How to Appraise Antique Dolls

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Antique dolls can be very beautiful, hand-crafted and unique. They often have very high sentimental value. If they are authentic, they could also have very high monetary value. Or they may be reproductions worth very little. There is only one way to find out for sure. You must have them appraised. Read on to learn how to appraise antique dolls.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Doll price guide
Pen and paper

Step 1

Look up the doll in question in a doll price guide to get a general idea of what the doll could be worth. You can purchase a comprehensive guide through the Official Price Guide to Dolls website. See the Resources section below for a link.
Step 2

Assess the wear and tear on the doll. Make a list of cracks, chips, faded colors and worn-down spots. Be very thorough.
Step 3

Check for a label, carving or imprint somewhere on the doll that might indicate that it is a reproduction, rather than an authentic antique doll.
Step 4

Take the doll to an antique shop and ask for help in determining the exact value of it. Show the shop owner your list of defects and imperfections. He will examine it carefully and perhaps even perform tests to see if the doll is authentic and appraise how much it is worth.

Tips & Warnings

A doll price guide will tell you the value of a specific doll in excellent condition. Older dolls rarely are in excellent condition, particularly if they once belonged to an actual child. Depending on how much wear and tear there is on it, your antique doll may be worth anywhere from slightly to significantly less.
People who make reproductions of antique dolls are not usually dishonest people. They are simply artists who admire a particular style of doll making and want to do the same thing themselves. As such, they will usually mark clearly somewhere on the dolls that they are only reproductions.
If your antique doll is, in fact, worth a lot of money, you might want to take out an insurance policy on it, in case it gets lost, damaged or stolen.
Even if your doll is in excellent condition, the book value is not necessarily the amount of money you would get if you sold the doll. If you sell it to an antique store, the shop owner will likely buy it from you for slightly less, so that she can make a profit.

Resources