Collecting Antique Dolls
by Joy Frizzell
Antique doll collecting has grown rapidly in recent years, fueled by the staggering numbers of new internet shoppers flooding to online shops and auctions every day.
Trends come and go in all collecting avenues and antique dolls are no exception. Currently, it seems that one of the hottest categories is antique rag dolls. Several large and well-known collections have come on the market recently, and this has fueled the fire. Collectors clamor at the chance to own these “one-of-a-kind” homemade dolls from the circa 1900 era and even earlier. Care must be taken to be sure that the dolls are truly antique, as great strides have been made in “fake” period rags. While many of the early collectors of these precious rag dolls were purists, others purchased newer fakes as well because they loved the character or just wanted another doll and they did not necessarily care whether it was antique or not. Today, collectors are faced with determining whether or not the doll is truly an antique, as value is seriously affected by the age of the doll.
Newer collectors often write to ask us what type doll they should begin their collections with. First and foremost, we advise collectors to purchase what they really love. First purchases are often made timidly because new collectors are afraid of making costly mistakes and they do not want to spend large sums of money on a doll until they really know what they are doing. This can be a double-edged sword. Many new collectors focus solely on price; this inherently brings with it the likelihood of disappointment. They may have their eye on a c1870 Bru Jne which may be valued at $6,000 or more, but they do not want to risk that kind of money on their first purchase. What if it isn’t authentic? What if they don’t like it when they see it in person? So they buy an Armand Marseille #390 for $450 and although it’s a lovely doll, it just doesn’t excite them the way that Bru Jne did.
Here are some suggestions for beginning collectors that I hope will answer some basic questions and also set out some guidelines to protect their investments while at the same time keeping their collecting appetites satisfied.
1. Read! Start with generalized books and encyclopedias on dolls before progressing to more specialized books on specific types of dolls; unless, of course, you already have decided to collect one type only. Building a good library is absolutely invaluable, as you will refer back to it constantly while building your collection.
2. Establish a relationship with a seasoned and knowledgeable dealer who takes the time to answer your questions thoughtfully. This will help you make wise investments and you won’t have to worry about making costly mistakes. Because the dealer’s reputation is on the line, you will not have to worry about unknowingly buying a damaged or restored doll or one that is a fake. Your knowledge will grow more quickly as the dealer assists you in making your purchases.
3. Always purchase what you love, rather than seeking out the best “bargain”. There are many collectors who begin their collections with bargains collected from all kinds of sources. This is an extremely risky endeavor. I’ve encountered many collectors who have lots of dolls in their collection but absolutely no excitement. When they stand back and contemplate what they have purchased as a “collection”, they wish they had purchased that one doll that really excited them instead of all the inexpensive ho-hum dolls they see in front of them. They may want to sell or trade their bargain dolls for something they like more, but find instead that they cannot even get what they paid for them.
4. Investigate some “untapped” markets where you can find some very reasonable prices, while still collecting high quality dolls which will appreciate in value. Some categories of dolls are still considered to be priced “below their potential” in today’s market. China head dolls and parian dolls are two of my personal all-time favorites and are still largely under-priced in the market, as are early papier mache and wax dolls. People seem to either love them or they don’t. Why their prices have remained so low is a mystery. After all, when you consider that they were purchased as “toys”150-200 years ago, it’s amazing they exist at all. Prices are all over the spectrum, based mostly on the rarity and scarcity of the hairstyle and decoration, as well as condition and originality. Compared to later German and French bisque dolls, their prices are truly still in the bargain category although their quality can be extremely high.
5. Whether you buy from online shops, doll shows, mail order, store-front shops, or auctions, there are common sense safeguards to follow. First and foremost, know who you are buying from. In all venues, discover who the seller is and get a sense of their ethics as well understanding their shop policies.
• Dealers: Still the best place to start for new collectors, reputable dealers will take the time to answer questions thoughtfully and will give sound advice that will ultimately save you money in costly mistakes. A good dealer will help you build your collection wisely and along with your doll purchases, you will be buying his or her knowledge and years of experience, assuring that you will build a collection you will cherish. A reputable dealer will also offer a return policy to protect you; know what it is and be sure you agree with the terms prior to committing to a purchase. If you are buying from an online dealer, look for full descriptions including flaws, and lots of clear photos. If you have a question unanswered in the photos and written description, send an email or call the dealer for the answers. If they are reluctant to help you, move on; there are plenty of dealers who will help you and will be sure you are comfortable with your purchases.
