Things You'll Need:
- Antique doll price guide
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Step 1
Know the difference between a bisque doll, a china doll and a pariah doll. Bisque dolls are made from unglazed porcelain, heated in a kiln. Any part of the doll can be made from bisque. China dolls are made with glazed porcelain. Usually only the head is made from china. This type of doll usually dates to about the mid-1800s. Parian dolls, like bisque dolls, are made from unglazed porcelain. But parian dolls are not given any color finishing and thus appear pure white.
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Step 2
Know how to tell an authentic doll from a reproduction. Reproductions are usually labeled as such in an out-of-the-way area, so check the doll thoroughly to make sure of its authenticity.
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Step 3
Recognize character dolls, made to look like actual living people at the time the doll was constructed, as opposed to more general, stylized dolls.
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Step 4
Find a doll price guide to learn the book value of specific dolls and how much you can expect to pay for them. "The Official Price Guide to Dolls" by Denise Van Patten is a good place to start. You can buy the book from The Official Price Guide to Dolls website. See the Resources section below for a link.
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Step 5
Know your budget. A fine antique doll can cost several thousand dollars or more.
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Step 6
Shop around at local antique shops. Tell the salespeople that you want to start an antique doll collection and ask for their advice. Antique dealers are usually fairly knowledgeable and should be able to help you start your collection.
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Step 7
Check online auctions. Many dolls that are very rare or next to impossible to find are available online from another collector.
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Step 8
From the antique shops and online auctions, get in touch with other collectors like yourself. Talk to them, find out what dolls they have and what dolls they would like to have. Perhaps they will be willing to keep an eye out for a certain doll for you.
