Jayne Cremasco asked:


Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know many miniature enthusiasts. What fascinates them about seeing familiar objects in a tiny, realistic form?

Much more than a child’s plaything, building doll houses, and ultimately decorating and furnishing them in a theme of your choice, has become an adult hobby. The only way to improve on that, is to have a daughter or grand-daughter who can share that interest and passion with you.

Personally, my miniature interest lies in antique miniatures and dolls, more so than in modern works. The strange thing about that is the fact that antique pieces were seldom created with a true eye to scale, and scale is of utmost importance to me when viewing modern miniatures.

The craftsmanship involved in creating tiny little porcelain dolls, with jointed limbs, often hand blown inset glass eyes, real mohair wigs is amazing. Add to that the primitive conditions within the factories that many of these dolls were created in, adds to my amazement. Many of these tiny dolls have lasted in excess of 100 years , they have been handled, and played with, loved and often abandoned, only to turn up years later in an attic somewhere.

The furnishings of this same era were often handmade, often primitive, and much did not stand the test of time as well as the little dolls did. To find, own and enjoy these pieces today is a delight.

Manufactured doll house furnishings of this era, were often made in Germany as were the little dolls. I had a dear friend of German origin bring her childhood collection over to me to help her sell. She is in excess of 90 years old, a delightful lady who still teaches piano, runs her own household, and dresses her dolls. She had a story to tell about every piece of furniture, and remembers hours spent with her sister in creating the tiny little bed linens, doll clothes and lampshades. I like to think there are similar stories about every antique piece that comes my way.

Also of importance to me is for miniatures to be made of the material they are in real life.

If a bed is representing one made of wood, I cannot tolerate it in plastic. (sorry Chrysenbon) If bathroom fixtures are representing porcelain pieces, then do not make them in wood! Realism is very important in my own collections.

Some enthusiasts enjoy making all of their own furnishings and accessories, even their own dolls. This exacting craft can only be admired by those of us less talented, but certainly makes their fascination obvious.

Some crafters make such exquisite pieces that the prices can command as much as their full size counterparts. There are miniature artists, who paint on tiny canvases each work of art is a one of a kind painting. Other artists paint on tiny plates, even buttons as canvases.

There are miniature artists who do miniature needlepoint, knitting, rug making and pottery as well as wood workers.

One thing I have found is once someone embraces this hobby, it is usually a life long obsession.



Vera

gibsongirl1997 asked:


See there are these VERY realistic baby dolls from the creator Linda Webb. I also like Ashton-Drake dolls. They are in common. But most of their really nice dolls and cute ones (the one I want) is like $149.99 and alot of the others ones are even MORE than that. So where is a website besides eBay and them that I can get the same type of doll with same quality and everything, just not as pricey?

Emma

Katie S asked:


The doll house was brightly colored and all the accessories were shaped like flowers or fruit. It had small, 2 inch baby dolls that were fruit themed, fruit or floral scented, and came with flower or fruit shaped bottles. The dolls may have been fairies. The product was made some time between 1995 and 1998.

Joyce

da chic asked:


There are porcelain dolls being sold at a toy and gift shops here in my place, but well, they’re affordable..

But don’t porcelain dolls cost much? What makes those other dolls expensive?

I want to start collecting soon, but I plan to get one from that gift shop because I already fell in love with 3 dolls from it

I like my dolls (I own baby dolls) to be beside me or should I place them in one cabinet or something? But the fun wouldn’t be there if I do that. (
How do I know the right porcelain ones? I mean, what place?

Lisa

Ebony Raven asked:


Where can I find the original patterns for the vintage Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse dolls for free? There doesn’t even seem to be a pattern for sale on the internet. Help much needed!

Edna

Emile-anne Smith asked:


Can love dolls really substitute a real lover? That is something that is up to the user of a realistic sex doll, but in reality, yes they can to an extent. The options are almost endless when it comes to choosing a life-size love doll that is right for you. There are many life-size love dolls that are on the market and will come in the likes of your favorite stars of the industry, such as Jesse Jane and Jenna Jameson. Love dolls are also made for the ladies. They make life-size love dolls such as John Holmes and many of the males in the sex industry, also accessible are realistic sex dolls that come in a different profession such as a construction worker. For the more alternative type of sex doll, transsexual sex dolls and even a doll that does not fit in to the slim and trim category.

