| The past 25 years have seen tremendous changes in | | | | and to find dolls by certain doll artists. The market on |
| the collectible doll industry. Until that time, collectors | | | | older vinyl "designed for play dolls" softened |
| only had antique dolls, or newer children's dolls to add | | | | considerably during this period. |
| to their collections. As there were relatively few | | | | Home based porcelain doll studios, where you could |
| "new collectibles" to purchase, the market on these | | | | take classes teaching you how to make your own |
| "played with dolls" and antiques was vibrant and | | | | dolls, also became very popular during this time. |
| exciting. | | | | A quarter of a century later, many dolls that were so |
| There were many doll shows scattered all over the | | | | popular, have now come onto the secondary market. |
| country, and a visit to one would find three types of | | | | Due to the market being so flooded at the time of |
| dolls available, antique dolls, rescued discarded play | | | | production, and so many collectors jumping onto the |
| dolls, and booths featuring doll makers wares. Doll | | | | bandwagon, the secondary market is now flooded |
| makers were many, with their work ranging from | | | | with these dolls. The value on many has plummeted |
| dreadful to stunning. | | | | as a result, particularly Ashton Drake Dolls. Other |
| Flea markets also found doll sellers, usually of the | | | | collectible porcelain dolls that were mass produced |
| "discarded child doll type", and many collectors | | | | are for the most part worth only a fraction of what |
| searched regularly for collectible dolls. At the time, | | | | was paid for them initially. The biggest reason for this |
| dolls being grabbed up were from the Chatty Cathy | | | | is the fact that these dolls are still being produced, |
| family, Chrissie and Velvet family, Patti Playpal types , | | | | the quality has improved a great deal, and the prices |
| Vogue, and of course Barbie. | | | | have gone down. What reason would anyone have |
| With the emergence of the "Ashton Drake Gallery" | | | | for purchasing an older one! |
| dolls, followed by many mass produced porcelain dolls | | | | The market on genuine antique dolls continues to be |
| by many other companies, all offering limited editions, | | | | strong, and investments made seem to be sound. As |
| artist renderings and much media advertising, many | | | | the years pass, it is harder and harder to find antique |
| collectors changed direction and began to purchase | | | | dolls unless they are coming directly from another |
| these new dolls. | | | | collector's private collection. This keeps the prices |
| This new collector market was huge for a number of | | | | high. Unlike modern dolls, there are only so many |
| years. People scrambled to complete sets of dolls | | | | antiques to go around! |