Vintage Dolls
From LoveToKnow Antiques
Collecting vintage dolls is a great way to keep those childhood memories alive. It is also a way to preserve history, as beautiful dolls span the centuries. The first dolls were made of rags, and then porcelain and bisque, and finally they were manufactured using composite, plastic and vinyl. Whether you collect primitives or dolls manufactured recently, there are plenty of different dolls to choose from.
Vintage Dolls by Decade
If you want to start collecting dolls but aren't sure where to start, try reviewing some of the different types of dolls that were available. This decade chart lists some of the favorite dolls that collectors have cherished over the years.
| Years Manufactured | Doll | Manufacturer | Features |
| 1889-1891 | Phenix Bebe | Henri Alexandre | bisque and composite heads on wood body, pierced ears |
| 1888-1931 | Baby Belle, Cinderella Baby, Columbia and Eleanore | C.M. Bergmann | composition ball-joint bodies, bisque head |
| 1889-1892 | Paris Bebe, Bebe Francais, black Bebe Francais | Danel & Cie | bisque socket heads, paperweight eyes, composition jointed bodies, pierced ears |
| 1885-1950 | Alma, Darling Duchess, Lily, Lissy, Mabel, My Dearie, My Playmate, Rosebud | Armand Marseille Doll Co. | bisque and composition dolls, bisque heads, glass eyes, painted eyes, cloth bodies |
| 1908 –1930's | Mama and Baby | Acme Toy and Doll Co. | composition flange head, bent composition arms and legs, tin eyes, teeth, molded hair |
| 1909-1930's | Mama Dolls, Babbette, Shirley, Blue Eyes, Darky Doll, Sweetums, Barbara, The Century Doll | Century Doll Co. | Bye-lo bisque, composition heads, painted molded hair, tin eyes |
| 1915-1930's | Boudoir Dolls | Various Manufacturers | cloth bodies, elongated legs, painted faces, high heeled shoes, fashionable clothing |
| 1919-1968 | Mama Dolls, Petite Babies, Bottletot, Wonder Baby, Toddle Tot, Campbell Kid, Puggy, Smiling Sally, Sally Joy, Sally Jane, Betsy McCall and others | American Character Doll Co. | composition, plastic and vinyl dolls, grow hair feature |
| 1920-1962 | Buddy Lee and Betty Lee Dolls | D. H. Lee Co. Inc. | 13" composition or plastic, dressed in original Lee clothes |
| 1917-1970's | Miss Charming, Honey Girl, Honey Boy, GiGi Perreau, Little Debutante, Annette, Flowerkins, Granny Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies, and others | Eegee-Goldberger Doll Mfg. Co. | composition, latex, vinyl, hard plastic, rooted hair, jointed bodies, teeth, sleep eyes |
| 1930- 1940 | Sybil Jason Doll | Unknown | 14" tall, composition jointed body, human or mohair wigs, blue painted tin eyes, real upper lashes, painted lower lashes |
| 1930's to 1960's | Janie and Johnnie, Juliette, Baby Beloved, Pla-mate, Teen Girl, Cuddly Baby, Dream Bride | Eugenia Doll Co. | most dolls are dressed in bridal outfits, composition bodies, mohair wigs, jointed bodies, real upper lashes, painted lower lashes, painted shoes |
| 1936-1964 | Nancy Ann, Debbie, Muffie | Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls | hard plastic, nylon wig or rooted hair, blue or other colored sleep eyes, fashion dresses |
| 1945-Present | Barbie, Liddle Kiddle, Lucky Locket, Chitty Bang, Skediddler's, Kologne and more | Mattel | most of these dolls have flexible bodies, rooted hair and came with accessories such as miniature toys, hair brushes or combs, clothing and shoes |
| 1949-1953 | Toni Doll | Ideal | hard plastic, nylon wig or rooted hair, blue or other colored sleep eyes, fashion dresses; used to advertise Toni Home Perms |
| 1949-1950's | Pam, Ninette, Jeanette, Lolly Pop, Lucy, Toni Playmate, Coco, Kim, Pam and others | Beehler Arts, Fortune Toys, Ontario Plastics, Virga Doll Co. | 7.5" to 9" tall,
hard plastic walking dolls |
| 1950's | Ginger | Cosmopolitan Toy and Doll Corp. | hard plastic, glued on wigs, sleep eyes in various colors, walkers, non-walkers, straight legs, bent legs, jointed elbows, vinyl heads with rooted hair, usually marked Ginger on bottom of feet. |
| 1965-1968 | Dolly Darlings, Flower Darlings | Hasbro | 3.5 to 4.5" tall, series dolls, many were packaged in hatboxes, molded heads, rooted hair, flexible bodies |
| 1970-1978 | Joe Namath, Action Jackson, KISS, Buddy, Sonny & Cher and more | Mego Corp. | vinyl heads and bodies, painted eyes, rooted hair;this company produced action figures, television show characters and DC Comic Hero dolls |
What Makes a Doll Collectible?
With so many vintage dolls on the market today, what makes a doll collectible? Scarcity can make a doll collectible, as well as the popularity of the doll, such as Barbie, with collectors. Many collectors collect a particular doll because of the craftsmanship, while other collectors focus on fashion clothing or materials used in the construction of the doll. A collector that collects porcelain dolls focuses primarily on the manufacturers that produced dolls during the 1800's. A Barbie Doll or Liddle Kiddle collector will be concentrating on dolls made by the manufacturer, Mattel.
For all collectors of vintage dolls, the most important aspect of doll collecting is quality. A good quality doll in excellent condition can command the highest price, while a similar doll in poor condition can be worth next to nothing. Original clothing and packaging will also increase the value of your doll.
Which Dolls Should I Collect?
Collect dolls that appeal to you personally, not necessarily dolls that appeal to the masses. Stick with collecting a few types of dolls at first, such as Liddle Kiddles, Betty Boop or G.I. Joe. If you try to collect a wide variety of dolls too early, you may get frustrated adding hard-to-find items to your collections.
It is also important to educate yourself about this hobby. Try to learn as much about the dolls you are collecting as well so you can spot fraud or reproductions. Purchase or borrow books from the library on the dolls you want to collect so you can spot their identifying marks. This will help you save money by helping you spot authentic dolls.
Conclusion
Collecting vintage dolls can be a full-time hobby. Many enthusiasts spend endless hours at doll conventions and hunting for favorite dolls at antique stores. It can also be an expensive hobby for those that don't research the dolls they are collecting. Always be sure to research the dolls you are collecting before you buy them. Finally, be sure to accumulate dolls that you really love and will enjoy caring for. No one wants a collection of vintage dolls that simply sits in the corner collecting dust..
Comments
Richard, we are unable to identify dolls here, however you can take them to a local antiques dealer and they should be able to help. You might also try your local library to see if you can identify them from one of the doll collectors books. Good luck!
-- Contributed by: Marye Audethi, i have about 5 dolls so far, i was wondering if theres someone here who would be able to recognise and tell me the approx age of my dolls from photos? would be great if someone could help, just send me an email. lilrichy_933@hotmail.com thank you!
-- Contributed by: richardHello Vicki - Your doll sounds like it may be a Tiny Tears. These dolls were popular in the 1950s and 1960s with many variations and sizes manufactured. Try searching Tiny Tears doll 12" on google and Ebay. You will be able to compare your doll to others and find nice examples of original style clothing. Enjoy your doll!
-- Contributed by: Terry HurleyThis page has been accessed 3,542 times. This page was last modified 23:16, 16 June 2007.
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