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Doll Reference Identify Dolls

Doll Reference - we help you identify your dolls

Doll collecting is a fun hobby, more so when you can identify your dolls. In order 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 antique to vintage and of most materials or types of dolls.

Dolls are created by humans in 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 and have a piece of history. The material a doll is made of gives its history and can help date a doll. Dolls are made around the world representing every culture, skin color, every type of human being.

Dolls By Material

Dolls are classified by the material of the head, also helps date the doll.

Bisque head doll

Bisque dolls

Bisque head dolls were introduced in the 1850s by Europeans primarily in France . . more

celluloid doll face

Celluloid dolls

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

ABG doll mold 1262 China shoulder head doll

China Head dolls

Antique China dolls were made mostly in Germany from 1836 . . .  more

cloth dolls

Cloth dolls

The history of cloth fabric dolls goes back as far as humans have . . .  more

composition dolls

Composition dolls

Early composition dolls are made of glue, glycerin, zinc oxide and Japanese . . . more

Hard Plastic Dolls

Hard Plastic dolls

First dolls made of the new plastic material were by Ideal Toy . . .  more

metal head dolls

Metal dolls

France has the first patent recorded of a metal doll head in 1861 . . . more

papier mache dolls

Paper Mache dolls

Antique papier mâché, carton moulé, carton pâte or holz-masse are all terms . . . more

collector porcelain dolls

Porcelain dolls

Modern porcelain collector dolls were sold in the 1970s, they were meant to . . . more

rubber dolls

Rubber dolls

Caoutchouc, India rubber or gum was used to make dolls . .  . more

wax dolls

Wax dolls

Some of the oldest existing examples of dolls are made of wax  . . . more

Wood Dolls

Wood dolls

Wood is fairly easy material to carve and create a doll . . . more

Doll Marks

Doll marks identified

Doll Makers by Country around the World

Doll makers by country

How to find doll values?

Find doll values, worth

By Type of Doll

Some dolls are unmarked and Like other dolls or the brand itself becomes a Doll Category

Advertising dolls

Advertising dolls

Are a way to promote a company brand . . . more

antique  black lady doll face

Antique Lady dolls

1860+ Fashion lady dolls made in France . . . more

Asian Oriental dolls

Asian / Oriental dolls

Beautiful, exotic of the far East . . . more

automata mechanical dolls

Automata dolls

Mechanical dolls fascinate adults to children . . . more

vintage barbie dolls

Barbie dolls

Most populist doll, vintage Barbie dolls, family . . . more

black dolls

Black dolls

Black is beautiful and rarer than white dolls . . . read

boudoir dolls

Boudoir dolls

1915+ bed or sofa long legged flapper . . . read

Carnival dolls

Carnival dolls

Who doesn’t love to win a prize at a fair . . . read

dress me, souvenir dolls

Dress-Me dolls

Display, costumed souvenir . . . read

Googly eye dolls

Googly dolls

Roguish, charming character dolls . . . read

kewpie dolls

Kewpie dolls

Impish face dolls by Rose O’Neill . . . read

mama dolls

Mama dolls

Composition dolls that changed history . . . read

Mask face dolls

Mask Face dolls

What are they and their makers . . . read

patsy type dolls

Patsy Type dolls

Identify Patsy type dolls, who made them . . . read

playpal type dolls

Playpal Type dolls

Companion child dolls, why do they all look a like . . . read



Need some help identifying your doll? ask on our forum Board, and we’ll try to help.



What doll collecting words, phrases mean in English, French or German? Doll Glossary

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