Bisque Head Doll ID

Hello all,

I noticed that most dolls are posted here, so apologies if this is wrong- —

I don’t collect toys myself, but I do a lot of business with toy collectors, so I always look through the toys in charity shops. I passed on this girl years ago and never knew how to describe her when people ask if I see older-style dolls. Is she old? How would I tell? Any comments/thoughts welcomed.

 

Appears to be a reproduction doll to me ... Joy.

 

Not old ... Joy.

 

she don't look to happy, now does she ?

 

Agree with Joy!

It appears to be a repro of a K Star R head.

 

No she does not! But she’s not baring tiny teeth at me, like some of them do, so I was ok with her holding her

 

Ah good! Her condition was way too nice for antique in retrospect, but if she’s a reproduction that means that my radar is doing alright and I didn’t miss out on a sale! Thanks guys! Aside from the absence of plastics and a heavier jaw I struggle to “see” the older features.
EDIT: Though even the repros do ok on eBay. Hmm. Noted for the future!

 

To me, and I also dare to say for Joy , one look and it is so obvious it's new.

Google antique bisque head dolls and compare to the one you have.

Since the market for dolls has dwindled, one doesn't find as many in the antique shops anymore. When you've seen a few first hand, you will get to know the difference.

There are some very good repros out there, & sometimes difficult to tell the difference, but your repro is not one of those.

Also, if doll shows ever become popular again, visit them if they are in your locale. Dealers would be happy to answer your questions.

 

Yep. That's a repro of the K*R 114 (Gretchen). It was a Seeley mold that was really popular in the early 1980s. Most of the beginners started with the painted eye version since they had no lashes and were really easy to learn on. Can't tell you how many of those I had to pour in Mom's shop back in the day!

 

Should also note that the one you show is probably from the 90s.

The antiques and better reproductions were on composition bodies.

 

@sassafras.........it is truly wonderful having you on the "doll" board as you are well versed, especially in the newer dolls. If I remember correctly, you mother was involved in the industry in some manner? I forget how.

I am familiar with Seeley...........not the dolls so much, but they produced a series of antique doll plates a number of years ago.....I forget the year, but perhaps the 90's?

I fell right into both markets..........the market of "limited" plates, and the market to own the delightful image of a beautiful antique doll....... a series of maybe 6 plates. I bought them all........just like many other people expecting that such beautiful images and in "limited" production would become worth many more dollars than the initial cost!

The dolls featured were out of my price range to ever be an owner of the real thing, so I enjoyed them in another way.........then they became dust collectors!



AND...... We know what happened to both of those markets!

 

Awwww...thank you, Judy! Yes, I'm the fourth generation of antique doll collector in our family. Mom had a large antique collection and she had several shops over the years where she made and taught classes for the reproduction dolls. Our parents made us work for our spending money (gasp), so I spent a lot of time in those shops pouring molds, cleaning greenware, etc. Went to all the conventions and studied "the books" when I was young. Got away from the doll world when I got married, but still fall back in to collecting the antiques from time to time.


Mom's doing great, BTW. She's keeping busy sewing for the French Fashions and has done some patterns for Doll Masters.

 

@sassafras.......... you certainly know first hand about repro dolls, having made them yourself.

Now that you mention actually making them yourself, I do remember reading that post, but forgot who it was that did so.

Your mother must be quite a skilled sewer, sewing for the French Fashions. How exciting is that. I think I bought a pattern some time ago, but never did make one.......I came across it a while back, but now I can't remember where I put it.

Joy makes clothing for antique dolls, and uses antique/vintage materials when she can.

I've only sewn for the American Girl.......no excitement there! LOL!


I am not familiar with Doll Masters........must google.

 

@judy.....I remember seeing some of Joy's work somewhere. If not here, it may have been on the old eBay boards. She makes beautiful doll clothes!

After Mom closed the shops and got a "real job" (her words, not mine), she traveled the world for extended periods of time. She always took her hand sewing for air travel and a featherweight machine in her suitcase for sewing in her down time. Certainly couldn't do that now! Sewing has always been very relaxing for her and IMHO she's REALLY good at it, but I'm a little biased. My grandma did some of the most intricate French hand sewing you've ever seen. I wish I had inherited even a teeny tiny bit of the talent that they have!

When my boys were little I stayed home with them and in the evenings after they went to bed I made doll clothes to sell on eBay. Used to sew for Bitty Bethany, the Himstedts, and BJDs.

 

Thanks Judy for the Kudos .. I still hand sew for my dolls using only antique fabrics and lace .. which I am rapidly running out of. Right now I am stalling on dressing about 6 of my antique dollhouse dolls .. very tiny dresses and underclothes, I'm stalling because of lack of tiny antique lace and scraps of fine silk and fine cotton .. now this is very intricate hand stitching with the tiniest stitches imaginable, but I will do it until my eyes give out ... I love the designing aspect of it all. Sorry friends for rattling on, I just LOVE to sew for them... Joy.

 

Thank You Sassafras ... Joy.

 

@Christmasjoy I'll do some digging and see what I have in the tiny sizes. I'd love for you to have them!

 

Thank You sassafras .. It's much appreciated ... Joy.

 

Joy.....you're not rattling, just speaking of the love of your skillful hobby.

I know you use antique materials, and I mentioned "when you could" because I know there's not an endless supply.

For those of you that do not sew, I can tell you that the smaller the garment, the more difficult it becomes.........................it is a labor of love to do what Joy & Sassafras do.

 

Dolls creep me out LOL!

I actually have a doll that I have NO idea what brand etc she is (can't find anything anywhere) but I got so creeped out by her I had to put her in a box with a lid.