Doll Appraising...

[HaRuMaN]

Ok, laugh it up...

My wife has a bunch of old dolls (Ginny, Kewpie, etc.) that she wants to sell.  Before she sells them though (on eBay), she wants to get a general idea of what they may be worth.  Anybody have any ideas where to start?

[shmokes]

I have an uncle who collects porcelain dolls.  They are like three feet tall, incredibly detailed and elaborately dressed.  They're super creepy.  He is super creepy.  He's never been married and lives in a trailer in an undisclosed location on BLM land.  He comes to family functions, but nobody has ever been to his place.  Nobody knows exactly where he lives (well, the BLM rangers know, but they just ignore him cos he doesn't cause any trouble).  The funny thing is, he is always giving these dolls to family members.  I don't know how many he has at home, but he's given away at least 40 of these things (and I'm sure they cost at least a few hundred dollars apiece).  I'm pretty sure that he is a pedophile and he buys the dolls because of his affliction, and then guilt makes him want to get rid of them.

Weird.

[crashwg]

Good story.

[boykster]

Creepiest

Post

Ever

[Zero_Hour]

shmokes,

Ditch law school. You should be writing script treatments for David Lynch.

As for the dolls, maybe try and contact auction houses to get some info on how they handle their appraisals.

[shmokes]

Heh . . . I just did a google search and I think the "a few hundred" dollars apiece comment was WAY lowballed.  His dolls probably run between $400 and $1000 apiece.  Even creepier.

[RayB]

Heh . . . I just did a google search and I think the "a few hundred" dollars apiece comment was WAY lowballed.  His dolls probably run between $400 and $1000 apiece.  Even creepier.

How can you know? Toys R Us has porcelein dolls for $25.

[shardian]

Heh . . . I just did a google search and I think the "a few hundred" dollars apiece comment was WAY lowballed.  His dolls probably run between $400 and $1000 apiece.  Even creepier.

How can you know? Toys R Us has porcelein dolls for $25.

Quality porcelain dolls are expensive. One year, I bought my wife (then girlfriend) a porcelain doll from a specialty store that cost almost $100. The best ones are cast from hand made molds by a specific artist and only a set amount of each is made. The level of detail in a nicer doll is much more pronounced with extra attention paid to skin details, joint articulation, facial expression, etc. It isn't too difficult to tell a high dollar doll from a wal-mart one.

And no, I don't own a single doll. I just happened to do a bit of research back when I bought the thing.

[HaRuMaN]

Bah...  you people are no help... 

[shardian]

ummm, I believe my line of "I did a bit of research" might help you. Look on the dolls for markings of who made it, and when it was made. Do a few tries of searchs on "the google" and see what you come up with. That's pretty much all you can do. I wouldn't trust any local antiques dealer to give an honest appraisal - they'll just lowball you and try to buy them if they are worth anything.

[billf]

ummm, I believe my line of "I did a bit of research" might help you. Look on the dolls for markings of who made it, and when it was made. Do a few tries of searchs on "the google" and see what you come up with. That's pretty much all you can do. I wouldn't trust any local antiques dealer to give an honest appraisal - they'll just lowball you and try to buy them if they are worth anything.

Yep, I agree with Shardian.  I assume you know this, but in case not... you can also do a "completed item" search at eBay with the same info found on the dolls.  Since you plan to sell them on eBay, I would search what they've sold for and are currently selling for on eBay.  Maybe check Craigslist as well.

[JackTucky]

I have one that looks like George Costanza's mother.

=J

[Hildy_42]

I just did a quick google search and here is what I found.  Hope it helps.

http://collectdolls.about.com/library/blgallpvogue.htm