Doll Value Estimate Appraisal

Bisque Socket Head Baby Doll in Christening Gown

This item is a miniature antique baby doll, likely dating from the early 20th century (circa 1910-1925). The doll features a bisque socket head with finely painted facial features, including delicate eyebrows and a slightly parted mouth showing small teeth, a style famously pioneered by German makers like Kämmer & Reinhardt or Armand Marseille. The complexion is a smooth, matte bisque with gentle rosy tinting on the cheeks. It appears to have fixed or sleep eyes and a molded or painted pate under a lace-trimmed bonnet. The doll is dressed in an elaborate, floor-length white christening gown, which is characteristic of the Edwardian era or late Victorian period. The gown is constructed from a fine cotton or silk fabric, heavily adorned with vertical lace inserts, pin-tucks, and a ruffled lace hem. A matching lace bonnet with a pink silk ribbon tie completes the outfit. The hands appear to be made of composition or bisque, with visible fingers raised in a traditional infant pose. The doll is currently housed in a protective plastic sleeve against a wooden surface, suggesting it has been preserved as a collectible. Condition-wise, the textiles show minor yellowing consistent with age, but no major fraying or tears are evident. The bisque head appears intact without visible hairline cracks or chips from this perspective. This piece represents high-quality workmanship, specifically in the minute detailing of the scale-appropriate lace and the realistic sculpting of the infant's face.