Lot Old dolls of a dollshouse

Category: Antique Dolls & Miniatures
Type: Late 19th to early 20th century German bisque dollhouse dolls
Estimated Age: Circa 1880–1915
Origin: Germany (likely Thuringia region), commonly produced by makers such as Kestner, Simon & Halbig, Hertwig, or Gebrüder Heubach — some may be unmarked "frozen Charlotte" or parian-type dolls.

Description & Features:

• The collection includes over a dozen bisque head and limb dolls, some with cloth or kid leather torsos.
• Most dolls are dressed in period-appropriate Victorian or Edwardian-style handmade clothing, often trimmed in lace, felt, and woven fabric.
• Height ranges from approximately 4" to 7" inches, typical for dollhouse dolls.
• Facial painting and molded hairstyles suggest German bisque manufacture, a common feature in dollhouses sold by German firms like Gottschalk around the turn of the 20th century.
• The dolls are varied — including adult women, men, children, and even a clown or Pierrot figure, indicating an assembled family set for a furnished dollhouse.

Condition:

• Overall: Excellent antique condition for the age.
• Most dolls show no major breaks or repainting visible from images.
• Some soiling or fading of fabric consistent with age.
• Clothing appears original or historically accurate replacements — hand-sewn, with vintage trims and fabrics.
• Hair (molded or mohair wigs) is intact on most figures.

Historical Context:

These dolls were likely part of or associated with a Gottschalk dollhouse — a premier German dollhouse maker (Wilhelm Gottschalk company, active 1873–1931), known for highly detailed wooden houses and often sold with or designed to fit bisque dolls made by nearby German porcelain doll factories.

Such sets were luxury items in their time and are now highly collectible due to their historical and aesthetic appeal.

Current Market Value (2024):

Item

Estimated Individual Value (USD)

Each larger bisque doll (with clothing, 6–7")

$80–$150

Smaller bisque dolls (3–5")

$50–$100

Matched pairs (boy/girl, couple sets)

$150–200

Total estimated value of entire lot (14–16 dolls)

$1,200 – $2,000 USD retail value

Note: Value can increase if confirmed as original to a specific Gottschalk house and sold as a set.

Recommendation:

If you plan to sell or insure this collection, I highly recommend:

• A professional in-person appraisal from a certified doll specialist or auction house (e.g., Theriault’s, Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion, or Bonhams).
• Keeping original clothing and grouping dolls by style for best resale value.

You may also wish to reference online auction sites like Ruby Lane, Theriault’s, or eBay for comparables using keywords like “antique German bisque dollhouse doll”, “Gottschalk dollhouse figures”, or “Victorian miniature bisque dolls.”