• Auctions: Here you will see a lot of dolls in person, but a strong word of caution is needed: auctions are extremely risky for the new collector. Beware of auction houses or online auction sellers that do not thoroughly describe the condition of the dolls. “Generally excellent” is overused in the industry and tells you absolutely nothing about the condition of the doll. Also, auctions are “final sale” venues, so if you did not fully inspect the doll prior to your winning bid, you will have no recourse and will not be allowed to return it. Most auction houses today charge a buyer’s premium or penalty and you must be aware of it and consider it in your bidding. Currently, these penalties range from 10% - 20% of the winning bid and we know of a few even higher.
• Doll Shows: Doll shows are located in most major metropolitan areas at various times throughout the year. Find one near you and attend. This will give you an excellent opportunity to meet dealers and see many dolls all in one day. You can find show schedules in doll collecting magazines and online. Keep in mind that not all doll dealers display at doll shows, so this will not be an all-inclusive representation of dealers.
• Doll Clubs: Invaluable for meeting other doll collectors and dealers and broadening your knowledge in this collecting field. There are doll clubs located all over the US and in foreign countries as well. Most meet monthly and there are even online clubs which have formed within the last few years.
• Flea Markets, Yard Sales, and Antique Malls: While you may be lucky enough to find a real bargain in a rare and valuable doll, serious caution must be exercised in these venues. You may be purchasing a reproduction or a “put-together” doll, which may not be such a bargain after all. Reproductions are plentiful and may be offered as authentic by unwitting sellers or knowledgeable sellers who mean to trick you. The old adage: “if it looks to good to be true, it probably is” should be remembered here.
I’ve met many, many doll collectors over the years through all of these venues, and enjoy a robust antique doll business which is blessed with a high number of repeat customers who have added such joy to the way I earn my living. Even after 30+ years of collecting and selling dolls, I continue to learn more about these cherished treasures from the past.
If you are a new doll collector, this article is a "must read". It is long, but packed full of helpful information and well worth the read. Published in the August 2003 issue of "Dolls" magazine, and reprinted here with permission. For subscription information or a sample copy, visit DOLLS website at dollsmagazine.com.
Talking About Antiques
MINDING YOUR DOLL MANNERS
Consider this your etiquette guide to antique doll collecting today.
by Debra Gulea
Gone are the days where you had to really look for antique dolls, and you bought whatever you were lucky enough to find. Today fine-quality old dolls can be bought at doll shows, shops, country estate sales and big auction houses, through ads in doll magazines, and on the Internet. But how do you go about buying them? There is a lot more involved than just writing a check or pulling out your credit card. Here are some tips on what to do and not to do when buying dolls in the current marketplace. Our suggestions are designed to help you know what you're buying, get the best price, and make friends along the way.
Doll shows are a favorite place to buy and sell antique dolls. Collectors seem to like shows because they can meet a variety of doll dealers and view a huge selection of dolls for sale in one convenient location. The main attractions of shows are comparison-shopping and price checking. Let's say you're looking for a Bye-Lo. At a typical doll show, there will probably be at least two in the room, and maybe as many as ten. You can and should compare condition and price for several dolls, and also the terms offered by each dealer. For example, one dealer might have the prettiest Bye-Lo in the room and the best price as well, but if that dealer doesn't take credit cards and you and you need to pay with your Visa, you might be compelled to buy from someone else. (But to avoid this latter predicament, the best thing is to be sure to bring cash, your checkbook and two or three different credit cards. This way you can be sure to cover all the financial bases!)
A common mistake most collectors make is to ask one dealer if they should buy a doll from another dealer, or worse, if one dealer can inspect another dealer's doll to see if it is in good condition and being properly represented. The exchange typically goes something like this, "Hi, Dealer Darlene nice to see you today. Gosh, I have always loved your dolls, and you are just so honest and knowledgeable. I want to buy this Bye- Lo that your competitor Dealer Doris has for sale across the aisle, but I'm not sure if I can trust Doris. Is she reputable? Would you mind looking at the doll for me?"
