Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

My nana bought these many years before I was born, and from the time I was two or three, and remember my nana, she said these dolls would be mine. I never got to play with them. I mostly got to rock them. I don't know too much about them.

APPRAISER

Do you know who they are or who they represent?

GUEST

I've heard they're the Dionne quintuplets.

APPRAISER

You're right. The "Dee-own" or "Dee-on" quintuplets were born in Canada in 1934, and in '34, a multiple birth of five identical children was very, very unusual. And because they were so unique, the media swarmed the home and wanted to know more information about them. There were newspaper articles, and because there were five, the government felt they should be cared for, and they were taken away from their parents.

GUEST

Oh.

APPRAISER

A special home was built for the Dionne quintuplets, a hospital, a special doctor was hired, a special nurse. People would drive for miles to drive around the house just to see these children playing.

GUEST

Oh, wow.

APPRAISER

It was extremely tragic, because they had no other playmates other than themselves. There were dolls produced, there were spoons, there were calendars. There were all kinds of items.

GUEST

Oh!

APPRAISER

These dolls were manufactured by a company called Madame Alexander, American company. They are made of composition, which is a material that's durable, but it doesn't last well if there's changes in temperature. You are very lucky that they have survived. They're in an original presentation rocker, with the swans on the side. This is unusual to still see the decals of their names in front of each one. Their names were Marie, milie, Ccile, Annette, and Yvonne. My feeling, in a retail shop today, they'd be worth $2,500.

GUEST

(gasps)

APPRAISER

And maybe even a little bit more, because of the wonderful condition. I noticed there's one shoe missing. I think with a little luck, you can replace that shoe.

GUEST

Awesome, I'll be able to give them to my daughter someday!

APPRAISER

Great.

GUEST (exclaims)

Fantastic!