1800’s Porcelain China Doll
09 March 2022
Description

Approximately 23 inches tall, The doll is made of a thick porcelain head, hands, and legs. She has black curly painted hair, very fair white skin, and blushed cheeks. She has blue eyes and painted lips. Her legs have painted blue ribbons around the bottom of her knees and her Victorian boot heels are painted black with white bottoms. She is wearing a red flower Victorian dress with lace on the top edges and around her wrists. She also has a matching bonnet. She has some undergarment pants that appears to be era appropriate. Her body, arms, and legs are stuffed pretty dense with what feels to be hay of some sort wrapped with pink fabric. Although I do not see any markings on the porcelain, she does have two holes on the back where strings are attached to the body. It’s interesting to note that there is a third hole mark in the center of the other two holes but is not drilled through. Don’t know if this is a manufacturing defect or if it’s meant to be like that. She is overall in “LIKE NEW” condition with no chips, cracks, scratches, etc,.. I’m curious to know more about her, where she came from and of course how much she’s worth. Thank you in advance for your help.

Provenance

Unknown

Acquired from
Auction House
For sale
Maybe
Answered within 1 day
By Delia
Mar 10, 21:56 UTC
Fair Market Value
$400 - $600 USD
Suggested Asking Price $600 USD
What does this mean?

Hi Edgar,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Stylistically, this doll is 19th Century but the condition is too new; suspiciously new. The holes in the porcelain shoulders are too crisp, the fabric body is too clean and the limbs look like they havent' seen the light of day, much less ever been played with.

Did the auction house you acquired this from give you any history or reason why it looks so "good"?

Thanks to confirm,
Delia

Edgar g marin Mar 10, 22:59 UTC

I purchased this at an estate sale with tons of other dolls. Most of them are 1930’s Shirley Temple Dolls and another porcelain head doll that is a different size and style which I will be submitting here shortly.

All I know is that it came from another collector. Some of the dolls are used and some look like they were never played with.

Is there other areas I haven’t checked to try and find any markings on the doll? I was unable to locate any.

Delia Mar 11, 00:14 UTC

If this were correct, it would be an antique china or glazed porcelain head doll, probably Germany, 1840 or after; 23 inches tall Given the newness of the porcelain head and cloth body, this looks to be a later reproduction, mid 20th Century, with a value of $400-600.

Delia Mar 11, 00:17 UTC

It may be worth getting a second opinion; you can send the same photos to Theriaults Doll Auctions. They are in Maryland but can give a free opinion based on photos (https://www.theriaults.com/auctions).

Do you have a similar item and want to know how much it’s worth?

Communicate directly with a qualified specialist and get a fair market valuation of your item, typically in 48 hours or less.

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