About 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.
Hi there,
I have come across these two seemingly rare dolls, and I cannot find them ANYWHERE!!! I have been searching my heart out online and in doll books, but no luck. The heads are made with papier-mache, with some type of cloth or felt over the papier-mache. They have painted on faces, and the bodies might also be papier-mache but I can't be too sure. The hair is real, they have felt hats, some leather in their clothing, hand-sewn clothing and sewn onto the bodies, and jointed shoulders and hips. I'm not even sure of their ethnicity. If you could help me out, that would be amazing! I am attaching some pictures.
Thank you!!!
You dolls look very similar to Ravca dolls. The doll on the left is dressed like a Peruvian peasant and on the right, an Argentinean gaucho (cowboy). The three weights hanging from his belt are are boleadoras, used instead of the North American lariat for bringing down steers. The typical gaucho outfit would include a poncho, facón (large knife), a rebenque (leather whip), and loose-fitting trousers called bombachas, belted with a tirador, a wrapped cloth belt. Bombachas originated in Turkey and were a British import to South America.
Bernard Ravca was a French artisan, who crafted many different costume and character dolls from many different materials, including crepe paper, papier maché, felt, clay and combinations of materials. The needled stockinette faces are perhaps the best known of his dolls, on which detailed and realistic expressions are sculpted onto the stockinette by means of tightly pulled stitching. His dolls were made in France from about 1924 to 1939. In 1939, he came to New York City and continued to make dolls to great acclaim. The most frequently found Ravca dolls are small, 7.5" -10", but he made dolls of many various sizes, including life-sized children and adult characters.
The Ravca dolls were sometimes signed in ink on their bodies and others on their tags. Some pre-1939 dolls had paper tags, imprinted "Original Ravca Fabrication Francaise" or woven labels designating "MADE IN FRANCE". There have been many Ravca-type dolls made over the years, so without signature or tags, it is almost impossible to verify an original Ravca, unless it can be favorably compared to a documented Ravca original. The old Ravca-type dolls have sometimes a similar value to the Ravca dolls, depending on age, condition and workmanship, so I would strongly recommend that you have these dolls appraised by an antique doll appraiser.
You can find an appraiser near you through The International Society of Appraisers website at http://www.isa-appraisers.org/ISA_form.html
or a Naada appraiser through the Member Directory at www.nadda.org.
Theriault's, the famous doll auction house, also has an appraisal service or may be able to recommend an appraiser in your area. You can access their website at www.theriaults.com.
Your dolls appear to be in very nice condition. You don't include the sizes and I am not well-versed in current Ravca values, so hesitate to assign even a ballpark value to your particular dolls. A something of a guide, I attach a photo of a 10" signed Ravca with hangtags offered through www.hattonsgallery.com at $150.00.
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