Ever wonder what people are talking about when they say they collect dolls? Well most of them are talking about antique bisque dolls. Still confused? Keep reading.
Many young women (and a few young men for that matter) grow up playing with dolls of one sort or another. Unfortunately, most of these go by the wayside as their owners “grow up” and move on to more “real-world” activities. Luckily for these beloved childhood companions, that’s not the whole story.
Many adults - some seeking to reunite with their younger years, others simply looking for a diversion from their all-to-real lives - have turned to collecting these cast-offs. Maybe you would like to join the ranks of these happy individuals. Well, before you jump into things head first and start buying up all the cheap plastic knock-offs you can get your hands on, let me explain a few things about the world of doll collecting.
Personally, my favorite collectible doll (and I’m far from alone in this), is the antique bisque doll. You may have seen a few in your time. You know, those cute little toys with the realistic faces that see to bring out the child in anyone that looks at them? That’s what I’m talking about.
Antique bisque dolls were produced largely in France and Germany from about 1860 on through the 1930’s. They could be distinguished from their earlier porcelain and china cousins by the lack of glaze on their beautiful faces. Using unglazed porcelain made the dolls cheaper and easier to produce and gave the faces a more realistic look and feel.
Production of these dolls fell away during the later part of the twentieth century, though not completely. Today, if you want to find a bisque doll that hasn’t been around for a century, you can find a few still being made in the United States and China almost exclusively for the collector market.
So, now you know a little more about what you’re getting into with this doll collecting business. Take your time picking out your first doll, as it will always be your favorite, even if it’s not the most important part of your future collection. Congratulations, you’ve just enter a beautiful and exciting world.
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