Posted 3 years ago
CBellue15
(1 item)
This is my sister in laws doll that sits in a chair in her bedroom. She is ceramic with cloth stuffed body. Recently her feet were broken off by my 4 yr old son. I have a feeling that may have been a bad thing. I’m afraid she might have been worth something. I just always thought she was creepy.
She looks like a china head doll (I am not sure if it is an original one or a reproduction.
https://www.dollreference.com/china_head_dolls.html
https://www.dollreference.com/china_heads_antique_repro.html
arctophilegirl, Thank you for providing some references. :-)
I was hoping Manikin would weigh in, as this is her area of expertise.
CBellue15, When you wrote that your four year old son broke off the feet: do you mean that he tore the cloth body, or somehow damaged porcelain feet?
If it's a case of the former scenario, repairing the damage might not be too awfully difficult.
If it's a case of the latter, that is indeed a bad thing.
However creepy you might find the doll (some people are creeped out by clowns), this is likely to be an antique. It reminds me of a doll that belonged to one of my grandparents when they were small, and I'm no spring chicken myself.
I have to wonder if this is a family heirloom for your SiL. If it is, I think that you'd better come clean about the damage, and offer to pay for repair.
I hope Manikin sees this post, as she can advise you much better.
Here's one that I posted that Manikin commented on:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/295417-flea-market-april-11-2021-dolls
a Tin Head Doll made in Germany late 1800's! Bill :^)
This is what Manikin wrote:
The small doll appears to be a tin head doll by Minerva of Germany . Dates late 1800s early 1900s . All original so she is wonderful .
I may be wrong but Mine looks like Yours, just in bad condition! Bill :^)
Are the feet smashed to pieces or can they be reattached? Can you show us the damage?
The original china head dolls were from the late 1800s too. Yours has a beautiful dress that looks very old, so it might be original too.
I have a doll similar to yours, then two china heads without the original bodies (they do have replaced bodies though), and also a tiny one (I think the body is original, as it is very old, but the dress doesn't look that old). They are lovely dolls.
Are there any markings at the back?
Sorry to add another message, but I cannot edit my previous ones.
In terms of value, these dolls are usually not very expensive considering how old they are (I think they are also pretty...) I think that the low-brow ones (like yours) are among the most common of that type. If the dress is original, as it appears to be, it is obviously good in terms of value, but the broken feet will diminish it, particularly if you can't reattach them at all. For values, have a look at eBay's sold listings...
This is a reproduction of a lowbrow china made by a hobbyist in a dollmaking class 'This was common to do as far back as 1950's but most are from 1980s -90s. Why this reproduction of lowbrow is so often found vs a more elaborate hair style is perplexing. She make a nice decor piece. The original low brow china was made over a long time period and is most often found antique china doll. Very low resale value . Dress is cute.
The eyes are not very well painted, as evident in the second photo (the detail that made me originally think it is a reproduction too).
Anyway, I was just thinking, because she has lost her feet, maybe (if you are creative) you can change her somehow into a half doll, like a pin cushion half doll if she is not too tall/big? Just be creative, remove the broken legs and make something new out of her. Even if she does not look like other half dolls, trying something new might be fun. That's what I would do at any rate.
Manikin, arctophilegirl, Thank you both for your expertise. I'm somewhat relieved to learn that the doll probably isn't an antique, given that it's been damaged. :-)
That still doesn't guarantee that the doll isn't something cherished by its owner, and CBellue15 probably needs to make any necessary explanations/apologies/reparations to their SiL.
I totally agree, keramikos. Love is not related to money. I have some reproductions I really love, in particular my JDK 221.
If the OP's SiL had this doll on a chair, she obviously liked her and maybe she also had some particular meaning for her. Maybe the doll has a story.
arctophilegirl, You're right.
Even if this doll was made by a hobbyist, it might have been a gift from somebody important to the SiL.
I helped somebody identify a doll within the last year or two that turned out to be a craft kit product, but it was important to the owner, because it had been given to them by their father.
I was thinking the same, keramikos. Maybe the SiL's mother made it, or even the SiL herself.
I have a turtle that was given to me by my father before he died, and it is actually very pretty, and with adorable eyes, but not valuable in terms of money, Still... I really love that turtle.