THE KOVELS | Antiques and collecting Learn all the doll terms and sound like an expert

There is a special vocabulary used to describe old dolls.
Dolls can be made of bisque, which is an unglazed ceramic, or china, which is glazed.
Collectors call 19th-century dolls "dolly faced" if they look like perfect young children, with rosy cheeks, a smile and long, curly hair.
A French "bebe" doll is actually a representation of a young child, not an infant.
"Character dolls" are those that look like real children. They were introduced in the 20th century.
"Sleep eyes" are eyes that open and shut. "Googly eyes" look to one side.
Descriptions include words such as "open mouth," but rarely "closed mouth"; "teeth," but rarely "no teeth."
Sometimes the description is "open-closed mouth." This means the lips are parted but there is no opening.
Hair is described as "molded," "mohair wig," "human hair wig" or even "horsehair wig."
Bodies are described as "cloth," "composition," "celluloid," "wooden" or "china."
Try to learn the words and sound like a doll expert.
Q. My father served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He gave me a sterling-silver bracelet with rectangular links enameled to look like the flags of the Allied countries. I have never seen another like it. Have you?
A. Various styles of flag bracelets like yours were made during World War II. Some have flag links. Others have dangling flag charms. If your bracelet is in excellent condition, it could sell for $75 to $100.
Q. I have a box of Shirley Temple bar soap that I received as a little girl. I'm 63 now and am wondering if you can tell me anything about it. The top of the box is blue and white with a picture of Shirley in a red-and-white polka-dot dress. Inside are two bars of soap shaped like small Shirley Temple dolls. One doll-bar has a red ribbon around her waist, and the other has a blue one. The inside of the box is set up as a tiny stage with pulled curtains. At the bottom of the stage are the words "Soapy Theatre."
A. You saved a rare Shirley Temple collectible. Other children who were given the soap in the 1930s probably used it in the bathtub. Kerk Guild Soap Co. of New York City manufactured your set. The company also sold at least one other Shirley Temple bar soap, as well as bars shaped like other celebrities of the decade. Your box of soap, if it's in excellent condition, could sell for as much as $500.
Q. We purchased a small Delft pottery pitcher in an antiques store a few weeks ago. It is blue and white, has a small handle and is about 5 inches high. The mark on the bottom is: "Erven Lucas Bols, Anno 1575, Amsterdam, Holland, Delfts." We question whether the piece was made as long ago as 1575.
A. Your pitcher was not made in 1575. That is the year the Lucas Bols distillery was founded in Amsterdam. The name of the distillery was changed to Erven Lucas Bols (meaning "the heirs of Lucas Bols") in 1815. The words Amsterdam, Holland in the mark indicate that your pitcher was made in the 20th century (probably the 1950s or later) to hold a liquor made at the distillery. The distillery is still in business.
Q. Can you identify the original purpose of my large corner bench? It was purchased in the Ohio Amish country in 1963. The bench is maple with arms on both ends and spindles across the back. The corner seat is on a diagonal, with the sides extending about 4 feet on each side. A chair arm is at each end of the bench.
A. Your corner bench is a typical Amish form. It is likely that it was part of a corner dinette set. The set would have included the corner bench, a table and possibly an extra side bench or two.
Q. My parents bought two colored woodblock prints in Japan in the early 1950s. Each one pictures a Japanese man in traditional clothing. I can decipher only part of the signature, "Paul J--." Shouldn't a Japanese print be signed in Japanese characters? Are the prints valuable?
A. The artist was probably Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960). He was born in France but moved to Toyko with his family in 1906. Jacoulet was educated in Japanese schools. He became fluent in the language and was fascinated by Japanese woodblock prints. He became a woodblock artist himself, using traditional Japanese techniques. His engraver and printer were Japanese. Jacoulet is best-known for his full-length portraits of Japanese, Korean, Chinese and South Pacific Island people. The average price for a Jacoulet print is $1,000 to $1,500. Some have sold for more.
Tip
Don't store ivory, bone, horn, mother-of-pearl or wood-handled table wares near heat sources such as ovens or radiators.
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