Jumeau Portrait Fashion Doll & Wardrobe
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GUEST:
In 2011, my mom brought the doll to me in a box. She came to our family in 1884. She's been passed down from different generations. This is Marie Lovell.
APPRAISER:
Okay. And how was it determined who got the doll when it was passed down?
GUEST:
From what I understand, it was passed down to, like, the next generation 10-year-old. Each party that had it had a period dress made.
APPRAISER:
Your doll is a Jumeau doll, what we call a Jumeau Portrait Fashion. And it's made in France, about 1884, when the doll was first purchased by your family. And it's on a very different body. It's on a body that's not usually on this French head. It's a German body. But the more important thing is it's got the wonderful French head. Her hair is a human hair wig, and it's not original to the doll. The doll would have had a mohair wig with long hair that comes from goats. Unfortunately, it appears that the clothing from 1884 is missing. The dress she's wearing is made later, probably in the late 19th century. We have the white dress, which I believe in your provenance was made in 1908, also includes her petticoat and other underwear. Then we have the black dress, which I believe was made in the 1930s.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Then we have the one on the end was made in the 1940s. Includes underwear here, a camisole here, and a handbag. Do you know if everybody that
got the doll made a dress?
GUEST:
From what I can tell they did, other than my mom.
APPRAISER:
Your mom didn't make a dress.
GUEST:
And she did not, I don't know why. But maybe I'll make one for her, but my plan is to, since we live in Oklahoma, I live in the Cherokee nation, I want to get a Cherokee tear dress made.
APPRAISER:
Oh, how wonderful. But aren't you supposed to make the dress?
(chuckles)
GUEST:
Did they make those dresses? I don't know, I guess I could try.
APPRAISER:
Oh, okay. If I were to give an award to the most nicely made dress, it would probably be the white lace one that is really a beautiful period dress from
1908. So, you're probably curious to know about what it's worth.
(inhales)
GUEST:
I'm anxious to hear.
APPRAISER:
Okay. On the retail market, the group--the doll, the clothing-- is worth $3,500 to $4,000. And...
GUEST:
Say that... three?
APPRAISER:
$3,500 to $4,000.
GUEST:
Wow, wow.
APPRAISER:
If all the clothing was from the 1884 period, it really would increase the value.
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."
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