| The American Heritage
Dictionary defines the word reproduce as "to produce a
counterpart, image, or copy of". Extending that definition, a
reproduction of a porcelain doll is "one which was molded in clay and
fired" and "one which came from an original mold."
It is quite natural to want to reproduce
something fine and beautiful, that perhaps we can't afford to buy in the
original. When an original doll is cast and fired, it retains the
markings, usually on the back of the head, of the artist or manufacturer.
There is nothing wrong with making reproductions as long as the artist
casting the mold adds his/her initials and the date to the original
markings already on the head. Doll artists who are selling their dolls are
obliged to present them as reproductions. Those who don't are committing
fraud and give legitimate reproduction artists a bad name.
In my experience, collectors have had no
interest in reproductions. That should not be a deterrent to making them!
I find them a joy to make because one learns so much. For example,
costuming these dolls would cost a fortune if one had to buy the original
in order to do it. I have explained to customers that a reproduction
should be accepted as a work of art in itself. One of my teachers made the
point that sometimes doll artists today do a better job of painting than
that of the mass produced dolls of a century ago!
Copyright laws prohibit reproducing dolls
for sale that are currently in production. In fact, it is illegal even if
the doll is not patented. The Fair Trade Practices law protects the
original artist. "A United States patent runs for only seventeen
years, and after that time it becomes public property. It is, therefore,
legal to reproduce any patented item after the patent has expired."
That said, we can get to the good stuff:
how to know if your doll is an original. There are several ways in which
unscrupulous salespeople can misrepresent their dolls. A doll with an
original head may have the wrong body parts. A doll may have been
restored. Some collectors will have nothing to do with a restored doll
whereas others want their doll to look new. My rule of thumb when
restoring a doll was to do as little as possible in order to preserve the
doll's value. For example, stringing a doll will not affect its value, and
should be done. Body repaints or replacing the body will affect the value
and should not be done if the doll will survive without it
There is no foolproof way to identify an
authentic antique doll since reproduction artists have improved so much in
recent years, and if we as buyers are not thoroughly informed. If you are
in doubt, research, research, then take it to an appraiser.
Here is a checklist for authenticity when
buying an antique doll:
- Old porcelain is darker than
new porcelain
- Have the dealer shine a
flashlight into the interior of the porcelain head to check
for repaired cracks
- Is the wig shiny and coarse to
the touch? If so, it probably is synthetic and not the
original mohair
- Do the clothes look new or
inappropriate? Appropriate replacement clothing will not
devalue a doll by too much.
- Do look under the doll's skirt
for body damage or replacement parts. I almost bid on a
beautiful Armand Marseille until I noticed that the body was
completely deteriorated. And if there are rubber legs on a
porcelain doll, you know it's a fake!
|
If you fall in love with a doll with
defects regardless of her authenticity, do buy her! She will have a good
home with you. Be a perfectionist only if you wish to resell the doll.
Read everything you can find on antique
dolls. As mentioned above, find a good appraiser. Your insurance company,
an antiques dealer, an auctioneer, and people who do appraisals at doll
shows, all have extensive experience with antiques and with dolls and can
give you a qualified opinion of authenticity and value. These people also
have a good knowledge of current market values. |