How can you tell if a doll is celluloid?

Sizes and Characteristics of Celluloid Dolls

Celluloid dolls can vary in size from only an inch or two tall to as large as 30 inches for large Japanese celluloid baby or toddler dolls. However, most celluloid dolls tend to be smaller dolls due to the lightweight nature and fragility of the plastic.

What are celluloid dolls?

Celluloid dolls were child playthings created from cheap synthetic plastic from the mid 1800s until the 1940s. They were produced as an unbreakable alternative to the extremely fragile China, wax, and bisque dolls. Kewpies, baby dolls, and French high fashion Colette dolls were all made of celluloid.

How do I identify my doll?

Doll manufacturer marks are typically found on the back of the head or neck. Maker's marks can also be placed between the shoulder blades, on the bottom of the feet, or on the doll's clothing tags. If the doll has a wig, the mark might be under it.

How do you identify a composition doll?

Since the material a doll head is made from determines the type of doll, only dolls with heads made of composition are referred to as composition dolls.

Which dolls are worth money?

Celluloid doll and the dangers of celluloid.

What material are old dolls?

The majority of dolls had heads made from bisque and bodies made from other materials such as stuffed cloth, kid leather or a durable material made from sawdust and glue called composition. Some bodies were hollow and had limbs that were fastened together with elastic cord through an internal network of metal hooks.

How old does a doll have to be to be vintage?

Antique, Vintage or Modern Collectible

Antique dolls are 100 years old or more. Notable dolls from the 50s are considered vintage.

What does a bisque doll look like?

Most bisque dolls have a head made of bisque porcelain and a body made of another material. Bisque is unglazed porcelain with a matte finish, giving it a realistic skin-like texture. It is usually tinted or painted a realistic skin color.

What is the best way to sell a doll collection?

To that end, her best bet it to simply sell the dolls in the open market. There are many ways to do this, but I think the best way to maximize her profit is to use eBay (or a similar service). eBay puts the items at auction so that others are competing to buy them, which generally results in the best price.

How do you know if a doll is antique?

Most antique dolls will have a manufacturer's mark on the back of the head, or on the base of the neck. If the doll doesn't have a manufacturer's mark anywhere and you still suspect that it could be antique, contact a professional doll appraiser for help.

When did they start making dolls with plastic?

It is a plastic created from wood products that include cellulose nitrate and camphor. First created in 1863, it was a popular material to make items as diverse as jewelry and dolls from the 1870s through the 1930s.

How can you tell if a doll is porcelain?

First, make a general assessment of your doll and determine that it is actually made from porcelain. There should be a clear identification name or number on the head, shoulder, neck, or bottom of your doll's foot. This number can be used for online comparisons or when consulting an appraiser.

What were dolls made of before plastic?

The earliest materials were rubber and celluloid. From the mid-20th century, soft vinyl became the dominant material, in particular for children's dolls. Beginning in the 20th century, both porcelain and plastic dolls are made directly for the adult collectors market.

What were dolls made of in the 1950's?

Hard plastic and vinyl dolls often had eyes that could open and close, as well as joints on the hips, shoulders, and wrists. In the '50s, the mohair wigs (made from Angora goat hair) of hard-plastic dolls were replaced with synthetic materials like saran, Dynel, and nylon.

What were dolls made of in the 1920s?

By the late 1920s, many of the bisque manufacturers were producing dolls made solely from composition, a rather vague term which covers many substances, but in this instance was usually a material comprised of a sawdust, plaster and glue mix.

How can you tell the difference between bisque and porcelain?

What Are Bisque and Porcelain? As mentioned, bisque is unglazed porcelain. Porcelain is created from a paste of clays and water which is molded and then fired at temperatures above 2300 F. After firing, the molded doll head is fired several times more after applications of paints to create the doll's features.

Are bisque dolls worth anything?

Bisque Dollhouse Doll With Molded Hair

Head, lower arms, and lower legs are bisque; rest of body cloth. Painted eyes. Price: Around $125 to $165.

What is a German bisque doll?

A German bisque doll from around 1900. A bisque doll or porcelain doll is a doll made partially or wholly out of bisque porcelain. Bisque dolls are characterized by their realistic, skin-like matte finish. They had their peak of popularity between 1860 and 1900 with French and German dolls.

Are Cabbage Patch dolls worth anything?

Cabbage Patch dolls from earlier times are typically worth $500 to $2000, while standard dolls with vinyl heads usually cost between $10 to $30. Teresa Ann was the most valuable Cabbage Patch doll to sell in 1985. In April 2021, it sold on eBay for $2000.

Are dolls still collectible?

Collectible dolls are among the most beloved and recognizable collectibles of all. Whether you've owned or played with one, most can describe the most famous dolls, such as Barbie, Cabbage Patch Dolls, or Raggedy Ann and Andy.

How much does it cost to restore a doll?

A typical doll restoration averages about $12 – $18 per inch of doll, but every doll has different needs, so the price on a doll repair bid may vary greatly.

Is my porcelain doll worth anything?

A quick scan of the auction and buy-it-now listings on eBay finds porcelain doll values ranging from around $5 and $10 to several thousand dollars or more but no dolls listed above $10,000.

What is the most popular doll brand?

Sales may have dropped recently, but Mattel still claims a Barbie doll is sold every three seconds, which would make the billion-dollar brand the world's most popular doll for girls.

What is a composite doll made of?

A composition doll is a doll made partially or wholly out of composition, a composite material composed of sawdust, glue, and other materials such as cornstarch, resin and wood flour.