Big Fun in a Miniature World - Collecting Miniature and Antique Porcelain Dolls

Porcelain dolls have entertained (or frightened, if you are like me!) small children and adolescents for hundreds of years, and continue to captivate collectors today.  Whether they are precious family heirlooms, or modern day reproductions, classic miniature porcelain dolls are a prized and popular collector’s item in today’s market.  If you have been contemplating beginning a collection of your own, antique and vintage miniature porcelain is a great place to begin.  These collector’s items, unlike many other fad collectibles, never go out of style and can be something to treasure forever.  Who knows?  Maybe your new hobby will become a priceless family heirloom!

About Miniature and Larger Vintage Porcelain Dolls
(courtesy of http://www.antique-antiques.com)

The easily sculpted, translucent solid used to make porcelain dolls is generally referred to as china or bisque. Collectible porcelain dolls with glazed faces are termed "china," whereas dolls with a soft, unglazed finish that appears more like natural skin are termed "bisque."

What we know as antique or collectible china & porcelain dolls probably originated from doll makers in Germany, France and Denmark became popular in the early 1800’s. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that a German doll manufacturer began to mass produce heads, arms and legs of these collectible porcelain dolls. Large quantities of doll pieces could be exported and then joined to composite, wood or kidskin bodies later for resale. The feet of the dolls of this era were often painted to look like stockings or boots and the molded heads depicted the hairstyles of the time.

Until the introduction of the French "Bebe" by Emil-Louis Jumeau in the mid 1800’s porcelain dolls had only represented the body and clothing of an adult. The Bebe dolls not only had beautiful, delicate faces, but their clothing was exquisitely crafted and reflected the finest in fashion worn by the upper class of the day. Although Jumeau was innovative in his advertising and marketing of the "Bebe," French dollmaker Leon-Casimri Bru is said to have been the most "artistic" producer of china dolls. The Bru dolls were of such high quality that they appeared on the market as true luxury items even to the wealthy class.

By the late l890s there were only a handful of companies providing nearly all the doll heads in the business. German porcelain dolls, although not as elegant as the French dolls, became quite popular because they were less expensive, and thus, more affordable to the general population.

These "glass" dolls have maintained their popularity even today. Selections of dolls today vary in form from baby dolls to youngsters to adult and are available in a variety of sizes, nationalities and costumes. Many of the dolls in today’s market are considered artistic pieces and are often numbered and accompanied by a registration card and certificate of authenticity. They continue to provide the collector the elaborate detailing and exquisite features of their predecessors and are heralded as a major collectible.

Beginning your Porcelain Doll Collection

*  Do your research!  Become familiar with miniature and vintage porcelain dolls and the antique doll market through reading information online, in books, or in magazines.  Doll Collector is a great magazine for information about antique porcelain dolls.  The more you know about what you are collecting, the more you will appreciate the exquisiteness of the dolls, and the more informed you will be as a consumer when it comes to understanding accurate doll values and pricing.

*  Mentally organize your collection.  Do you want to collect only dolls made by a certain artist?  Do you want to collect dolls from a particular time period?  Do you want your collection to only include small/miniature dolls?  Maybe you will even decide that you want an eclectic collection based purely on personal preference!  Either way, it is important to have some direction in mind when you begin any collection – it help you to stay interested in your hobby!

*  Get our there and start shopping!  There are many places to buy antique and miniature porcelain dolls.  Some good starting points include:

    * eBay.com
    * Local Classifieds such as Cragslist.org
    * Local Antique Shops

* This is a good option because you can browse different types of dolls and  actually touch and hold the doll, whereas in an online store, you must rely on pictures and the word of the vendor.

    *  Flea Markets
    *  Specialty Doll Stores
    *  Catalogs
    *  Some Specialty Magazines

*  Interact with others that share your passion.  Networking with other antique and miniature porcelain doll collectors in your community or online is a great way to make new friends and learn about your hobby.  Sign up on forum websites and online club websites dedicated to porcelain dolls and get social!  If you really enjoy networking, consider attending a doll convention as a great way to meet fellow collectors, take part in workshops, listen to speeches and lectures, and see a huge variety of dolls for sale!

More Antique and Miniature Porcelain Doll Collecting Tips
(courtesy of www.dollymaker.com)

•    A good thing to remember when you start an antique doll collection is that the majority of these dolls were greatly loved by little girls. They were played with, dressed and redressed, bodies sometimes worn out, patched and replaced. If your budget is limited, well-loved dolls, often without their original clothes, can be a wonderful way to start a collection, especially if you can sew.

•    Remember that replacing eyes and body parts, as well finding original or period clothing for an antique doll can be a very expensive proposition--good antique doll shoes, for German and French bisque dolls can be well over $100 a pair! Original clothes for a Jumeau or Bru can run several thousand dollars.

•    Reproductions of clothes and shoes (as well as the expensive dolls themselves) are widely available, but before investing in such items, you should study antique dolls for a while, seeing as many original dolls and outfits as you can to better help you judge authenticity and quality. Museums and doll auctions (run by such auction houses as Theriaults, Frashers, and McMasters) are two excellent places to see antique dolls in person, and many well-illustrated books are also available. Antique Doll Collector, a bi-monthly magazine, is an excellent place to find specialist antique doll dealers.

•    When selecting a German dolly-faced doll for your collection, try to especially notice the facial painting, which can vary greatly. For instance, if you are purchasing a common German bisque doll by Armand Marseille, pay attention to the individual artistry of the doll--some are hastily painted with one-stroke brows and heavy tint and blush, while others have nicely feathered brows and pale bisque, and are as nice as dolls from better-known makers.

•    Although the prices of all-bisques by Kestner and other known makers have skyrocketed in recent years, there are many affordable all-bisques, such as unmarked stationary-head German "candy dolls" often for under $200, and frozen charlottes (china dolls, all stationary) which can be had for as little as $25-$20 for a doll under 2" tall.

•    Most experts will tell you to stay away from dolls with hairline cracks or other imperfections. This is sound advice if you have any expectation of reselling your doll in a few years time. However, if you are primarily buying your doll for personal enjoyment, and the discount is fair, you can afford rarer examples of dolls for your collection that you might not otherwise be able to afford by buying a slightly damaged doll. Often, minor damage is not noticeable when a doll is displayed.

•    Another niche for someone who admires the artistry of the antique dolls, but cannot afford the finer examples, is to concentrate on the lovely garments, shoes, hats and accessories made for the dolls. Fine French dolls had entire stores devoted to their clothing and accessories, and accessories included everything from purses to card games, and chatelaines to bibles. The clothing made by expert seamstresses rivaled the finest fashions for women. All of these items are quite pricey, but fine examples can be had for much less than complete dolls.

•    If you are not limited in funds, try to find dolls in original condition, which are in original or period clothes. This is especially true for dolls which are not as rare, such as many of the china dolls or German dolly-faced dolls. All-original dolls are getting harder and harder to find, and their values are likely to continue to soar.

Miniature and Antique Porcelain Doll Price Guide