Grödnertal Carved Wooden Doll, ca. 1820
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GUEST:
I collect antique dolls and I saw her on an online auction, and I put a bid on her and I won the bid. I paid $500 for her.
APPRAISER:
You paid $500 for her?
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
It's a doll that was all carved in wood, carved in Grödnertal. It's called a Tuck Comb doll because of this little comb up here, but it's also called a peg wooden doll, and that's because the areas where they're jointed, there would be a wooden dowel or a wooden peg holding it together. It's amazing to find dolls that are in original clothing and all the original undergarments, but to find a doll of this period is even more amazing. I believe, because of the style of the clothing, the doll dates to about 1820, possibly into 1830, because this is what we call the Empire style of clothing with the high waist.
GUEST:
Right, with the high waist.
APPRAISER:
And that period is what dictates the tall silhouette of the doll and the body. The other thing that's wonderful about these dolls are the hairstyles. You'll see all the curls and all the detail that go around the top of the head, and collectors like to see many curls and many waves, and yours certainly has all of those. Probably in a retail setting on today's market, we're looking at $4,000 to $5,000.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
If this didn't have the crazing, we'd be looking more to $8,000 to $9,000.
Appraisal Details
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