This is a huge faux pas! First of all, Dealer Doris will feel hurt that you don’t trust her or that you think Dealer Darlene is more knowledgeable. And second, Dealer Darlene will not want to get involved. Trust me on - this one. Darlene is busy trying to sell her own dolls, and also will not want to compromise Dealer Doris' sale. Doris and Darlene have been doing the same shows together for years. If examines Doris' doll and Darlene, finds a damage that Doris didn't know about, and you don't buy Doris' doll because of that, well, things are going to be pretty icy between Doris and Darlene from here on out. I usually use my department store analogy for this one-If you see a great sweater on sale at Sears, you would never think of leaving the store with the sweater and bringing it over to the sales clerk at J.C. Penney's to ask her if you; should buy from Sears. People just do not carry unpaid merchandise from store to store in the mall, and you shouldn't do so at a doll show either. Each booth at a doll show is that dealer's store, and you shouldn't walk around with merchandise from one store to another, soliciting opinions as you go.
This is what you should do instead. You really love that Bye-Lo that Dealer Doris has for sale, the price is right, and she’ll take your Visa card. However, since you are still not sure if you should buy it, you should politely ask Dealer Doris a series of questions. Request that she undress the doll for you and show you how to check the head for damages; inquire as to how long she’s been selling and how the particular Bye-Lo compares to other Bye-Los she’s sold in the past. Ask her if she will guaranty in writing the condition of the doll upon purchase. If you’re satisfied with her answers, go ahead and buy the doll. If you are at all uncomfortable with what she tells you, walk away. And then take a second look at all of the other Bye-Los in the room. Eventually you are bound to find the right doll, with the right price, from the right person.
Another big “don’t” is what I call “dissin’ the doll.” For those of you not familiar with today’s slang, dissin’ means disrespect. Some collectors like to bargain with the dealer about the price of a doll by stressing all of the things wrong with the doll. This occurs everywhere dolls are sold, and goes something like this: “The body is terrible, the dress is new, and there’s a big crack on the middle of the face. How about I give you $500 less?”
Whenever someone is so negative about a doll, I always wonder, "Then why do you want to buy it in the first place?" It is obvious that the prospective buyer likes something about the doll because if she didn't, there would be no interest in buying it. Reciting a long list of imperfections in an attempt to get a lower price will accomplish nothing aside from wasting the dealer’s time since she or he has most likely already taken the doll’s defect into consideration when arriving at the asking price.
This in no way means that you should not negotiate at all. Just keep the process reasonable and polite. Start off by introducing yourself and telling the dealer how much you love the doll. This will put the dealer into a good mood. Then, ask the dealer what is his or her “best price,” or – my favorite – what the “friendliest price” is. The dealer will most likely quote you ten percent off the tagged price. If this is not good enough for you, resist the temptation to haggle with the dealer into going lower. Don’t tell him or her that the merchandise is over-priced. Don’t tell a friend to approach the dealer and try to convince the dealer to sell to you at that price (as crazy as it sounds, this happened to me once, and I am still shaking my head about it). I have known of a few frustrated dealers who, when pressured like that, will say “You know what, the doll is no longer for sale. I’ve decided to keep it.” And at that point, you and the dealer both lose.
It is, however, totally acceptable to counteroffer the dealer’s “best price” by asking, “Would you consider taking” and then naming your price. If you take this route, be fore-warned that the dealer might still tell you "Sorry, but that's as low as I can go." Some times a generous dealer will dealer will come down $50 on the price. With a little practice, you can figure out all the codes and you won't have - to bother with this silly little dance. say, "Let's meet in the middle" and that is a wonderful compromise. If you really want the dealer to take your price, you can sweeten the deal by proposing to buy more than one doll or suggesting that you'll pay cash. If you buy very frequently from a particular dealer, that person will extend you the special courtesy of automatically offering you slightly better prices than the general public.
If you shy away from the entire negotiation process and its sometimes complex rituals, learn how to read the codes on dealer price tags. Most of them are quite easy to figure out, and have a number that has something like"DD50" hidden inside of it, which means “dealer discount $50” or that the dealer will come down $50 on the price. With a little practice, you can figure out all the codes and you won’t have to bother with this silly little dance.
