Jumeau Doll, ca. 1885
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GUEST:
She belonged to my mother, and I know at some point she had gotten it from her aunt and it passed down because she was named for her. So, before that aunt, I don't know.
APPRAISER:
This doll was made in France, and it's made by the Jumeau doll factory. And it's an early Jumeau. It's an Emile Jumeau. And what is particularly wonderful about this doll, it is original from the top of its head to the bottom of its feet.
GUEST:
Oh, that's nice.
APPRAISER:
The shoes are even marked by the Jumeau doll factory. The clothing is 100% factory original. The hat, the wig, the dress, and you can see in here, the bright, bright pink color when it was new. This is truly an attic doll. It's been kept somewhere for many years. All original, and nobody played with it very much.
GUEST:
How old is it?
APPRAISER:
It's from about 1881 to 1886.
GUEST:
Oh, okay.
APPRAISER:
You know, these dolls were very expensive when they were new.
GUEST:
Oh, were they?
APPRAISER:
Yes. And especially when they were dressed in these fabulous clothes, because they used to have designers do these clothes. It needs to be restrung. See how loose it is?
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
If you got it restrung, you could sit it in a chair, you could put it on a doll stand.
GUEST:
So should I stitch the...
APPRAISER:
I would stitch this up, it's just come unstitched. Don't clean the clothes. However, see all this dirt?
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
You can take a Q-Tip and very gently clean the face.
GUEST:
Oh, that's good to know.
APPRAISER:
And I would estimate, retail price, this doll would price between $7,000 and $8,000.
GUEST:
Oh, my. Thank you.
APPRAISER:
You're welcome.
GUEST:
Really? (chuckles)
APPRAISER:
It's a fabulous example.
GUEST:
Oh, thank you.
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