How to Identify Antique Doll Clothes
Attempting to identify an item of antique doll clothing without a label can be difficult, especially if you don't have the doll. Makers did not use labels until the 1860s and, when the clothing is separated from the doll, comprehensive research is the only way to determine what you want to know. To acquire authentic replacement clothing for an antique doll, first identify your doll.
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Instructions
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Identify your doll by the maker's mark if you can discover one on the body. Look at the upper back, lower back, the nape of the neck under the doll's hair or the bottom of the feet for any markings. A doll history museum is a good place to start your quest for knowledge.
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Identify the era your doll was made before you can choose clothing that will be appropriate for it. Antique wooden and wax dolls that have survived from the years prior to 1790 are apt to have silk or brocade dresses in greens and pastels, made from fabric less than 20 inches wide. Wool was not commonly used in early dolls, and the dresses are fragile, decorated with lace and sequins, in the fashion of a grand lady.
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Examine the fabrics, findings and fashion of clothing appropriate for your doll. Pay close attention to the historical significance of the materials. Patent leather shoes appeared in the 1820s, but colored lace was not used before 1880. The type of elastic, buttons, hook and eye closures and zippers can help date the clothing.
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Know some history relating to the doll’s country of origin. Fashions worn during the Civil War era appear in the hoop skirts and corsets of 19th century fashion dolls in America. During World War I, dolls were costumed in patriotic red, white and blue. Compare your doll or clothing with pictures in collectors' reference books and price guides, and review online descriptions of merchandise for sale for more clues.
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Seek additional help from professional antique doll appraisers or attend doll shows and talk to knowledgeable collectors.
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References
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