Victorian Porcelain Dolls -- The Doll Collector's Dream Come True

The Victorian era is one of great interest to doll collectors. It was during this time that porcelain became the most popular doll making material. Throughout the ages, dolls have been made from bone, wood, clay, stone and fabric. The invention of porcelain revolutionized the doll industry as we know it. The first Victorian porcelain dolls were crafted from china, until it was found that bisque makes a better porcelain doll. Bisque and china are both porcelain. The difference is that china is glazed and bisque is not.

While plastic is the preferred doll making material for today's toys, porcelain is still popular for collectors. You can find porcelain dolls that date back to the Victorian era, or you can find brand new porcelain dolls dressed in Victorian garb. These dolls are almost always depicted as young ladies in beautiful, detailed dresses. Some of them may even have accessories included like parasols. The hand painted facial features on these dolls are beautiful and delicate, and the hair is often arranged in artful styles made popular during the Victorian age.

The most affordable option for doll collectors is to go with new dolls that look like they date back to the Victorian age. Real antiques are going to be very expensive and hard to find. Today's porcelain dolls can gain in value over the years if kept in their original containers and not played with. If you want to display your dolls, consider buying doubles of your most beloved dolls. When storing porcelain dolls, be sure to keep them away from moisture, light and heat. A high shelf in a closet is a good storage area. If your dolls are antiques, undress them and wrap the doll and clothes separately in acid-free tissue paper before packing in a storage box.

You will find a great variety of Victorian porcelain dolls in stores, online and even on home shopping networks. Popular brand names for dolls today include Ashton Drake, Danbury Mint and Marie Osmond. Although Marie Osmond is a popular singer and television personality, she also has her own widely collected line of porcelain dolls. When shopping for porcelain dolls, you will find that you are drawn to particular styles and brands. Some collectors prefer to diversify their collection, while others focus on a particular style or manufacturer.



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