Debra's Antique Dolls

Evolution of a Doll Shop

dgulea — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:34:42 +0000

I undertook my first historic property renovation project during my early 20’s, shortly after purchasing the property at 20 N. Main Street known as the Mullica House. I had 6 years of doll shows under my belt plus one year as a full-time proprietor in a rented facility at the south end of town; I was ready for a permanent location for my store. The property I purchased was originally constructed in 1704 and was first occupied by Eric Mullica, Jr., his wife Ann Catherine, and their children. (Side note: you can read about Eric Mullica and Mullica Hill on www.wikipedia.com). I used my youthful inexperience and well-honed “antiques x-ray” vision to see past the shag carpeting (I believe it was hot pink), paneling, dropped ceilings, and rumors of snakes occupying the dwelling. I knew that there was a lovely old colonial hidden inside, and even though tearing out the ceilings to expose original hand-hewn beams and scraping wallpaper off of the orignal half-timber exterior walls gave me a bad case of hives, I undertook the work happily. The building was brought back to its original glory just in time for my grand re-opening in the spring of 1996. We had fixed everything that seemed to need fixing. Back then, I lived at the shop, so only 2 rooms were initially used for display. Over time, the dolls overtook rooms 3 and 4, and the upper level (once I moved out) became a place for extra inventory storage and the lower level developed into my packing and shipping zone. Everything was to my liking and the building received quite a bit of local press, particuarly around the time of its “Happy Birthday House” party hosted in 2004 (celebrating 300 years since it was constructed). But sometime during this last decade, it occurred to me that the shop wasn’t functioning as well as it could be. I had no place to really work. No place to write up sales, examine incoming doll repair projects, check out customers, aid them in examining antique dolls for purchase, tag merchandise, and so on. When I would sell a doll, I would need to go to one room for the shopping bags & bubble, and another room to write up the sale, and a third location to process the credit card or make change. I was running around in circles and bumping into people. I needed a centralized location. Therefore, this (relatively minor) renovation project was long overdue. This past August, I finally decided to rip out the building’s remaining kitchenette and replace it with shelving for my extensive collection of doll reference books and an old wooden store counter. The counter now houses my bags, bubble, tags, pens, receipts, and all of the necessary electronics equipment one needs today to run a store. The renovation project, although small in comparison to the renovations completed in 1996, was nerve-wracking. I suppose I am getting old, because I just could not handle the stress this time around. Lighting needed to be adjusted at the very last moment. If you have tried to call me this week, you’ll see that my phone lines are still crossed. I thought the counter was to be centered along the wall, but I swear it is an inch or two off. But oh, is it beautiful!!!!! And as someone who loves organization, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be able to do business from one centralized location. I tried it out last week, when I re-opened the shop, and I could actually show merchandise, wrap it, write the receipt, process the charge- all without getting off my stool. (I am afraid I am showing my age again). It was nice! I share with you some photos of my new glorious store counter! Perhaps it will not excite you as much as me, but as the proud guardian of this wonderful circa 1704 doll shop, I couldn’t help show it off. Those of us who love antiques are sometimes guilty of an overfondness of objects, be it an antique doll or an antique building. And I absolutely adore this building. Even though its upkeep has been at times stressful, I have loved watching it evolve from the run down place (that everyone though I was a fool to buy) to the quaint gem it is today. If you are from the area, do stop by Debra’s Dolls- I would love to show you around and point out the original architectural features. If you’re from afar, go to the Shop Tour page of my site www.debrasdolls.com ; also check out the (you can link to them from the Our Store page). Incidentally, the Mullica House (home of Debra’s Dolls) is on the National Register of Historic Places and just so happens to be the oldest house in Mullica Hill, NJ. It’s definitely worth a trip to see, for doll collectors and history buffs alike. See you soon!

Dog Days of Summer

dgulea — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:02:00 +0000

I had the pleasure today of meeting Sachiko, an adorable miniature dog owned by clients Eddie and Maria. Sachiko delighted in trying on various antique doll clothing at the shop, which was just the right size. She left wearing the antique doll bonnet and gown shown, just $20 each. Antique doll clothing isn’t always expensive.

If your doggie is dressing up for Halloween or in a dog parade in one of the Jersey Shore towns this summer, stop by Debra’s Dolls to see the inexpensive antique and vintage doll clothing we have in stock. Enjoy the dog days of summer! And remember, Debra’s Dolls will be on vacation for the month of August.