Auctions are another popular place to buy dolls today. I have two big pet peeves about buying dolls at auction. And let me say first, this is a critique not of auction houses, which are wonderful sources for good antique dolls, but of some of the other bidders. My first complaint is people who try to intimidate other people out of bidding - against them. I once heard one person say to another "You might as well go probably - home because I'm bidding on that doll, and I'm going to get it." What a terrible thing to say! I have always felt that auction houses should be like libraries - keep to yourself, and if you have to speak, keep it to a polite whisper. Decide on your own what you're there to bid on, bid as high as you can, and if you lose out, congratulate winner and go home quietly. If you do win, resist the urge to gloat about it. Just pay for the doll, tuck it in your shopping bag, and leave the little victory dance for the privacy of your own home.
Other people also try to "make deals" with other bidders at an auction. This consists of saying to a friend "I won't bid on the Shirley Temple if you don't bid on the Dionne Quints." While this might seem harmless, it's called price fixing, and it is illegal in most states.
My other auction pet peeve is rough handling of the dolls. Most auction houses won't object to you inspecting the doll, and of course you want to look at it before you bid, but please use a gentle touch and ask for assistance. There is nothing worse I than a prospective bidder who carelessly rips the wig off the head of a doll or leaves the clothing in disarray. These, dolls have been around for 100 years, and we need to do everything we can to keep them around for 100 more.
The Internet is the new place to buy dolls and dealers who use it to sell receive dozens of emails asking questions about the advertised dolls. Sometimes the questions are simple, such as "are the clothes original?" A question like that can be answered in two seconds. Unfortunately, most of the time, the questions require a fair amount of research to answer, and dealers may spend hours consulting books to get their facts right. Another common request is for additional pictures, which also takes time and work. So when someone goes to consider able trouble to answer your questions and provide additional pictures, please take a moment to send off a quick note of thanks. It's also a nice touch to sign your first name on all email correspondence. After all, it's much nicer and more personal to get a message from Sally or Jane, than it is from "dollbuyer9078."
Some might wonder why they should bother with all of these dos and don’ts of collecting. Basically, there are three good reasons. First, because a happy seller is going to give you a better deal, let you do longer layaways, call you up when he or she has just acquired a doll you’re sure to want, and in general help you to get the doll you desire for the price you want to pay. Even better – and this is reason number two-you might make some life-long friends along the way, getting to know people so dear that someday the fact that you both collect dolls is just a trivial detail, part of the bigger story of how you met. The third reason is plain old good karma. Doll buying is a sport, and if you use good form, the universe will align in just the right way to bring the best dolls into your lap for prices you can afford and from people you truly care about.
The most important thing to keep in mind about collecting is that it is a verbal process, a journey towards accumulating. It isn't as much about the acquisitions as it is about the process of how you acquire them. And how you do it, how you collect, all the stories that accompany each doll you buy are what make each one precious to you. When you are old and gray and sharing your collection with a roomful of admirers someday, you want to be sharing the story about that special dealer you met decades ago that became your mentor and always saved the very best dolls for you. It's a much better tale than recounting the story of how you begged, borrowed or stole to get the doll! And chances are that the doll you bought from a friend will always be more precious to you than one you "beat some- down in the price" in order to buy.
I’m frequently asked what I consider to be the best part about being a doll dealer. Almost everyone assumes that it is being able to own so many rare and wonderful dolls. Although my inventory of dolls unquestionably brings me pleasure, I do not buy and sell dolls merely to possess them. The reason I am a doll dealer is because the wonderful, passionate and generous collectors that I have met around the world and because of the stories they tell me. One customer, now a friend with whom I annually exchange Christmas cards, shared how her dolls helped her get through her husband's losing battle with Alzheimer's. When things get bad, she makes herself a cup of hot tea, sits in her doll room and scans the faces of her dear dolls, thinking about the friends in her doll club and all of the wonderful doll conventions she's attended with her husband and friends over the years. Her dolls and the stories they told, stories of how they came to her, of how she found them and bought them, and of the friends she made in the doll world along the way, are what carry her through this trying time in her life. My friend has discovered one of the fundamental secrets that every to true collector knows-it is not just the dolls that matter; the people you meet along the way while collecting those dolls are equally valuable.
