Antique Doll Collecting

When my grandmother died I inherited a doll she had kept for almost 80 years. It was a china doll and in very good shape. She even had saved a piece of material with it, where she had practiced the perfect little hand stitches that were used to make clothes for the doll. I, on the other hand, never really liked or played with dolls. Being a little on the tomboy side, dolls just weren't of interest to me. But of course, Grandma's doll was very special to me.

Several years after her death, after my divorce and being left on my own as a young single mother I ran into financial difficulties. My son and I had to move around, things were pretty rough. There came a time when just a couple of hundred dollars meant a great deal to us. That was when I took Grandma's doll to a collector to see what she was worth. I had also been afraid that she eventually would have been damaged or worse, so it seemed like a good time to deliver her into the hands of someone who would look out for her much better than I could at the time.

That was many years ago, but I occasionally think about it, and wish things had been different. But I am still glad that a collector, who would preserve it and pass it on in her collection was there to take care of her.

But, unlike me, little girls who have a fascination with dolls would probably be the ones that would grow into collectors as adults. Antique dolls are a specialty with a large following. They come from various sources but French and German dolls are particularly prized. I believe Grandma's was German. They are made from different materials, some more durable than others.

For dolls that are damaged, all is not lost. There are doll hospitals where staff are experienced in repairing antique dolls. Collectors also like to have period clothing, wigs and accessories and these too can be restored at doll hospitals. There are many different designs to choose from and a collection could soon fill an entire room! They are a delightful addition to any home and will be appreciated by all generations. To qualify as antique, they have to be at least one hundred years old. Collectible dolls are between twenty five and seventy five years old.

Bisque dolls are very popular. These have heads that are made from unglazed porcelain and some are Pink Bisque dolls with a pink colored tinge. China dolls have heads of glazed porcelain and a sheen surface. Child dolls are the name given to German made dolls with a Bisque head and a dolly face, a term that denotes an open mouth and eyes that open and close. Carton Moule are French or German papier mache antique dolls that have a Bisque head and a life like face. Some papier mache dolls are immersed in wax.

It is also popular to collect clothing for the dolls. There are charming dresses, socks and pantaloons. Various hats are available, made from French silk, straw or velvet. Shoes are often made from leather and there are also felt slippers and fabric boots. Outfits can be topped off with a silk parasol with a handle made from wood, bone or ivory. The wigs for antique dolls are often made from a mohair material and the doll can have her own comb and hairbrush set. The world of doll collecting extends to accessories, such as porcelain dishes, pitchers and bowls and picnic baskets.

Even though I was not a collector at the time, doll collecting can be a very rewarding hobby. And though I lost Grandma's doll, as I think back, I am sure it is in some collection, being well taken care of. Today that doll would be around 110 years old.