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Doll Collecting/Identification of Doll

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Expert: Anne Hoffmann - 1/8/2008


Question

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My wife recently purchased a doll at a flea market, which is quite exceptional. She is attired in a formal gown with accessories including jewelry.  On the back is the following - MG 626/ (a).  She is about 24 inches tall and has a wooden stand that was made in China (big surprise, right?). Someone told me that they thought the doll may be by William Tung. I have attached an image of this doll.  Do you know anything about her?  Thank you for your time.

Jim Graf

Answer
Although I can't find your exact doll, the MG marking is consistent with a Tuss, Inc. doll. Tuss, Inc. is a distributor of affordable collectible porcelain and vinyl dolls designed by several artists, including William Tung. Many, many issues of these collectibles exist, so tracking down a specific one is often a matter of chance.
These dolls are sold as "collections" under the labels of Treasures Forever, Vintage Memories and Moments Treasured, to name a few. Such collections of Tuss dolls are featured intermittently on QVC, a major television shopping network. Some Tung dolls are stamped with his signature (W Tung) on the back of the shoulder plate and others have hang tags and/or "Certificates of Authenticity". Since your doll has neither, I suggest you contact Tuss, Inc. and include the photo of your doll and another of the marking. Depending on the exactness of their record-keeping, they may be able to confirm the artist for you.
I do not find a website for the company, but you may contact them by mail at:
Tuss, Inc.
2  Hollenberg Ct
Bridgeton, MO 63044

Phone: 1 314 739 3168
Fax: 1 314 739 1198

The company overview on www. portfolio.com invites questions, so take them up on it!
There are many other collectible doll distributors, such as Seymour Mann (no longer dealing in dolls), Duck House, Cathay Collection and J. Misa, to name a few, which sell variously labeled collections of collectible dolls. Most are unmarked, but do come with identifying hang tags or papers. Paradise Galleries, a mail-order store,  retails affordable collectible dolls in both porcelain and vinyl from moulds by many different artists.
Dolls from popular collections such as these often have misleadingly high retail prices and far lower value on the secondary market. Such dolls have little investment value, but nevertheless, make lovely displays.

An addendum which helps to explain the valuation of collectible doll collections: please check http://www.bargainsupplywholesale.com/PorcelainCollectorDolls.aspx for a sampling of the wholesale costs of such dolls. A doll costing under $30.00 wholesale has a suggested retail of $70.00. Stores may charge any mark-up over wholesale that the market will bear.

Anne Hoffmann

Expertise

As a modest collector of appropriately vintage age, I'm good at identifying American vintage dolls (largely late 1940's-1970's) and have the interest and resources to research particularly challenging identifications. I would hesitate to make specific value estimates, however, as markets fluctuate and I am not a professional appraiser. I can recommend at-home repair methods and resources for particular repair instructions and supplies. I can differentiate repairs that will enhance or devalue the historical significance of your doll.

Experience

For one, I am 58 and a life-long doll lover. I played with many of these dolls! I am an adult collector, hampered only by my inability to afford the high-end and rare collectibles. I do some doll identification for sellers on eBay and am in demand for local yard sale and church pricing of doll "finds". I like folks to be able to realize a good return for their offerings by correctly identifying their dolls for collectors. I am highly literate and like people as well as dolls! I was briefy a customer service associate for JC Penney (one of those "filler" jobs) and enjoyed resolving issues to customer satisfaction. I am retired and spend a lot of time studying dolls. On the down side, while having an excellent command of the English language, I am a poor typist.

Education/Credentials
None for doll collecting. I was a draftsman and machine programmer for an architectural metal firm.

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