Play Dolls for Every Age & Stage: Part One

dgulea — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:11:15 +0000

I was recently asked to write about play dolls for every age and stage of development. Today my new nephew was born, so it seems like the perfect day to begin this series. Debra’s Dolls carries many dolls which are appropriate and safe for newborns, and we have dolls which are appropriate for both baby girls and baby boys. Corolle has the best selection and clearly identifies appropriate ages on each doll’s hang tag. Corolle dolls recommended for newborns are marked “0+” on their tags and include this darling hanging rattle doll ($8, pictured here), which has been featured previously here (as an unconventional bracelet for my two year old daughter). Rattle dolls are small, soft, and can hang from the car seat or crib. Corolle also has musical dolls, Christening dolls, and other miniature dolls safe for newborns. For more information, visit the Corolle page of our site www.debrasdolls.com(go to the Site Map to find it or click on Play Dolls first to find the Corolle page). North American Bear Company also sells many adorable and safe cloth dolls, including a darling baby doll mobile ($45). Visit our North American Bear Company page (under the Play Dolls category at www.debrasdolls.com) to view this item. Our new nephew will be receiving both of these featured items plus a Tiny Steps newborn vinyl doll ($12) by Berenguer. Do note that Berenguer dolls are recommended for ages 3 & up, so are not appropriate for newborns to play with – this is a keepsake doll only and meant to be displayed out of reach in the nursery. Most of our newborn dolls are priced below $45 and many are under $10. It’s always a nice idea to give an inexpensive newborn play doll along with a gift certificate to Debra’s Dolls which can be used later into babyhood or during the toddler years. When purchasing dolls for newborns, remember that it is the law for doll and toy companies to include safety information and recommended ages on all hang tags and boxes. Some dolls are listed as safe for newborns but include the clause “please remove all tags and bows before giving to a child”. Make sure to read all tags carefully before giving dolls to a child, and always supervise a newborn when playing with a doll even if the doll is recommended as safe. Finally, remember that babies should always be put to sleep on their backs in a crib which is free of pillows, blankets, and all dolls and toys. My own baby days are over, but I’m really excited to get my hands on my brand-new nephew. And I’m always happy to have someone to gift with new dollies from my store.

Future Heirlooms & A Word About Reproduction Dolls

dgulea — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:54:07 +0000

Recently, a customer presented me with an old advertising flyer she had stumbled upon. FUTURE HEIRLOOM DOLLS by Bernadette, it announced proudly, along with a photograph of reproduction bisque and china head dolls. The dolls appear to be nicely made. Bernadette’s version of an antique German bisque Alt, Beck, & Gottschalck doll, in the center of the photo, is quite convincing. Judging by the price sheet on the back of the flyer, with many dressed dolls selling in only the $22.50-$35 range, I would guess that this flyer dates to the 1960’s. Well, I hate to burst Bernadette’s bubble, but her reproduction dolls never did reach the “heirloom” status; reproduction dolls never have and never will reach the value of a true antique. (Well, except reproductions by Emma Clear- these might be close. But there is an exception to every rule). However, although Bernadette’s Future Heirlooms probably have almost no value today, they do have quite a bit of age now- this is important to note. Just because something looks old and actually IS old doesn’t mean it is a true antique. Reproduction dolls can be very convincing. Most are not marked as reproductions. Worse, some are actually marked just like the originals, as they were made using the original doll molds. And because these dolls are now old in their own right, the first ones having been on the market for 50 plus years now, they have acquired a patina from age. These dolls can and do fool even an experienced collector. Do note that in addition to reproduction dolls, there are many reproduction doll parts on the market, and these parts also may have been replaced decades ago. Many antique dolls have acquired reproduction body parts (legs, arms, eyes, heads) over the years to replace original parts which were damaged beyond repair. At Debra’s Dolls, our Doll Hospital has both antique and reproduction doll body parts and heads available; our customers sometimes will choose reproduction replacement parts because they are a less expensive alternative to antique parts. True, this is a cautionary tale- beware of reproductions. Know what you are buying. If you don’t know how to differentiate between a true antique and a reproduction doll,buy from someone you trust. I always recommend buying antique dolls from a NADDA dealer. NADDA stands for the National Antique Doll Dealers’ Association. NADDA dealers are the true antique doll experts who must guarantee all of their dolls as to age, attribution, and physical condition in writing upon purchase. Debra’s Dolls is a longtime and proud member of NADDA. For more information, see the UFDC & NADDA page of www.debrasdolls.com or visit www.nadda.org.

