Hobby

The thing to remember about a collectible antique doll is that at one point it is usually the best friend and confidante of a young girl, often dressed and played with and may have been repaired along they way. Knowledge is imperative for anyone anticipating starting a doll collection to ensure that they are getting what they pay for in their collection.

Another key to having a collectible antique doll is that original clothing and accessories will often set you back perhaps more than the price of the doll itself. As people begin their collections it is not unusual for them to pick up well-worn dolls with the thought of restoring them to original condition. Bear in mind, a good pair of shoes for a collectible antique doll, such as French bisque, could cost about $100. Original clothing for some dolls can cost several hundreds of dollars.

Many collectible antique dolls come in all shapes and sizes with some, like a frozen china doll, being less than two inches tall. It should be noted that a “frozen doll” is one that does not move at all. These and other collectible antique dolls are available and although their prices have risen recent years, there are still bargains to be found.

Pay Attention to Bisque Doll Details

Faces painted on bisque dolls can widely vary in quality and detail. Some may have a single brush stroke serving as eyebrows while better ones will have the paint feathered for a more natural look and the cheeks on a quality collectible antique doll will not look like a child got loose with mom’s lipstick.

Additional points to look for are the clothing as quality collectible antique dolls also came with original clothing and many of the outfits rivaled your dresses in quality, fit and prices. It isn’t unusual for an original dress to cost upwards of $500 in good condition. In fact, there are some people who own valued collectible antique doll clothing but the dolls are of inferior condition. They are focusing on the threads not the doll.

When you decide you want to collect antique dolls, be careful buying them without having the opportunity to look at them in detail. There are many minor factors to consider before you are able to judge its condition accurately, such as cracks along the hairline, the quality of the hand painting and more. Buying online rules out the option of you being able to touch and feel the doll and see any not-quite-visible blemishes that would affect its price.