsy turvy dolls, which are a collection category of their own.	Sawdust and glue mixture. Include celluloid dolls, which are rare, since they deteriorate and are highly flammable. Popular from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century. Most dolls have crazing: a cracking of the lacquer finishing that come with age. Replaced by hard plastic dolls.	Date back to the late 1860s. Unglazed porcelain. Most bisque dolls have cloth bodies, but bisque heads. Very fragile, not for playing. Unpainted and unglazed bisque dolls are known as parian dolls.	Introduced in the early 1800's in Germany. Easily moulded and painted. 9" to 28" tall traditionally. Displaced wooden dolls as the premier material, later replaced in popularity by porcelain.

Hard Plastic Dolls	Porcelain Dolls	Vinyl Dolls	Wooden Dolls
Introduced after WWII. Less breakable than prior materials, also less prone to fading and catching on fire. Some companies still produce hard plastic dolls, but in a hard vinyl form. Faded in popularity in the 1950s when vinyl dolls became available.	Glazed bisque dolls, sometimes called china dolls. Popular from the 1830s to the 1930s, with a resurgence in the 1980s. 2" to 30" tall, generally with cloth bodies or porcelain legs and cloth abdomens. Many china dolls have no markings, so determining which company manufactured the doll is very difficult.	Became popular in the 1950s because dolls are virtually unbreakable, softer than plastic to touch, and inexpensive. Many dolls manufactured presently are vinyl: some soft, but others in harder vinyl, which are primarily for collectors. Since it is a relatively new material, vinyl has not been proven to age well or badly.	One of the first doll materials, some wood dolls are from the 1600s. Most wooden dolls are hand made, and are still crafted, but primarily for collectors. Very expensive; many are in museums. The majority were made before the 20th century. Some companies are trying to revive natural organic material dolls, and wood is becoming more popular as a doll-head material, but they are not on the collectible market yet.