Sarah's World of Dolls

Vintage Disney Porcelain Dolls

Thinking back to your childhood bedroom, it is very likely you had some Disney porcelain dolls gracing your bookshelf or the top of your dresser. Even little girls who never made it all the way to Disneyland fell in love with Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Walt Disney made classic movies and the characters he introduced to the world will live forever. Many of Mr. Disney’s cartoon creations were made into very popular porcelain figurines, and some of the earliest figures are prized by collectors, and often sell for high figures at craft and doll shows and online auction sites.

Trying to find the value of your old Winnie the Pooh porcelain doll can be a tricky thing. The true value of a Disney figurine is impossible to be accurately determined without the services on an expert appraiser. However, the good news is that if you are not planning to sell your collectibles, there is no need to go to the expense of a full valuation. If you are interested in a ball park value for the figure in question, The Warman’s Disney collectibles Field Guide will give you a fair estimate of the item's current value.

The Disneyana period for Disney collectibles is considered to be for items manufactured before the death of Walt Disney in 1966. Obviously, older items are harder to find, and by default become more valuable. Some of the most valuable examples of the Disneyana period are Mickey Mouse porcelain figurines made by Charlotte Clark in the 1920’s. The 20’s were when Mr. Disney started to make his first animated short films and Steamboat Willie evolved into Mickey Mouse. Some of Ms. Clark's work has been appraised at over $17.000. A good resource for the collector of pieces from this period is “Collecting Disneyana” By David Longest. The book is an excellent resource for vintage Disney dolls and figurines. The post Disneyana period has also produced a number of dolls and figurines that have appreciated in value. But the truly rare and expensive pieces all come in the time preceding Walt Disney's death.

The old Disney porcelain dolls that were yours as a child will always have a place in your heart and, if you have the right dolls of the right vintage, they may have a place in your portfolio. Take a look in the old boxes in the attic. Mickey and Minnie are waiting to say hello.