A Better Everything Blog
Collectible dolls in San Francisco or anywhere else are more than a great investment
Collectible dolls in San Francisco CA, well, anywhere really, are worth the investment. Of course, there are different strategies when choosing which collectible dolls in San Francisco CA. You can focus on collecting more clothes and accessories for the dolls you have, assembling a wardrobe. Or you can focus on collectible dolls in San Francisco CA that are antique that you stumble on for a great deal or that are modern with the expectation that they will increase in value. Or you can buy collectible dolls in San Francisco CA just for the pure enchantment.
Here are some tips for collectible dolls in San Francisco, CA. Collectible dolls still sell well at shows and on the Internet, but there seems to be an increased interest in clothes and accessories. For the last decade, prices of old and new trunks continue to rise and the price of clothing in good condition has been rising, too. Accessories like glasses, earrings, watches, gloves, socks and shoes are a great find. Even when the doll manufacturer doesn’t make additional clothing for your collectible dolls, you can find clothing specially made through great websites. One of those sites we, here at Better Everything, recommend. You can purchase specialty clothing at Stella’s Treasures and even clothing patterns to sew your own.
Since dolls have been around, people have collected them. So, when you stumble on those antique doll collections in mint condition, they are usually a considerable investment, but potentially worth it. Buying modern dolls can be considered tomorrow’s investment, too. Some modern collectible dolls do maintain or rise in value. The more you collect, the more the value increases is a theory to combat those modern dolls for sale on e-bay or at near wholesale prices – both of which effects collectible doll values more than anything.
That’s where buying dolls for the pure enchantment is so important. When you can walk into your room and enjoy your collectible dolls regardless of the value, you can be satisfied—whether you are transported back to your childhood or you can simply appreciate the beauty and quality of the modern collectible dolls with which you’ve surrounded yourself.
Again, we can recommend Stella’s Treasures where you can purchase some older and miscellaneous dolls, or a wide variety of modern dolls. The modern dolls available include those from popular artists and doll manufacturers, whether you are looking for baby, theme, movie character, fantasy, paper, or other collectible dolls.
So, even if your budget is more restricted than it has been, you can enjoy the collection you already have, or add to it. While you are adding to your doll collection in small ways, you can purchase a few well-thought out additions to round out or expand your collection. That’s where Stella, at Stella’s Treasures, comes through once again. With her expertise, she can guide you to a collectible doll that will fit it with your plans, whether you are searching for collectible dolls in San Francisco CA or those accessories or clothing.
With spiking gas prices, don’t drive around looking for doll shops in San Francisco, CA
There might be a handful of doll shops in San Francisco CA, but it is difficult to tell what kind of dolls they might carry. That’s why the Internet is so handy. Before you start maneuvering around those streets finding the doll shops in San Francisco CA , using up gasoline, you can see what collectible dolls are available online. In fact, when you are shopping for collectible doll shops in San Francisco CA, you really don’t even have to start up your engine.
Better Everything has found a wonderful substitute for doll shops in San Francisco for those who are looking for a great selection of collectible dolls. Stella’s Treasures has many satisfied customers who keep coming back, so you know your doll shop is worth a visit. Stella keeps up on the latest trends and has some of those older, discontinued and miscellaneous collectible dolls. Her expertise is invaluable and she loves to share it, so she is a treasure herself.
With parts, clothes, patterns, restoration and repair resources, accessories, furniture, some books and catalogs … this is a great doll shop for San Francisco CA. Major doll manufacturers that include Aston Drake, Alexander, Eden, Gotz, Lawson, R&D, Tai … and doll artists like Effner, Nygren and others … from baby dolls to ball jointed … this is a great place to shop! It’s no wonder we here at Better Everything recommend this collectible doll shop when you are looking for doll shops in San Francisco CA.
Things to consider when looking for collectible dolls in San Francisco, CA
For those who are looking for collectible dolls in San Francisco CA, getting familiar with doll manufacturers and their types of dolls through the years is important. But, also important is identifying why you are looking for collectible dolls in San Francisco. Knowing whether your collectible dolls will be played with or pristinely set aside, purchased to relive a childhood memory of your own or to create a childhood memory for someone else, or purchased as an investment, then determining your budget is the best way to start when looking for collectible dolls in San Francisco CA.
Once your interests and budget is clear, getting to know doll manufacturers and their history is next. Take for instance The Alexander Doll Company and Madame Alexander Dolls. The company was founded by Madame Beatrice Alexander Behrman eighty years ago. Her love for dolls started as a youth watching her father repair dolls in America’s first doll hospital. As she later created her own line of fine quality, handcrafted dolls, she became known for her many innovations in the doll industry. Those “firsts” include making dolls based on movie characters, living persons, baby dolls, and full figures.
Any Madame Alexander doll made before the 1930s in considered to be an ‘antique Madame Alexander doll’. A ‘collectible Madame Alexander doll’ are those made more than 25 years ago, but less than 75 years ago. A “modern Madame Alexander doll’ has been made within the last 25 years and a ‘contemporary Madame Alexander doll’ is any doll in current production.
In the 1930s, Madame Alexander began making cloth dolls—one of the earliest is the Alice in Wonderland doll. Composition Madame Alexander dolls were then introduced. These are made of a mixture of several compounds (sawdust, paper, glue, and plaster of Paris)—examples are the Sonja Henie, Dionne Quintuplets, and Princess Elizabeth dolls. In 1948, hard plastic Madame Alexander dolls were created. The first of these had painted skin tones with later dolls being made of rose-colored plastic which were more durable and eliminated the fine cracking (or crazing) of the finish. These had sharper features. Examples include Cissy, Lissy, and Elise. There are many excellent doll manufacturers. The Alexander Doll Company is just one of them.
And choosing the right collectible doll, whether it’s a Madame Alexander doll or another one like Aston Drake, the usage, the era, the value, and even accessories are all important factors when looking for collectible dolls in San Francisco, CA. We, here at Better Everything, can recommend Stella’s Treasures for a little more Madame Alexander Doll history, a great selection of doll manufacturers and dolls, accessories, books, and great advice.