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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: debodun on October 06, 2012, 09:55:34 am

Title: Older plaster doll
Post by: debodun on October 06, 2012, 09:55:34 am
This doll was in my aunt's estate. The head, arms and legs are made of what appears to be plaster and it has a cloth body. It's 25" long when laid out flat. The eyes open and close depending on the doll's position. Unfortunately, the plaster parts are not in very good condition. It was sitting on a small rocking chair and wearing a fairly modern looking dress. Someone asked me if I wanted to sell it and I said it was $25 and they said that was too much in that condition (even with the rocker included!). Any idea as to the age, manufacturer and value of the doll and rocker?
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: bigwull on October 06, 2012, 10:09:23 am
I would be very surprised if the doll was made of plaster..it is more likely to be made of Bisque..which is unglazed porcelain with a matt finish....and the fact that it is a sleeping doll, i.e. when laid flat on its back the eyes are closed..makes it better...i would say that the clothes are wrong for the period that this was made in....as for it not being worth a measly $25..with the chair...well there loss your gain i would say,...that little rocker..is nice although it has seen better days..its still a wee cracker...
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: ghopper1924 on October 06, 2012, 10:36:19 am
Don't know about the doll. The rocker is heavily influenced by the kind of cottage/folk traditions that were prominent around the turn of the 20th century, 1890-1910.
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: KC on October 06, 2012, 11:06:54 am
Good they didn't want to fork over $25.  Just the chair is worth that!

Agree that the doll is most likely bisque.  See if this helps.
http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/bisquedolls.htm (http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/bisquedolls.htm)

Can you take a bottom pic of the rocker?
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: debodun on October 06, 2012, 11:16:02 am
Thant was an informative link, KC. Thanks!
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: KC on October 06, 2012, 11:18:18 am
I believe I was modifying my remarks after you posted....so just to make sure you see...

Can you please post a pic of the bottom of the rocking chair?
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: frogpatch on October 06, 2012, 11:52:18 am
From where I am sitting the doll looks like a mid 20th century composition creation. I say that from the molded hair and the way it is cracking and peeling. If that is the case the clothes would fit the era.
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: debodun on October 06, 2012, 11:56:06 am
Here's a photo of the bottom:
(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee57/debodun/childsrocker3.jpg)
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: Rauville on October 06, 2012, 02:16:26 pm
FrogPatch is right...it's a composition doll. Probably from the 30's. Some of them had a voice box inside that said "Ma-Ma" when you picked them up.
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: mart on October 07, 2012, 10:14:18 am
Rocker is worth a lot more than the doll !!
Title: Re: Older plaster doll
Post by: KC on October 07, 2012, 12:58:58 pm
Yes...rocker is worth more.

Do agree on the composition.  I am now where I get good internet and can enlarge the pic of the doll face that is damaged.  Bisque wouldn't look like this (having the heavy lacquer overcoat).

http://www.dollreference.com/composition_dolls.html (http://www.dollreference.com/composition_dolls.html)