She was gifted to my mom years ago, but ended up in an attic and dirtied up by mice. I'm trying to clean her up, she's missing eyelashes and her neck 'rope'(?) is really loose- she had a $350. price tag on her. I'd just like to know about her and fix her up a bit.
Thank you!
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She is lovely. Sorry to hear she has had a rough recent life.
I sold dolls for many years and her signature does not look familiar. I went through all of my resources for an artist named Marie or Maria in the 1990s (and specific to 1991) and came up empty with a match. Definitely NOT the famous Marie Osmond.
Cybergrannie (one of our other researchers) may recognize this signature right away, but I do not.
If she does not recognize this gal, my best guesstimate is that she is a kit doll and the artist is a private person who made her in a class or studio or at home.
The way the markings are (it looks like a black sharpie vs. a manufactured signature) and the markings are not lined up in a straight line (stacked) feeds into that belief that she was a kit/DIY doll.
Are the clothes handmade? Or machine made but not perfect (meaning lines a bit crooked or edges not perfectly matched or bound)? Those are usually the other signs of a kit doll.
How tall is she? What is she stuffed with?
Can you show the price tag? That may lend more information.
Either way--if you want to fix her up to enjoy her you should go for it!
I would only do this if you want to refresh her to enjoy. If you are refreshing her to resell, I can almost guarantee you will not get any return on that investment.
Why? The doll market was bad BEFORE the COVID thing and is only worse now. Most dolls, even those that cost thousands when new are only selling (if they sell) for pennies on the dollar. There are just a glut of them and the demand dropped while the supply for sale quadrupled.
If it turns out she is a famous artist and I am just not remembering who she is, you may fetch more for her if you leave her as is and sell her. Anyone who collects dolls often want to do the projects themselves.
Looking to see if cybergrannie has the artist at her amazing fingertips!! Thanks for sharing your sweet gal!
Thank you so much for your kindness & information!
I am def just going to clean her up for personal use.
She is 22" from the top of her head to her feet. Her body seems a bit over-sized but not much... she was originally in an elaborate and amazing beaded lace gown that was amazing but got shredded.
The underdress is simple but detailed with tufted arms and trim at the bottom- machine made.
She has what seems to be a stuffed felt body with a tiny ribbon tie at the neck and seemingly glued & lace covered zip ties at her arms.
Looks like she will be beautiful when restored.
I do not recognize the signature and, I agree that it looks like a marker and these were typically used when marking a 'homemade' doll.
This really looks like a project for the doll forums as they have so much stored knowledge about antique & vintage dolls that it puts me to shame so I tend to leave dolls like this to the experts.
If you post pictures (and information you supplied) you will most likely find out everything you wish to know about your doll.
They like good pictures - close-up too but also full unclothed body of doll - front and back.
They can also tell you how to do any repairs that you plan to do and appropriate hair style.
This is a little trouble but you may receive some useful information.
Please post back with any information you happen to gather.
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