Collecting antique dolls is a popular hobby that can be both enjoyable and used as an investment for the collector. Checking the manufacturer’s mark is the best way to identify the type and era of an antique doll. However, you can also identify if they are antique through the materials they’re made from. If you are in doubt regarding the identification of your doll, contact a professional doll appraiser for an accurate opinion.
Things You Should Know
- Check for the maker’s mark on your doll’s neck, back of the head, lower or mid back, or foot. It could also be sewn into your doll’s clothing.
- Search the letters, numbers, and symbols on the mark to determine what kind of doll you have.
- If it’s unmarked, study the features of your doll and search them to try and find a match, or go to a doll appraiser.
Check the back of the head for the manufacturer’s mark. The manufacturer’s mark is often on the back of the head, under the doll’s hair if it has a wig. It could also be on the doll’s back, under its arms, on the soles of its feet, or sewn onto its body or clothing.
- Maker’s marks tell you the brand name and size of the doll, and those imported to America after 1890 have the country of origin as well, due to the McKinley tariff.
- Some dolls were sold with a wrist tag instead of a maker’s mark, and handmade dolls don’t have maker’s marks. If you can’t find one, take the doll to an appraiser or check its materials.
