Doll making has been about since prehistoric times. Through the ages, dolls have been crafted from a variety of materials including wood, stone, clay, papier mache, wax and fabric. Maybe the hottest and beloved sort of doll is the porcelain doll. Porcelain was introduced in the early 1800s and is made from china or bisque fired at extremely high temperatures. Plastic became a popular material for dolls around the time of World War II. These days, plastic dolls are the hottest in toy stores ( thanks to Barbie ) while [1] porcelain collectible dolls are sought after by doll collectors of all sorts, from the hobbyist to the financier.

One of the most appealing things about collecting dolls is the incredible variety from which you can choose. Some folks prefer a selected style or kind of doll. Others collect many different types of [2] porcelain dolls. You’ll find dolls designed to appear like babies, youngsters, and adults. You’ll find global dolls and dolls that are designed around a specific theme. There are even dolls modeled after famous stars and fictitious characters. For example, you can definitely find porcelain dolls modeled after the characters in Gone With the Wind. You can even be in a position to find a few different Scarlett O’Hara porcelain dolls in numerous styles of dress, as she was quite the fashion guru.

You’ll find new dolls to gather, like those offered from Marie Osmond and Madame Alexander. If you are a fan of the QVC or HSN shopping networks, you may be able to find programming on there devoted to porcelain dolls where each doll is introduced and offered for sale. Perhaps you need to collect antique dolls. If that is so your method of shopping might be a bit different. Good places to look for antique dolls include antique stores, secondhand shops and the web. Ebay is often a treasure trove of collectible dolls from most any time period imaginable.

It is very important to keep your [3] porcelain collectible dolls in good shape so they’ll keep their price or maybe gain worth in the future. Dolls that won’t be displayed should be wrapped up in acid-free tissue paper and packed away in a box. Store your dolls in a cool, dark location some distance from heat, light and moisture. For dolls that are on display, make sure they are out of the reach of children and pets. You may want to put your best collectibles in storage when youngsters are around and put out the dolls you don’t mind them playing with. For display pieces you want to keep safe and clean, consider a sturdy display case.