Dolls

About Antique Dolls

People have made dolls for thousands of years for use as religious objects, toys, and holiday displays. Many traditional dolls, like the Japanese Kokeshi, are still highly desirable today. Many early American dolls were made of rags, or cloth, and are a reminder of the simple life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the 19th century, French and German dolls were the most popular and innovative dolls in the western world. In the early 1850s, the Bebe doll appeared in France, starting the custom of making dolls in the form of infants and young children (as opposed to adults). The Germans caught on, and soon both countries were producing porcelain-headed dolls...

Late in the 1800s, the French started making dolls with unglazed heads, and the unglazed colored clay more accurately represented a human skin tone. These dolls became known as bisque dolls, and they remain a staple of doll-making.

Shortly thereafter, German doll makers started experimenting with celluloid, a lighter-weight and less breakable material. Celluloid dolls were popular for a number of years, despite the fact that the material was flammable. Dolls in Europe, Japan, and America made of celluloid, such as the famous Kewpie doll, were eventually replaced by dolls made of plastic, or composition dolls, made of a mix of materials including glue and sawdust.

The early 20th century saw the launch of a number of famous doll-making companies, such as Ideal, which became known among other things for its best-selling Shirley Temple dolls. Another was Vogue, which produced the Ginny doll, and of course Mattel, which launched its blockbuster Barbie line in the late 1950s.

Though most antique dolls started out as toys, some dolls have been sought by collectors from the beginning. A good example is the Simpich Doll Company, which produced small numbers of limited edition Christmas and Americana-themed dolls for over 50 years.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview on Antique Dolls With Museum Curator Noreen Marshall

We have a very small team here at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, so we all have to do lots of differe… [more]

Dolls Are More Than Toys

In a New England parlor of the 1890s a doll of the period was perched on top of a high book case, well out of the r… [more]

Random Thoughts on Dolls

This is a most unorthodox treatise on dolls as we are neither collectors nor authorities on their histories, but fo… [more]

Childhood In Early America

With children of early America, deference to parents and other elders and unquestioning obedience to those in autho… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Dollreference.com

Dollreference.com

This densely packed index of antique and vintage dolls claims to offer over 10,000 images of dolls from the 1800s … [read review or visit site]

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Rhonda Wilson's collection of 1950s dolls, organized by name (Ginny and friends, Littlest Angel and friends, etc.) … [read review or visit site]

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Loretta McKenzie's tribute to the charming, singing, dancing, curly haired Shirley Temple. Click 'My Dolls' on the … [read review or visit site]

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylee's extensive collection of vintage dolls from the 1930s to 90s. Click the balloons to browse. Though Kaylee s… [read review or visit site]

Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Embrace your inner child on this microsite from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and… [read review or visit site]


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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Dolls email

