Antique porcelain dolls – Is your doll fake?

Collecting antique porcelain dolls can be a very rewarding hobby. Talented craftsmen have been creating beautiful dolls for decades. The number of options from countries around the world is huge! Although good quality reproductions can be purchased today, modern technology has also seen an increase in counterfeits. How do you detect that these counterfeits are being sold as originals? There are many telltale signs that will set off alarm bells. Here are the basics:

doll brands

However, this is a topic for its own article, let’s take a quick look.

If you are buying in the US, all dolls made and imported after 1891 must be marked with the country of origin. Although the brand shape can be located on the back of the head, chest, shoulder, or soles of the feet, it can also be encoded within the material or simply on an attached tag. The presence of a mark immediately dates the doll to be after 1891. The mark will commonly involve a mold number, size number, patent number, and of course the maker’s initial or stamp. no markings MAY means pre-1891. If the doll has no markings, be sure to check the following:

eyes

Look at the eyes closely and look for these signs:

• Look for glass, not plastic.
• If the doll is to have ‘sleeping eyes’, make sure they work and are not just glued in place.
• The eye socket or cut must be symmetrical.
• The porcelain at the edge of the socket should be thin.
• Is the eye socket the correct colors for that doll? Usually vintage dolls only have eye shadow.

Tabs

• The tabs should not be symmetrical.
• One tab should have more strokes than the other.
• They should be thin strokes, thin not thick.

Eyebrows

• Eyebrows should be finely painted. Similar to tabs.
• They should not be symmetrical.
• Check the location on the face. The doll should not have a surprised look on her face.

Sea food soup

Legitimate china will have been around for a while and will most likely be made from realistic looking bisque. Expect to see some hairline cracks. Of course, any cracks or evidence of repair will affect the value.

Costume

• Is the doll’s costume or dress appropriate for the doll’s era?
• What material is used? There should be no polyester or any other relatively modern material.

Hatred

• Mohair or non-polyester human hair.

Composition

Most antique porcelain dolls are actually a combination of pieces from different manufacturers. It was common practice for manufacturers to specialize in heads and supply the larger market. Be sure to check for marks. See above.

It is difficult to quickly assess whether an antique doll is real or fake. Although the above list is a brief overview, familiarize yourself with the doll(s) you are interested in by visiting museums and other collections to get a closer look at what the real doll should look like. This will give you a good reference point.