Googly-Eyed Kley & Hahn Doll, ca. 1915
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GUEST:
This doll was obtained by my mother some years ago, and she in turn gave it to me. She loved to collect antiques, she loved dolls. I think she bought this on one of her trips to Germany when she was visiting my sister.
APPRAISER:
How long have you had it?
GUEST:
I've had it a few years. I just don't know anything about it. I figured I'd bring it today to see if I could solve the mystery.
APPRAISER:
Anything in particular that you like about it?
GUEST:
Well, I like how the eyes kind of float up and down, and the detail is really nice on the face, and it just has a lot of character to it.
APPRAISER:
You brought in a wonderful example of a bisque-headed German googly.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's a very nice example. The size is good, the clothes are all original. The fact that it has such an impish look, very unusual. Most people love googlys, especially people that collect dolls.
GUEST:
Oh, okay.
APPRAISER:
And you look at him, and he's in a toddler body. He's marked in the back of the head.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
"K&H," and also "Mold Number 180."
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
The "Mold Number 180" indicates the mold number of his face, the look, his looks.
GUEST:
Oh, okay.
APPRAISER:
Also, "K&H" is a company out of Germany-- Kley and Hahn. Their heads were made by another company called Hertel and Schwab.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
The googly dolls came about between 1911 and 1915. They're very nice dolls.
GUEST:
Did it ever have shoes, do you think, originally, or...?
APPRAISER:
It could have had shoes. I'm not positive. The feet look in such good condition that it may have had shoes at one time. Have you ever had him appraised?
GUEST:
You know, I really have no idea of the value. And that's why I brought it today, because I just really had no idea, and I figured you could help me solve the mystery on what I have and how old it is, and maybe the value.
APPRAISER:
Sometimes big surprises come in small packages, even though he's a smaller version of this doll. And people love the smaller version.
GUEST:
Mhm
APPRAISER:
We're talking anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 in today's market.
GUEST:
Oh my-- You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
At auction, it could bring more.
GUEST:
You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
Not at all.
GUEST:
I had no idea. I totally didn't know any idea of value on this.
Appraisal Details
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Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."
Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.
Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.
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