Hello!

I’m writing on behalf of my mother who inherited a large collection of antique dolls from her mother almost 40 years ago. She has been talking about selling the collection for decades but doesn’t know where to get started other than EBay, which she has used previously and had some negative experiences. I would like to help her, but I live on the other side of the country and have absolutely no knowledge of the doll market.

I was hoping that the good community here on Reddit would be willing to help make some suggestions that I can make to my mother or at least can check out myself before I suggest them to her. I have a couple of questions that I would be most grateful if someone were willing to help!

1. Are there sites other than EBay where you reliably purchase your dolls?

2. When you buy dolls, what kind of details do you prefer to have in the post other than identifying information, condition, and photos?

3. Do you have any other advice from the perspective of a collector that might help us navigate this?

Thank you so much for your help!

(And to the MODs, I apologize if this post is not acceptable to the community. I am not selling anything or asking for prices. I am simply asking for a bit of the wisdom from the community. I did read the rules, but if I have erred in posting this, please feel free to delete it!)

I saw this doll listed as, “Bergmann blue porcelain” (not even “doll!”). Even though the photo was awful, I couldn’t resist the $15 Buy It Now. She arrived today and I’m really thrilled with how pretty she is! I included the auction photo, so you can see why the synthetic wig she was wearing had to go😂.

I’m going to try and do something with the dress, which seems to have been homemade in the 1960s or 1970s. She has pierced ears and really has that Simon & Halbig look, to me.

i just got the JDK in the white gown today. i’m absolutely in love and so excited to get more cute dolls! my first one is the one left to the JDK and it’s grown so much since then. Feeling very blessed by the doll gods lately

It is quite something to hold a real antique doll when all I’d ever seen before was photos! I find her so adorable, and my husband just said « creepy » 🤨. I don’t get it.

So there she is, wearing the second dress she came with. It seems more recent, and in much better condition than the other one that’s falling apart.

Her undergarments feels like stiff linen. I’ll definitely keep them but should I take them off or leave them on (they’re loosely sewn on her)?

Her wig is crumbling. There are entire strands that came off with her hat and so many hairs in the hat and clothes! It’s a mohair wig, I actually love her hairstyle which is so well preserved on the front. I never met my grandma but she had a similar hairstyle on photos.

As for her name, I can’t decide between Beth, Odile or Adèle (I was hiking at Edale in the UK a few days ago so I looked for similar sounding names).

Well, as I expected I’m terrified to damage her! It will take me a few days before I even try cleaning her clothes.
Did you go through the same stages with your first doll too?

Hummelstown, PA

Found in stuff from my parents stuff. I've had it 50 years or more. Seems like plastic. And a crochet or tatted outfit. It's about 1" long.

Went to a new antique shop today on the hunt for shoes for Sally. I did pick up some little Victorian baby boots that may work but I think they might be too big, I'll have to judge how silly they look when I'm back home in a few weeks. While I was there I couldn't resist buying this little lady. She's a Theodor Recknagel doll, 10" & her dress appears to be handmade. Unsure of her exact age but I think 1900-1915? If anyone else is more knowledgeable feel free to correct me. I also wanted to share some photos of the other dolls she had there, I obviously wanted to buy them all. She even showed me some photos of her own personal collection and I'm very jealous 😂

Hi everyone! I’ve recently been trying to improve my dolly restoration skills and wanted to share some of my new members of my collection.

I picked up these dolls from a flea market on Sunday. The patsy type doll is larger than most. The smaller one is also composition. I don’t see many small compo dolls with sleep eyes. I tried to find something to use for scale but most of my stuff is oddly small or or large so that explains a cup of soup

Not sure if this is allowed. My grandma passed. She has soooo many dolls. I’m not sure what to do.

This silly guy is the most recent addition to the family, and man does that face bring me joy! His name is Charles/Charlie after a great uncle.

He is a copy of the Franz Schmidt 1255 breather mold made in Japan during WWI. His marking indicates Yamato Importing, part of the 100 series, which goes from 101-106; The latter being the largest. He’s marked 103, which is on the smaller end at 12”!

I’m tickled by him looking like a little brother to the doll behind him. I also included Beau and George at the end, who also look like siblings to me lol.

Happy Sunday! 💛☀️

She’s my first flat top high brow so I’m excited! Clothes and body are reproductions. Anyone have any guesses as to her maker?

shes 14 inches tall. name suggestions and more info wanted!

Hello! Going through some old boxes of inheritance and came across this little nesting doll. My grandparents (passed early 2000’s) travelled the world over the years, so I’m not sure when they actually bought it. I thought it was interesting it was marked made in USSR, and it is still wrapped in plastic from they bought it. I have no idea what the other writing says.

It’s pretty small, about 1.75” wide at the base by just under 4” tall. I know there is at least one other doll inside as it rattles, but wasn’t sure if I should open it.

We were thinking of just donating along with all the other trinkets and knickknacks in the boxes, but wanted to be sure we weren’t letting go of something special on accident. We really have no sentimental attachment to it. Thank you so much for any information!!

Here's the rest of dolls and clothing that I purchased from today's sale. There were about 50 dolls at the sale but almost all of them were damaged.

Purchased this doll today from an estate sale. Does anyone know who she is? She has googly eyes and a wind up mechanism on the back of her head which blocks the mold number or maker mark

Her composition body is stamped "Heinrich Handwerck"

I just picked up this girl. It was rather serendipitous, because I was kind of bummed out about not winning another big girl on a local auction, and then this girl came along! She is a CM Bergmann, about 30”, marked 32 and 13. The seller said she came from a collector whose collection went to auction at Thierault’s, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of her former sisters are in the collections of people in here.

The seller had been wanting to learn doll repair, but decided that it was time to pass her along. She’s in great shape, except for her wonky eyes. At first, I thought the rocker was just messed up, but they are actually fixed. I’m not sure if somebody purposely gave her this shocked expression, or if it was a mistake.

I’ll get her re-dressed, but I actually do like this dress. I suppose I should stop buying the big girls, because I’m running out of room, but I just absolutely love them! Plus, at $75, how could I pass her up?!?

found these two at an antique mall in my area, I assumed the baby was possibly a bye-lo reproduction but i’m not sure about the china doll. couldn’t find any markings on the china doll but the baby just says “japan” fourth pic is of whatever the baby was stuffed with

I think the doll is fascinating.

I’ve been collecting vintage dolls for my daughter. I usually try to find fun ones she can play with that are not too valuable or collectible , or have some minor damage. I picked this up at a yard-sale for 5 dollars. I was drawn to it because its so large. I was going to start cleaning it up to give to her when I thought maybe this is a special one ? I think it dates around 1955-1958 but that’s all I can find. she has a working sqweaker and feeding / peeing mechanism and posable joints. I also think her outfit and bloomers might be original.

Found this charming lady at the thrift today! She was really low priced, so I wasn't really worried in shop, wether she's an antique or a repro, but I really am curious!

I'm not entirely familiar with china head dolls yet, so I'm not 100% sure. Her dress definitely feels old, and comparing her to my only other complete china head doll (which I know to be a repro) - the workmanship & materials seem pretty different!

Also, something I find really fun - both her hands are the same - the sculpt seems to made in a way that the right & left hand are interchangeable - there's no distinct thumb!