Chase Homestead's space

Collecting antiques makes good financial sence.  Even during financially difficult times, resale holds better than the average stock and if maintained and you are not in a hurry ... fair market value.                                     

We sell way below fair market value in many cases.  We purchased most as collectors not investors which will limit our pricing in certain circumstances.  We expect your standards are as high as ours and provide geat care to the transaction to ensure satisfaction and return if your purchase is not as described.

  We are pleased that you have taken the time to view items in our store. You are a valued customer and your satisfaction is important to us. We will have sales lasting a few days, and sometimes on an unanounced basis. Please check back with us from time to time since we often update our listings and place us as a favorite site.  Please do not feel you need to set a password or become a member because you don't have to do either.  You can sign in anomymusly. Also, if the item indicates that it is local pick-up only, that is in error. All items can be shipped through-out the US and World-Wide but require shipping coverage. Please bring to our attention any errors you see

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Wax Dolls were very popular in the 1860s through 1900 although one can find earlier and later dolls of the same material.  Several countries manufactured wax dolls but the most prolific country is England.  Although wax did not weather the years as did many other doll materials since they were stored in cold places, children ate them, critters ate them, they were left too close to the fireplace and on and on. 

Many wax dolls are found with hair-line or obvious crack or even missing pieces.  They can be sometimes easily repaired but the restorer must take into consideration that many wax dolls were made of "special" recipes which could have included lead, arsnic or mercury.  So prepare yourself with gloves and filtration mask just in case.

Wax dolls can be known as Poured Wax, Solid Wax, Heavily Waxed-Over Composition, Wax-Over or just Wax Doll.  The heavier the wax, the easier the restoration and less likely that damage will occur from expansion and contraction.  During the 1950s and 1970s, old damaged dolls were restored to look new which no longer in vogue, thank goodness since the original condition says a great deal about the doll and original era.  Some repair is acceptable in resale terms but repair should always be noted. 

Wax Doll heads were sometimes sold without a body or clothing then given a home-made version just as the china, bisque or paper-mache dolls of the same time.  One could find a body of another doll substituted by original caregiver or dealer.  When you collect, do research before-hand in museums, books and watch auctions except the values listed are only guides.  A doll is only worth what the highest bidder pays, until the next time.