

Doll collecting is a fun hobby and more so when you can identify your dolls. If your doll is antique, vintage or a modern porcelain doll, in order to buy or sell with confidence, you need to know what you have. To find the worth or value of something – you need to know what it is. The doll reference website provides a resource to identify dolls – just dolls of all eras, made of most materials and doll types.
Dolls are created by humans as a likeness of a human and evolved from ancient doll-like artifacts found in tombs to a child’s plaything or for an adult to collect, have a piece of history. The material a doll is made gives it’s history, which can help to date a doll. Dolls are made around the world representing every culture, skin color, every type of human.
If you have one or many dolls to identify, are a beginning doll collector or experienced – start here to find answers, for Free.
Dolls by Type of Material
Dolls are classified by the material of the head, also helps date the doll.


Celluloid
Celluloid dolls are made from cellulose nitrate, alcohol, fillers and camphor . . Read More


Composition
Early composition dolls were made of glue, glycerin, zinc oxide and Japanese wax . . . Read More


Hard Plastic
The first dolls produce of the new plastic material were by the Ideal Toy . . . Read More


Metal Dolls
France has the first patent recorded of making a metal doll head in 1861 . . . Read More


Paper Mache
Antique papier mâché, carton moulé, carton pâte or holz-masse are all terms . . . Read More


Porcelain
Porcelain collector dolls were sold beginning in the 1970s to present, they were meant
. . . Read More


Rubber Dolls
Caoutchouc, India rubber or gum was used for centuries to make dolls or parts of dolls . . . Read More


Wax Dolls
Some of the oldest known existing examples of dolls have been found made of wax . . . Read More


Wood Dolls
Wood is a fairly easy material to carve or whittle to create a doll in the form of a human . . . Read More
Dolls By Type of Doll
Some dolls are unmarked and like other dolls or the brand itself becomes it’s own doll category
Forum Board
Ask your question about a doll on our free forum board, add your photo and we’ll try to help.
Doll Glossary
Words or terms explained that pertain to collecting dolls in English to French or German.