These great companions are as life like as they get, some are made with a soft and very sturdy latex, some are made from hygienic surgical grade Latex for the perfect feel and fit. CyberSkin and IsoFoam are also offered as an alternative to the latex ones. Life-size love dolls with mannequin heads provide a sturdy and sold night of fun and can be handled a bit coarser then the ones that do not have it. Life like love dolls are great for those lonely times when a love life has gone dry. Realistic sex dolls do everything that a real lover can do, minus the touching it can do to you.

Some of the dolls will come with the sucking mouth feature that provides oral sex for the men and a vibrating, rotating tongue for the ladies. All realistic sex dolls provide a deep tight anus, be it male or female. Male dolls have a penis that is always hard and some will vibrate along with the testicles and may be removable. Women sex dolls have very firm breast and hard nipples that are very inviting to touch and play with alone with a deep tight vagina. Some of the body parts can be removable and used for a hand held masturbator for both men and woman and are easy washable. Love dolls can take a considerable amount of weight, if you care to sit on one and give it a try.

Massage and love oils are always welcomed to be rubbed on the dolls, they are easy cleanable and help keep the friction to a minimal when playing with your love doll. Almost anything can be applied to a life-size love doll; you may want to check the package for the heat and weight restrictions as a precaution to yourself and the doll. Always take care of the doll by washing it after each use and storing it in a safe place. This will ensure that it will last a long time as a lover.



Bryan

Ktala asked:


I’m writing a report on Guys and Dolls and I need to know what all Guys and Dolls has been made into/ out of.

Bruce

Kolleen C asked:


I think they are mexican. They are small like inch long mini dolls that normally come in a small box and they are decorated like mexican blankets. What are they and where can I find some? I used to play with them as a child and really need to find out.

Dennis

A J asked:


I am looking for websites that can provide information about various porcelain dolls, including history, proper cleaning, value, and more.
I am looking for websites that can provide information about various porcelain dolls, including history, proper cleaning, value, and more; however, e-bay is not what I am looking for - please only suggest other sites.

Allison

Jayne Cremasco asked:


From the 1840’s through until the early 1920’s, some of the most beautiful dolls ever created, were produced in Germany.

The earliest dolls, often referred to as Parian (meaning untinted bisque) were created in famous pottery factories in Copenhagen and in Dresden. These dolls had beautifully delicate molded features, including not only their faces, but their hair as well, often with molded ribbons, bows, snood, flowers and sometimes a collar. Delicate exacting colorations made every one of these dolls a work of art. These dolls are rare and valuable.

Their popularity peaked around the end of the 1870’s and can be dated by their hairstyles. Parian Bisque led to the more common China Head Dolls. These dolls were mass produced, and have a shiny glaze finish over the plain untinted bisque. These dolls ranged in size from tiny 1” tall frozen charlotte type dolls to large as 24”. These dolls were most popular between 1860 and 1900, as a cheaper alternative to the latest doll craze, that of tinted unglazed bisque that was becoming more and more popular and available. In the early 1890’s the German doll manufacturers began mass producing many lovely quality dolls that began to rival the quality of the French dolls.

Dolls began to be modelled after real children. Emotions and expressions became visible. The famous period of the “dolly type” face was born.

These beautiful dolly face dolls traditionally had “sleep eyes” made to open and close, set into the head carefully with plaster. The eyes were hand blown glass. They also have open mouths, usually showing 4 upper teeth. Fine mohair wigs, or human hair wigs were also used on these dolls. The heads were attached to sophisticated ball joint bodies.

Many of these dolly face dolls were produced in small cottage industry circumstances, and the maker of many remains unknown. The more famous German doll manufacturers such as Heinrich Handwerck, Heuback-Kopplesdorf, Kammer and Reinhard, J.D.Kestner, Armand Marseille and Simon and Halbig, clearly placed their hallmark, and doll mold numbers onto the back of the doll’s neck, making it possible to date, value and appraise many of their dolls.

One of the most famous dolls of all to come out of this period was the “Bye-Lo” baby doll. It is documented that the artist, Grace Storey Putnam searched hospital nurseries in the early 1920’s looking for just the right tiny model for this doll. The Bye-Lo baby was followed by “My Dream Baby”.

The value placed on Antique German Dolls, is based on their rarity, on the quality in craftsmanship of a particular doll, the condition of the doll, and by how much of the doll remains in original condition. This will include such factors as repairs to the head or body, replaced eyes or wig, and many other factors.

Antique German dolls continue to appreciate in value. The quality and talent put into every doll made is appreciated more and more by collectors of antique dolls as the years go by.



Don