Influence of Old Dolls on New, Out with the Old, but In with the Old
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Doll creation often involves variation on a theme. Older dolls definitely influence how new ones
are made. For example, the concept of
jointed dolls is not new; jointed dolls exited in Ancient Egypt,
Asian porcelain doll, 1990s, shown with a Horseman
vinyl headed doll on a cloth body made to look like an antique.
Vinyl ball jointed doll by Hestia. Current.
New dolls also imitate old when the doll market demands
it. During the mid seventies to early
90s, doll collecting was pushing stamps and coins out of the way as the top
collecting hobby. Prices for vintage and
antique dolls soared; soon, reproduction dolls became popular. Perhaps Emma Clear, business woman who held
some kind of law degree, created early reproductions of famous china head and
Parian dolls as early as the 1940s, was the first porcelain reproduction artist. Her art was celebrated in books by authors
like Janet Pagter Johl and
Companies like B. Shackman and Mark Farmer Co. of El Cerrito, CA, recognized that collectors loved the antique bisque and china dolls, but often did not have the funds to collect them. B. Shackman also reproduced antique wax, wooden, and cloth dolls. Some of their dolls were tiny, but a few were larger dolls, up to about 18 inches. Mark Farmer made dolls in all sizes, with some dolls representing antique replicas, while others were art dolls created by the Mark Farmer family.
In 1979, an endearing but cheaply made bisque doll with a
wig and painted features appeared in magazine ads. She cost $20.00, and she spawned a host of
relatives called “Waldas” today, taken from the game, “Where’s Waldo? Walda appeared everywhere; I’ve even seen
some in museums in
Other companies like Franklin Mint, Heritage Mint, The Hamilton Collection, and others began to make porcelain dolls a high quality vinyl dolls with antique clothing. These dolls were limited editions, made to be collected. They don’t bring much today on the secondary market, though they are beautiful. Gorgeous dolls representing Jumeau and Bru Bébés by artists Pat Loveless and Mundia cost hundreds of dollars originally, but now can cost as low as 30.00 at an estate sale.
Horseman, Ideal, Effanbee, Madame Alexander, and others made some porcelain examples, but also created vinyl dolls that looked like antique bisque dolls. Sometimes, antique molds were used to make vinyl dolls, as in the Effanbee doll that uses the antique German “Baby” mold.
The Asian dolls have really fallen out of favor, and can cost as low as 2.00 in thrift stores. Some crafters like to turn them into monster dolls, while other collectors like to strip them of their clothes and wigs to “piece them out “for profit at doll shows.
Artist reproductions have also fallen from grace; few make them and molds are often just given away at sales. Recently, I purchased many that sold for 1.25 at sales, while their original prices were 50.00 to 165.00 or more. I can tell you from experience that the molds and parts for these dolls were expensive. Companies that still sell parts and bodies for reproduction dolls are not cheap today. A good mold alone can cost over 200.00.
So, everything old is new again. Economics drove collectors’ desires, and hand made and reproduction dolls imitating antiques flooded the doll market. Collectors wanted something pretty, Victorian, and less expensive, and they got it.
Antique Jumeau