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Rare Antique Kewpie Doll$3,050 Ends Friday 16 bids 42 watchers
Incredible Antique Beb?? Jumeau Doll 1889$2,085 Ends in 2 hours 35 bids 189 watchers
French Depose E14j Jumeau Antique Doll$2,025 Ends Friday 5 bids 95 watchers
Mint Factory Orig Twin 12" K * R Halbig Characters Nr$1,500 Ends Saturday 1 bid 23 watchers
Antique Fg Gaultier Gesland French Bebe Doll E/c 13" Nr$1,499 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 81 watchers
Lenci Lady Antique Doll Serie 165 $1,240 Ends in 1 hour 16 bids 63 watchers
Antique Fine Jumeau French Bebe Doll 25" No Reserve$999.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 33 watchers
Antique French Bisque S.f.b.j 29" Jumeau Bebe Doll$899.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 12 watchers
Fab A/o Closed Mouth 15" Kestner At W/early 8 Ball Body$815.00 Ends in 11 hours 12 bids 65 watchers
Antique German Grocery Store ( Gorcery Speichen ) Rare!$804.00 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 12 watchers
Wonderful Antique French Bleuette Sfbj 60 8/0 $598.00 Ends Thursday 3 bids 78 watchers
Splendid Simon Halbig Closed Mouth 949-16" Tall$590.99 Ends in 11 hours 13 bids 89 watchers
Antique Bisque Head Stitched Leather Body Doll German$566.80 Ends Sunday 11 bids 92 watchers
Rare Original Unmarked 27" Jumeau Doll C1895 Crier Body$510.00 Ends Friday 18 bids 63 watchers
17" Kestner #128 Closed-mouth Antique Clothes Ca.1890s $510.00 Ends Thursday 13 bids 61 watchers
Gorgeous Simon & Halbig 949 Child, No Reserve!$499.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 29 watchers
Antique Bisque Dep Closed Mouth Doll - 1886$455.00 Ends Saturday 10 bids 98 watchers
Antique Elegant Pair Half Doll Pin Cushion German $405.00 Ends Monday 14 bids 41 watchers
Emma Clear Doll Antique Artist Bisque Parian Lady Rare$365.00 Ends Wednesday 13 bids 70 watchers
Sweet Antique Walkure By Kley & Hahn$350.00 Ends in 22 hours 1 bid 20 watchers
German Doll Possibly Simon And Halbig 1800's$305.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 43 watchers
Antique German Bisque Character Doll Stern Little Boy $305.00 Ends Thursday 8 bids 44 watchers
Perfect Kestner 171 , 27 Inches$300.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 9 watchers
Collector's Set Of 24 Golliwog Dolls$300.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Amazing Large Martha Chase Baby Doll$299.99 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid 15 watchers
Antique Alt, Beck & Gottschalck Bisque Head Blue Scarf$295.00 Ends Friday 1 bid 45 watchers
Vintage Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls-sleepy!$276.71 Ends Friday 21 bids 42 watchers
Unusual 20" A/o German Bisque O/m Character W Dimples $265.20 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 72 watchers
Antique Kestner Bisque Head 143 Face Brown Eyes 13.5" $225.78 Ends Sunday 8 bids 36 watchers
Lovely French Antq Bisq Hd Doll Sfbj 60. Bleuette Head?$225.00 Ends Saturday 5 bids 48 watchers
Extremely Rare A.m 353 3 1/2 K Doll Oriental Looking$220.55 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 96 watchers
15" Antique Frozen Charlie China Doll Germany Bathing$212.50 Ends Wednesday 9 bids 14 watchers
Antique German Simon Halbig 1249 "santa" Doll 18"$207.61 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 42 watchers
Franz Schmidt Bisque Bebe Jumeau Antique Doll 22"$204.49 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 26 watchers
Early Quality Dep Armand Marseille Am Pierced Ears 27"$204.38 Ends Friday 2 bids 35 watchers
Bisque Head, Jointed Kid Leather Body. Circa 1900$203.50 Ends Friday 14 bids 116 watchers
Rare Vint Pr 12" Heubach Bisque Children Feeding Dogs$202.50 Ends in 9 hours 8 bids 12 watchers
Early All Original 19" Lenci Doll - Beautiful $202.50 Ends Thursday 7 bids 22 watchers
22" Antique Bisque Bonnie Babe Georgene Averill C1926$202.50 Ends Thursday 5 bids 28 watchers
Simon And Halbig 15” Bisque / Composition German Doll$202.50 Ends Saturday 2 bids 20 watchers
Sweet Antq German Bisq Hd Doll #60 Near Bleuette Size$199.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids 52 watchers
All-bisque Child Doll, Head Marked L&w$199.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 9 watchers
Early Schoenhut Boy Wood Doll 1911 Red Hair Farmer Nr$199.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 17 watchers
Charming Kestner 260 Child, Perfect Bisque, Nr!$199.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 27 watchers
Antique Bisque Kestner 10" Gibson Girl Doll #172 Rare!$193.01 Ends Thursday 6 bids 35 watchers
Antique French Cut-work Dress Fits Jumeau Bru Doll$190.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 38 watchers
20" German Bisque C1920 A.m. Our Pet All-original Mint$162.50 Ends Thursday 7 bids 31 watchers
Lovely Simon & Halbig 1079 Girl - Great Clothes - 21"$160.50 Ends Saturday 3 bids 23 watchers
Antique German Doll$160.49 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 36 watchers
Kestner Pouty Closed Mouth Antique Doll Body 12" - 32cm$157.98 Ends Wednesday 12 bids 71 watchers
Antique Schoenhut Doll Peasant Woman W/bucket $157.50 Ends Thursday 9 bids 39 watchers
French Bisque Antique Doll S F B J Unis France 301 $157.50 Ends Wednesday 11 bids 79 watchers
Antique Body 4 Small French German Bisque Doll 9" 23cm$156.42 Ends in 2 hours 10 bids 60 watchers
26" Compo Body Simon & Halbig Jetta 1349 Bisque Doll$156.25 Ends Thursday 5 bids 15 watchers
Sweet Simon & Halbig Composition Doll Large 27" Girl$156.25 Ends Thursday 2 bids 19 watchers
Rare Polly Heckenwelder Moravian Cloth Doll!!$153.50 Ends in 12 hours 4 bids 46 watchers
Antique #121 Simon & Halbig Character Baby Bisque Doll $152.50 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 53 watchers
Vintage German Crown Top Figural Pierrot Perfume Bottle$152.50 Ends Thursday 8 bids 45 watchers
29" Rare French Bebe - Walker !$152.49 Ends in 11 hours 3 bids 31 watchers
Blonde, Dollhouse Size Frozen Charlotte$150.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 12 watchers

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Recent News: Dolls

Source: Google News

Having a little fun along the antiques road
Cumberland Courier Newspapers, February 5th

One of her favourite finds was a mechanised antique doll called Charlie, which was adult size and fetched 84000 ($151000) at auction...Read more

Antique doll to be auctioned
Hattiesburg American, February 4th

Bernetta Coleman wanted to help her 13-year-old daughter and her classmates go on a school trip, while also doing something that would honor Black History...Read more

Altrusa Antique Show this weekend
Gadsden Times, February 3rd

An antique doll dealer will be one of the new displays at this year's show. Among the collectibles to be displayed and sold are antique books,...Read more

Dolls, new, old, big, small, fill museum halls
Seminole Chronicle, January 27th

At more than a century old, the antique doll has amazingly retained its original, hand-painted face and coloring. "It's my wife's doll...Read more

Ten Thousand Villages' Wiebe on a mission for world artisans
Newton Kansan, January 25th

She recalled with a broad smile her best buy — a metal antique doll house, which she bought for $5 and sold for $68. In her job at Ten Thousand Villages,...Read more

Dolls are not just for kids! A Doll Collecting Profile.
Xomba (blog), January 19th

When an antique or vintage doll is inherited, the recipient is eager to learn more about the little treasure that has stood the test of time...Read more

Personal equity
Irish Times, January 15th

And, if imagining your hair flowing from the head of a glassy-eyed antique doll doesn't spur you on, I don't know what will. Has your canary ever rescued...Read more

Dolls

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