Hi Kelly,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

China dolls are a type of ceramic doll with glazed porcelain heads, typically with painted facial features and molded hair, paired with cloth or leather bodies. They were most popular during the mid-19th century and are rarely signed or marked, making it difficult to specifically pinpoint who made them. Eventually, doll makers - most notably those in France and Germany - turned to making doll heads out of bisque (unglazed) porcelain and attaching them to cloth or composition (a mixture of sawdust and glue) - and China dolls became outdated.

Your doll appears to be a more contemporary example, probably from the second quarter of the 20th Century (circa 1925-50).

In the current market, unless China dolls come with considerable provenance, early rarely bring more than $100-150 for the larger ones (20 inches or more), with smaller dolls selling for less than that. Modern dolls have even less of a following and this would likely sell at auction between $50 and $75

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique China doll
American or European, mid 19th Century
With painted and glazed porcelain head wearing a red velvet dress with silvered trim, with porcelain hands and legs. Presumably unsigned.
15 inches long
CONDITION: This doll appears to be in very good all-original condition.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$50-75*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia