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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.

You are here: Experts > Shopping > Doll Collecting > Doll Collecting > AM

Doll Collecting - AM

Expert: Anne Hoffmann - 12/2/2007

Question
Hi Anne, I found a doll in an antique shop that I was thinking about purchasing but I can't find anything about it online and one dealer that I know in this mall insists that it can't be AM because they only made bisque heads. The head is compo and the cloth body feels like straw - it's a large baby (not a long dress) in it's original faded clothing. (I'll have to double check but I think the head is only marked A & M - I'm going to take pictures of it Wed. if you need to see it) To me, it reminds me of a style that would have been popular in the 20's. She's probably 18" (maybe a little more) and her body is sorta "fat" in style. Without seeing the photos, do you know if they made compo headed dolls and, if so, who she might be? The dealer has her on hold for me and wants in the neighborhood of $200 + - could you give me an idea of if the price is too much? I'd be happy to send you the pics on Wed. if you need to see them. The compo is in Ex cond. the body is good - the clothing, although original is totally faded and dirty (attic find). I'd appreciate any help you might offer. Thanks for taking the time - Dee

Answer
Dear Dee,
I'm going to be extremely cautious here, because I don't want to recommend a purchase without actually seeing the doll. The choice of buying a doll and how much to pay for it ultimately resides in how attractive the doll is to you and how much you want it and are willing to pay for it. Doll "finds" are rare unless the seller is unaware of the potential value of the doll, which is less likely with a dealer.
That said, I can give you some information on AM markings and Armand Marseille dolls in particular to help you in your decision.
It would be very unusual to find an Armand Marseille head that isn't bisque. (Bisque being an unglazed porcelain that is hard-fired, non-porous, and notable for its translucency.) In fact, I haven't been able to find anywhere among my resources reference to an Armand Marseille compo head. It is also usual to find one without a mould number, although some later genuine Armand Marseille bisque character babies and child dolls, with glass or painted eyes, were marked "AM" without a mould number.
And here you must be especially cautious, as "A.M." was also a mark for American Character dolls and American Doll Company, both of which produced composition dolls. "A.M. © Co." and "A.M. Co." were some of the marks for Averill Manufacturing, another American doll company.
Armand Marseille was a Russian-born son of an architect and his family immigrated to Germany sometime after 1860. In 1884 he purchased a toy factory in Sonneberg and in 1885, a porcelain factory in Koppelsdorf. Since the origins of the factory were porcelain-making and composition was not a material for doll heads then, the vast majority of AM heads are bisque. The doll bodies were not manufactured by AM, but bought from other suppliers. These included later composition bodies. The dolls heads are various, including shoulder plate heads, socket heads and flanged heads.
Marseille produced dolls from 1885 until sometime in 1930, when composition was a prevalent doll material. During the period of 1900-1930, AM produced 1,000 dolls a day! The most common moulds were the 390 and 370 moulds.
Armand Marseille supplied bisque heads to many American doll and toy companies and distributors, including Louis Amberg, Arranbee, Montgomery Ward, Wanamaker and Sears, to name just a few of the more familiar.
I would say that the doll in which you are interested is probably not an Armand Marseille, but another of the American composition doll era, which began in 1899 with Butler Bothers and gained momentum during WW I, when European imports were cut off. Horsman introduced the composition "Bilikin" doll in 1909 and Georgine Averill designed and made popular the "mama" type doll in the 1920's. The first US patent for a composition doll was issued in 1982 to Solomon D. Hoffman. He produced the "Can't Break Em," series until his death, when the company was taken over by Aetna.
As for the dealer price for this doll, I cannot say whether or not it is in line with the actual value of the doll, as I haven't seen the doll or examined its markings. Dealers do have an overhead and store prices are usually higher than auction prices. Providing an exact identification may prove difficult, as there were so many various manufactures of composition baby dolls. In addition, unless the clothing is correspondingly marked or identifiable, there is no saying whether or not it is original to the doll. Play dolls, which these dolls were, were frequently redressed and many good mamas sewed elaborate doll clothes, often far more beautiful than the originals!
By all means, do send me photos if you wish, especially of the markings and the undressed body. I may be able to provide you with a little more definite information, but please do remember, a doll purchase is best made for love rather than investment!
All the best to you,
Anne

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