Cloth Dolls, Doll Clothing, & Common Pests

dgulea — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:19:10 +0000

Recently, a longtime customer contacted me about a problem she was having with silverfish. She wrote:

I have an unpleasant topic – bugs! My bedroom is where I keep all my antique dolls. Some have very fragile silk costumes. Only two are in a cabinet or dome. One day I found three live silverfish! I freaked out! I know they eat fabrics. I get them every summer. So my question is what is the best way to protect my dolls?

I will spare all of you readers a photograph of this long, silvery, futuristic looking bug, and will instead illustrate this post with a photograph of a lovely antique doll dress which a silverfish might unfortunately find to be appetizing. Those of you with silverfish infestations already know what they look like anyway. These noctural pests thrive in humid, moist environments (like New Jersey in the summertime) and feast on (gasp!) silks, cottons, and linens. (Curiously, they tend to avoid woolen fabrics). A garment attacked by silverfish will exhibit telltale small holes (which are really bite marks) along with yellow staining. Of course, silverfish do not just digest doll clothing, they also might go after your antique cloth dolls.

The best way to eradicate silverfish is by reducing the humidity in your doll room. Air conditioning, a dehumidifier, and proper ventillation are all good treatments. Also investigate other possible causes such as standing water (a pet’s water bowl perhaps) or leaky pipes in the walls. As silverfish are attracted to wallpaper, wallpaper glue, and carpeting, keeping your doll room free of these adornments might also be a smart idea (whenever possible).

At Debra’s Dolls, we have an exterminator on speed dial. JR from Ehrlich Pest Control has been treating the shop successfully for years, mostly as a preventative measure. I have found no evidence that insecticides, when applied to the perimeters of the room, have any negative effect on dolls which are cased in the same room. Naturally, one should never apply insecticides directly to the fabrics or dolls themselves.

If you suspect that your doll clothing or dolls are already infested with silverfish, here is a cool tip from thegreat web site www.lenci-dolls.net:

To “freshen-up” a Lenci doll, and remove odors and destroy dust mites/bugs , place your newly acquired vintage Lenci/cloth doll in plastic bag and pop it in the freezer for a week before introducing it into your collection.

(Do note that I have never actually tried this trick myself)

The writers at www.lenci-dolls.net also recommend cedar blocks as a deterrent for other pests, particularly moths. They implore “ DO NOT use old fashioned Moth Balls the chemicals are hazardous to your health and the odour is difficult to remove.”

Have you ever had a problem with pests in your doll room? Please share your experiences and tips, as we welcome your comments.

Christmas in July

dgulea — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:10:29 +0000

Following is an excerpt from a letter on December 7th, 1980 from one antique doll collector to another:

Dear Dorothea,

Was in Danvers, Mass. yesterday for the DCA (Doll Collectors of America) Christmas meeting. An excellent luncheon, and the room was decorated with a tree and packages as I have a feeling they had a party there the night before. Our program was lovely with the same member giving the program as did last year. This time she read a poem first which was a bit humorous and then she shifted to the more serious and read the story of the first creche as she had found it. I don’t know where she found the story, but she read it beautifully, and much of it, she knew so did not just read it, but told it. Then members who had creche figures told about theirs. I have a lovely one but somehow did not think to take it. A lovely start to the Christmas holiday season. All good wishes, Ruth

Doll Collectors of America was still in existence and hosting doll meetings, luncheons and conventions during the 1990’s, but I am not sure if they are still around today. I haven’t heard anyone mention this organization in ages, and I was never a member of DCA, only UFDC (you can go to www.ufdc.org for more info). After Dorothea passed away, I purchased her entire doll collection, including this dapper male parian doll. As she had no heirs, I was also allowed to keep many of her personal photo albums and correspondence. This Christmastime letter sent by Ruth to Dorothea captures the magic and enthusiasm of antique doll collecting circa 1980 and also shows the strength of their friendship as fellow collectors. How dear of Ruth to take the time to describe the creche figure program to Dorothea, who apparently could not attend the meeting. I never knew Dorothea, but I feel like I do from the dolls, letters, and photographs she left behind. You can read more about Dorothea by visiting her page on my site; find it by clicking on the Site Map of www.debrasdolls.com. I have kept a few of her dolls for myself and sold off most of them over the years, however there are still a few available for sale on the Antique Dolls pages of my site. Maybe you would like to acquire one of Dorothea’s dolls for your own collection and carry on her love of antique dolls?

