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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: wolfhouse on December 17, 2011, 05:55:07 pm

Title: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 17, 2011, 05:55:07 pm

Hi there. Couldn't find anything on this type of doll head regarding the name Helen. Any idea what that means and if its worth something?(http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwdh2r1lHF1r70qw5o1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1324252488&Signature=XAAE5b0RwqsyboBRq2eI8RyVhoE%3D)
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwdh2r1lHF1r70qw5o2_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1324252500&Signature=7T%2FTlYUkYsMmBWgo5kii7YdIjlE%3D)

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: Rauville on December 17, 2011, 08:08:16 pm

My Mother was a doll collector...but not very much of her knowledge rubbed off on me. One thing that I do remember is that the "Pet Name" series was somewhat uncommon in regard to vintage china head dolls such as yours. Other names were; "Dorothy", Mabel", "Rose", among others. Most of the value attached to china dolls is based on the hair style.
A good reference for pricing is: Jan Foulke's Blue Book of Doll Values.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: ironlord1963 on December 17, 2011, 09:04:46 pm

      that is a Low brow China Doll head, can't offer you much more then that.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 18, 2011, 01:14:04 am

Thanks for your help, both of you.

Anyone have an idea how old this is or who made it?

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: ironlord1963 on December 18, 2011, 07:50:34 am

     Low brow china dolls was cir. late 1800's and early century in date for the most part, but something about this head looks newer to me.  I also remember reading something about blue eyes dating these too, but don't remember the date.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wendy177 on December 18, 2011, 08:17:07 am

Ironlord it is how the eyes are done I agree seems newer  wolfhouse check out this site and you will see what we mean.
http://www.dollreference.com/china_head_dolls.html

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 18, 2011, 08:48:59 pm

Ya it looks like she's "wearing" more makeup than the older ones. And her head is tilted slightly downward, while the older ones are straight forward facing.
I'm planning on listing this for $45 on Etsy. Is that a good price? More? Less? Let me know. And I'm just going to say its 1930s-1940s

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: Oceans64 on December 19, 2011, 07:30:46 am

Tales had a thread about low brow dolls: http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=7860.msg34565#msg34565

At one point she found a doll forum who helped her ID. Maybe she will check in and post it. Her's had quite a bit of "make up" on the cheeks as well.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on December 19, 2011, 12:07:30 pm

Sorry for my late arrival on this, I am not able to see the images, but it sounds like the rest of you can?

The forum that was so helpful to me was the Ebay doll forum. http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jspa?rw=true&forumID=18&anticache=1324317905023 (http://forums.ebay.com/db1/forum.jspa?rw=true&forumID=18&anticache=1324317905023)
It is frequented by some very helpful and experienced collectors that are great at identifying dolls. I have seen the low-brown china head dolls with the names. I don't think it makes them more valuable than the others, but I do think it helps you to get a very precise date and origin of manufacture for them. I would love to see yours, can you try posting another picture?

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: JoshandLila on December 19, 2011, 03:38:38 pm

I cant see the pics either  ???

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: snowflake on December 19, 2011, 07:59:25 pm

I found ones similar to yours. Not identical. The arch in yours is more defined.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: KC on December 19, 2011, 10:33:51 pm

No pics are showing up for me either!  I just thought it was me again!  LOL


Does this page help at all?   1895 lists a Helen doll.  However, I haven't seen your doll...so just taking a stab in the dark!
http://dollreference.com/china_head_dolls.html (http://dollreference.com/china_head_dolls.html)



and Hertwig & Company (Germany) made a Helen doll late 1800's early 1900's MADE ONLY FOR THE AMERICAN MARKET.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 19, 2011, 11:34:24 pm

To all who can't see the pics, heres the link to my blog post with the original pics posted:

http://wolfhousevintage.tumblr.com/#14376666078

If they don't load just try refreshing the page a few times and it should work.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 19, 2011, 11:39:28 pm

OR I could just figure out how to upload the pics! Here ya go.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 29, 2011, 12:26:42 am

Reviving this to see if anyone has any more ideas about this style. Because I can't seem to find one similar on any of the links. Also some people could see the pictures before, and now they are posted.

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: KC on December 29, 2011, 02:00:50 am

The only one I have found similar is this one...in that the hair is the very same from front view (molded - not color).
http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-488996/antique-china-doll-head-germany-helen-blue-eye-blonde.html (http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-488996/antique-china-doll-head-germany-helen-blue-eye-blonde.html)

I have an important questions, what is the size of this head/shoulder doll head?  They also made head pincushions and pillows that used porcelain heads....

Title: Re: Porcelain Doll Head printed with "Helen"
Post by: wolfhouse on December 30, 2011, 01:13:58 am

Its about 4.25" tall. I don't think its small enough for a pin cushion.