Hello, Dolly!
6/9/18 – As the summer approaches, things are slowing down at Pook & Pook. However, our office continues to swell with antiques as we prepare for our June 13th and 14th Online Only Auction. Over the two day sale, 1421 items will cross the auction block. We’re up to our eyeballs in Windsor chairs, wooden decoys, oil paintings, and splint baskets!
With such a vast and varied selection of items, it has been a fun challenge to pick just a few favorites for the pick of the week. My choice this week is not a canning cupboard, a Chippendale style mirror, or a tea table – I surprised myself and chose lot 2228, a 16” Victorian-era Greiner doll. She has a cheerful smile set on petal pink lips, a lively pair of single-stroke eyebrows, and teeny black lashes framing deep blue eyes. Her conservative hairstyle is worn tucked behind her ears and she has a bloom of pink blush brushed across her cheeks. She is charming in a handmade floral-patterned dress, complimented by a lacy petticoat and fanciful leather shoes. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion… she looks like me!
It is my opinion that any worthwhile antique should connect with you on an emotional level. It is exciting to find yourself drawn to an object that you wouldn’t expect because it is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. As I held this dolly in my arms, I visualized my own childhood, growing up in the early 90’s and holding my own cherished toy – Samantha, the American Girl doll. Over centuries and across the world, dolls have been an instrument for children to develop their imagination and learn real life skills like compassion and empathy. Carefully holding this doll in my arms, I am cognizant of the generations of children who have nurtured her and enjoyed her companionship.
It is my hope that other young collectors are able to see the emotional value in an object like this little doll. With such a modest auction estimate at $80-100, maybe she can be the keystone on which you build a larger collection. Indulge your inner child; there’s something so soothing about the weight of a doll in the crook of your arms, isn’t there?
By: Kaitlyn Julian
