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Posted 12 years ago
Aliobaba
(11 items)
Another friend from my Great Aunt Nellie's collection. She has a little note attached, saying "110 years old", but then it's crossed out. She's in pretty good shape for an 'ole gal, and her clothes are in excellent condition as well. I would love to know more about her and how to get her cleaned up. Thanks!
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You have some amazing dolls here! I'm sure Manikin, our resident doll expert, will stop by and give you some good info about your dolls! I love the little notes on them!
This is Fantastic doll ! W-O-W ! I don't say that often either . She is a rare glass eyed covered wagon china doll . Dates from 1840-1850. These China's are very collectible with painted eyes with glass eyes she is put at new level and is gorgeous !
History of China's
The first first type of antique doll that is widely-known among non-doll collectors is the, the china doll, and her close cousin, the parian. The china doll had her heyday between 1840 and 1880, before bisque dolls became preferred by children, although china dolls were still mass-produced as late as the 1920s. China dolls have heads of glazed porcelain, and parians have heads of unglazed porcelain, and the majority were produced in Germany from 1850 on. China dolls are often identified by their hairstyles--be it a covered wagon style (hair flat on top with sausage curls around the head, 1840s), an Alice in Wonderland (molded head band, 1850s) or the Dolly Madison (curls all over and a molded ribbon)--whatever was fashionable at a certain time. Most china dolls represented ladies, and were fashionably dressed in up-to-date fashions. After about 1880, china heads were often sold separately, leaving the doll owner to make her own doll body and costume. The more elaborate the hairstyle and decoration on a china or parian doll, generally the higher the value
I can't give you cleaning tips on here but her face is similar to a china plate . So a light wipe with a damp cloth with water will wash her face . A q-tip damp will clean eyes and also tiny places . DO NOT us anything abrasive on her do not scrub her . A serious cleaning should be left to someone that has done it before . This doll is to rare and wonderful to damage . Love her ! And that she still has original body and clothes is extra bonus . Your very lucky to have her .
I did fail to mention she is also called a exposed ear which is not common in China's to this detail . Here is a link to my Covered wagon China to see difference from Painted eye and glass eye . Mine is unusual because she is huge . When they did do ears that showed they were more crude in detail in most china's .Your China has all the wow factors :-) China's are dated and named by hair styles which I did forget to mention . That is how she got her name covered wagon it was the hairstyle of that era . You can date a true antique china by hairstyle by knowing how woman wore their hair in that era . Of coarse there are much more elaborate hairstyles and ones with buns which bring big prices and ones that are so common like what we call a low brow that they have very little value . All depends on hairstyle and rarity , and original body ect many factors go into dating and pricing China's
Mine
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/42546-1850s-china-doll-german?in=user
Thank you Manikin and Stef....so much information when I've gathered very little in my month-long hunt. I didn't even realize she had glass eyes, but that's probably because I need new glasses. I thought everything was painted on. I just noticed that the front of her dress is torn at the top, but her petticoat is in good shape, and just looks "old". For some reason I'm fascinated by the fact that the button is pretty and still holds strongly. I think the petticoat would seem brand-new if it were washed. Her left leg looks like it got chewed on and sewed back up a bit, but her cloth body is still quite sturdy considering she may be about 170 years old (yikes!). Thank you soooo much for giving me more of a story to put behind her.
Her body is quite fragile now and the head is sewn onto it . PLEASE be careful when handling her and support head it could easily come off if material gives way . There is a way to give it added support without changing her but I can't draw how to do it . Her dress on helps take some stress off of head but I would not risk having her stand or sit until an extra soft rope like material was wrapped around her neck , crisscrossed across chest and around her waist . If her head breaks it would be a huge loss . This doll is very valuable . So keep her laying down and don't let people handle her . Also the clothes should not be handled much on a old doll like this ,the oil in our hands can further damage material . We wear white cotton gloves when we pick them up . I would love to see her face clean :-) So glad I could help you with your collection and it appears to have come from 2 different generations . This one and Superior belong to one generation and the bisque and composition belong to another generation so may great grandmother , then grandmothers doll and last maybe your Moms ?
Hi Manikin...I took your suggestion and cleaned her face up a bit. Looks brighter, and I'll send you a pic. Been scouring the net armed with the info you shared. I found a picture of a doll by Grenier(I think?). Same round face and rosy cheeks...what do you think of that possibility? However, if that's the case I'm thinking my girl has a replacement body. It does not look like original stitching and she doesn't have china hands or shoes. I read something that said to check under the shoulder for a symbol, but I'm not sure what they mean and if I'd have to take her head off to see it. Anyway....this is fun!
This doll is not a Greiner . The other doll The paper mache is not a Griener wrong hair ect . She is a Superior . Greiner dolls have a hair do much like this one the China . This is a Covered wagon China Glass eye exposed ear doll and it is rare and will be hard to find. I will send you a picture of one from a book to your email ok :-) Anxious to see her with a clean face ! Your doll is on correct body . China dolls often had handmade bodies , the heads could be bought separate . But I believe yours to me factory body . I would need to see her feet and hands better though .
I have emailed you a photo of her it should be in your mail now :-) It is from the Book China's by Mona Borger . A complete book on the study of China dolls
http://www.amazon.com/Chinas-Dolls-Study-Admiration-Borger/dp/0961183802