European doll a copy of American classic ‘Patsy’

We hope the holidays are happy and bright and Santa found his way to your house the other night. Many little girls ask for a doll to show up under the tree, and in today’s What’s It Worth? we review a small European doll. There’s also a “country store” antique that is quite collectible and very decorative.

Q. Here are photos of an antique doll that belonged to my late mother. I believe it is pre-World War II and might be made of “composition.” The doll’s clothing is original and looks very European to me. It could have been brought to the United States by my great-grandparents, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s. Can you give me an indication of whether this doll has any value to collectors? — Chuck in Richland

A. This is, indeed, a “composition doll,” a term used to describe a doll made partially or wholly of a mixture of sawdust, glue and other components such as cornstarch, resin and wood flour.

This “composition” is molded into doll bodies and heads. The first composition dolls were made in the 1800s.

We consulted local doll experts, and they said the doll is undoubtedly European.

One said that early in the 20th century the majority of European dolls were made of bisque, then composition came along in the 1920s and 1930s, before World War II.

Another told us this has the look of a “Patsy” doll, a model brought out by the American company Effanbee in 1928. The Patsy was so popular that many companies imitated her, and this doll is a European version of Patsy.

The clothes seem original, and if it wasn’t for the crazing on the face (which can be repaired), it would be worth between $60 and $80.

Q. My old dye cabinet was once used in a store. It has a terrific graphic on the front and inside shelves that doesn’t look original. I know these were once popular items. Are they still collectible? — Nancy in Othello

A. The immediate answer to the collectibility question is yes. Many people find these attractive and they sell well.

Dye cabinets were distributed by companies as they jockeyed for display space in the country stores that proliferated after the Civil War.

There was fierce competition and limited ways to advertise a product. Newspapers were few and far between in small communities. There was, of course, no mass media as we know it today.

So, attractive, eye-catching displays for use in the stores — and hopefully in front windows where passers-by would see the product — were the advertising method of choice. Cabinets were provided free of charge to the stores or came when a merchant placed a minimum order for dye packets.

These cabinets were in vogue until well after the turn of the 20th century. Most are about the size of Nancy’s — 30 inches high and 9 inches deep. They were made of various woods and sported a variety of high-quality, colorful lithographed tin panels. That’s right, the design here — called The Evolution of Woman — is printed on tin.

We see dye cabinets with many designs. Untold numbers feature children, some have country scenes, one even has fairies dancing about. However, we have never seen one that illustrates the drudgery of home dying.

This design for Diamond Dye is somewhat uncommon, which means scarcity and adds value. We’ve seen prices quoted as high a $2,000 to $3,000 for an example in near mint condition.

But anyone can ask anything, and they just don’t sell for high prices. $500 to $800 will buy you an exceptional example at auction. In poor condition, they can be had for as little as $30 or $40.

Many have been refinished, which does not detract from the value. Collectors, it seems, want them to look great and don’t insist on original finish. But condition has to be good.

The interior of this cabinet has been reworked and shelves replace the original cubby holes. And, while the wood is in good condition, the finish is rough. Both factors place it below the lower end of our price range; $350 to $450 is reasonable.

This story was originally published December 27, 2014 at 11:03 PM with the headline "European doll a copy of American classic ‘Patsy’."