1925 Armand Marseille "Just Me" Doll
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GUEST:
My father was a physician, and back in the day, he actually did house calls, and he said, "You'll really want to go on this house call with me." His patient had two bedrooms full of dolls.
APPRAISER:
Wow.
GUEST:
Supposedly, she gave me this doll when I was very little.
APPRAISER:
Have you ever had her appraised or looked at?
GUEST:
No, I haven't, but she was my favorite. I slept with her.
APPRAISER:
Okay. Well, let me tell you about your little doll. You have a Just Me doll. That was her name, "Just Me." And she was created by the Armand Marseille doll company. He was a doll maker in Germany. On the back, you will see "Germany." There's an "A" and an "M," and that stands for Armand Marseille, and then we see a mark that says "310," and that is her mold number, which is the mold number for Just Me, who remained a popular model. She was originally made by Armand Marseille and later by the Vogue doll company and was even made as late as a couple of years ago, so she's a very popular doll.
GUEST:
Wow. On the back of her head above "Germany"…
APPRAISER:
It's the "Armand Marseille."
GUEST:
Oh, that's what's up there?
APPRAISER:
Yes, yes.
GUEST:
Because I couldn't see that.
APPRAISER:
But the wig is covering it, and the wig's been glued down. And she has wonderful, beautiful sleep eyes made of glass in a beautiful bright blue, and a little pouty mouth, and a cute little button nose, so I can see how she really appealed to you. Your Just Me is made of bisque, and then her body is made of five pieces, and it's made of composition. And it's beautifully marked; it's even got the blush on the knee. And then the other thing that's really nice about your doll is that she has her original costume, which is very nicely made with embroidery and lace with the hat, the suit, the matching pantaloons, and then we have a beautiful
blond mohair wig.
GUEST:
I thought maybe it was human.
APPRAISER:
No, it's mohair, which is an animal fur which is very much like human hair. And then one of the things that's almost always missing with antique dolls, we have these fabulous little antique shoes and socks with their little pom-poms, which fit her personality perfect because she's all perky and cute. Fabulous rosy cheeks. This doll was made in 1925 and was one of their most popular designs they ever made.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
Still one of the most charming characters, and collectors are looking for her at every doll show.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
Fairly difficult to find. She's the nine-inch size. Do you have any idea for value?
GUEST:
Not at all.
APPRAISER:
In a retail setting, this doll would sell for $1,200 to $1,600.
GUEST:
Wow! Oh, my goodness! That's so cute. Well, I love her to death, I think she's precious. And, unfortunately, I've had her up in the attic for, like, 20 years.
(laughs)
GUEST:
I'm gonna have to put her out.
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