Dolls in Bloom

dgulea — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:40:50 +0000

This is a painting of me gardening in front of the shop, done years ago when the shop was yellow and I had time to garden. I hope to get back to it again someday. In the meantime, I tend to all of the dolls in bloom here at my shop. They are like flowers and I like to make arrangements with them. Dolls and flowers are a very natural pairing. So many antique dolls feature flower patterns on their original costumes, or carry miniature bouquets, or flower decorated bonnets. This antique Lenci doll, which I just acquired yesterday, retains her original hat adored with beautiful felt flowers. The hat is magnificent, don’t you think? So even though my real flowers outside are ignored for now, I am content tending to the dolls, and happy that some flowers in my garden (like this old hydrangea bush) have survived in spite of a my neglect.

Little Miss E’s Latest Loves

dgulea — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:58:10 +0000

Little Miss E spent the day with me at the shop, and fell in love with our new Blabla knit dolls and backpacks. I think I will definitely have to let her keep one of the butterfly backpacks (only $37.50 each), as it is perfect for preschool in the fall. And who knew that the Corolle ring dolls, designed to hang from a carseat carrier or crib, can double as bracelets? Little Miss E sure does have tiny wrists. She wore three or for of the Corolle rings proudly for most of the day. Thank you, Little Miss E, for a great day at Debra’s Dolls.

Doll Shop Owner – Job Description

dgulea — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:32:07 +0000

At Debra’s Dolls we buy, sell, appraise, restore & consign dolls. As jobs go, this is definitely a fun one. I can honestly say that I love every aspect of what I do aside from the paperwork and inventory updates. (And one other minor grievance which I will mention at the end of this post). Today I had the pleasure of returning two dolls to their original owners after they had been lovingly restored. The first was a baby doll from the late 1970’s which was thought to have been lost long ago, only to be rediscovered after a move. The second was an adorable Mary Hoyer from the 1950’s which Andrea, our talented doll doctor, resurrected to her former glory. I helped a knowledgeable and devoted Kathe Kruse collector add to her already impressive collection (thank you, Jessica) and got to photograph this stunning all-original antique poured wax Pierotti baby doll for my July 1st site update. I just got this doll in and you can see that I am completely infatuated with her. Most of you already know that wax dolls are my favorites; you can read all about my longtime love affair with them on the ARTICLES page of my site. Yes, buying and consigning antique dolls is clearly the favorite part of my job. I am always excited to get my hands on a rare doll find. And this brings me to my definite least favorite part of my job, my only real complaint: letting a fabulous doll like this go. I am comforted only by the knowledge that it will find a home with someone who loves antique wax dolls with the same intensity that I do. Maybe it will go home with you?

Boxes & Updates

dgulea — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:51:28 +0000

I know what you’re thinking- another post about boxes. But today I received a whopping sixteen boxes from UPS, so I thought it was worth a mention. (Special thanks to my UPS driver who will make sure those packages get to me even on the days my shop is closed; he has been known to deliver packages to me in the parking lot in front of Crescent Moon Cafe). I only had time to unpack nine so far, and this is what I found: three new styles of Adora dolls, tons of NABCO topsy turvey & newborn cloth dolls, doll stands in the large 16″-26″ size, and some more great knit products from my new favorite company Blabla. Little Miss E (otherwise known as my daughter) is going to love the toddler-sized colorful butterfly backpacks from Blabla. The Blabla bird rattles and mermaid mobiles are also outstanding and unique pieces. (I can just picture the mermaids in my niece’s beach house bedroom). On the agenda for tomorrow: more unpacking!!! Still waiting for me are repairs which have been shipped from various states. Once this is done, I can get back to planning our Storybook Social, which is a definite go for Saturday October 9th. Check the EVENTS page for more details (to be added soon).