Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

These dolls belonged to my great-aunts. They were both sort of eccentric Alabama women, and these dolls certainly reflect that. I don't remember them when I was little, but when my mother cleared out my aunt's home, she took them to her home. And then my mother died about ten or 11 years ago. And I just packed 'em up and brought 'em to my house

and then didn't even open them. And when I did open them... (clicks tongue)

Oh, my.

APPRAISER

What did you think?

GUEST

I thought they were terrifyingly hideous.

APPRAISER (laughing)

Oh, my God.

GUEST (laughs)

And I couldn't imagine giving them to a child, but... It was 19, what, 10? And I guess they were happy to have them. I just imagine they were Christmas presents.

Okay. GUEST

But I, I really don't know.

APPRAISER

Well, your dolls were made by Ella Smith. Guess where.

GUEST

In Alabama?

APPRAISER

In Alabama.

GUEST

Well...

APPRAISER

In Roanoke, Alabama, actually.

GUEST

Oh!

APPRAISER

She was an entrepreneur businesswoman at the turn of the century, which was still a really big deal.

GUEST

Uh-huh.

APPRAISER

They are made of cloth, which... She was trying to come up with a doll that she felt would compete with the bisque and china dolls, which were very fragile.

GUEST

Sure.

APPRAISER

And these were called Indestructible Dolls because a child could drop it and it wasn't going to shatter into a million pieces.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

Which, obviously,

one aunt proved... (laughing)

Proved her wrong.

GUEST

Exactly, but... Um... But all in all, they've done pretty well. (chuckles)

APPRAISER

Yes, they've, they've held up very well. They also were supposed to be washable, believe it or not. They are fabric that has been heavily painted with oil paint so that it really gives it a nice, strong finish. There's actually plaster in the inner core of the head...

GUEST

Oh, really?

APPRAISER

...which gives it a little bit of weight...

Sure. APPRAISER

...and more realism. She started making them at the turn of the century through the, about the mid-'20s.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

And the original ones, if you will notice the ears, she just took fabric and painted it, and then applied it through the side of the head. But later on, she actually got smart and molded the ears, which was a lot less work. That helps us date yours as being some of the earlier ones.

GUEST

I see, uh-huh.

APPRAISER

And you're saying 1910, so that, that's...

GUEST

Just supposing.

APPRAISER

That sort of fits in. They come with bare feet or they come with little painted boots, and yours have bare feet. I see lots of Alabama babies. These are scarce because of their wonderful wigs. You rarely see 'em with wigs on. These are super because they're actually human hair wigs. So that kind of adds to your...

Sure. APPRAISER

...horrifying experience. (laughs)

GUEST

Well, it does to me, but I can see that that's interesting.

APPRAISER

But very realistic. Your dolls are worth around $1,100 to maybe $1,300 retail.

GUEST

Goodness gracious.

APPRAISER

Apiece.

GUEST

Apiece! Oh, my.

APPRAISER

Are you still scared of them?

GUEST

Well, to be honest, really, look at... They don't really inspire cuddliness, do they? (both

laughing) APPRAISER

I absolutely love 'em, but I'm...

GUEST

But I certainly, well, I certainly respect them. (both

laughing) GUEST

Thank you so much.