Have you ever walked into an antique store and been amazed at the dolls that look so real? I know I have. Some of the dolls take you back to the old times. The time of the fashions of the period. The dolls are so lifelike that you stare at them wondering how they can be so real.
Well,
many of those vintage dolls are actually “bisque dolls”. They are often called
porcelain dolls. They were commonly made in the late 1860s, and were unglazed
porcelain. In the 1860s, several French doll firms created the first unglazed
porcelain dolls. These porcelain, or termed bisque dolls allowed for a more
realistic skin tone. They are still made even today. But since they are so
breakable and expensive, they are not made for play dolls. Thus, the bisque
dolls are only made today for collectors.
But, in
the 1860s when they were first made, the bisque dolls were very popular, until
the early 1900s. Then in the 1980s they become more popular once more, as
collectors were attracted to the realistic features of the dolls.
A doll
is considered bisque if the head is made of bisque. However, bisque is heavy,
and only small dolls were known to be made entirely of bisque. Small bisque
dolls were often called “penny dolls”.
Throughout
history literally thousands of companies have manufactured bisque dolls. Most
of them first began in France, but many then started in the Thuringa region of
Germany in the late 1800s. It was not until the early 1900s when bisque dolls
were first made in the United States. Today, most dolls are made in, you
guessed it, China.
You
would be shocked at the cost of some of the dolls. They go from just a few
dollars to over $200,000. Most of the dolls today are in the $20 to $500 range.
It all depends on the materials used, as well as how unique the doll is.
As you
can expect, collecting dolls is extremely popular. Many doll collectors have
had to decide whether to collect dolls made of bisque or of high quality vinyl.
Some collectors will have dolls made of both.
Many
doll companies will make dolls made of both vinyl and bisque. Some will only
make one or the other, as is the case with the Marie Osmond Company. It only
makes bisque dolls.
Bisque
dolls can be broken more easily than vinyl dolls, but can last for centuries.
Bisque doll collectors should be able to decide if a particular doll is more
valuable than another. Often, the way the doll’s face is painted will determine
the value. But the quality of the bisque is important as well. The bisque should
not have too many black flecks or pin holes. Also, the bisque should not be
chalky or heavy.
A
bisque doll that is well-painted should have finely detailed painted eyelashes
and eyebrows, well-defined lips, and cheek blush that is not too blotchy.
Bisque
dolls fall into three types, adult fashion dolls, baby dolls, and character
dolls. Character dolls depict a certain costume or personality.
Of
course, collectors are captivated by bisque dolls. They are often passed from
generation to generation, and are a treasured heirloom.
When
bisque dolls ae auctioned, prices can vary. Take these prices for example.
A pair
of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt vintage dolls were auctioned for just under
$500, while a pair of Georgene Averill Bisque Bonnie babe dolls from 1926 went
for $900. Bisque dolls have gone for much higher amounts as well. A black bebe
doll went for $47,500, while an extremely rare French bisque doll by Albert
Marque was auctioned for an astounding $150,000.
Doll
collectors are one of the largest groups of collectors. Most bisque doll
collectors are women, and they are very much aware of what make up a valuable
doll. They just need to remember to put the dolls in display cases where they
are out of harm’s way.
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