Wordless Wednesday: 95 Years Old, Dolly Goes to School

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My daughter's social studies assignment requires her to find a bit of family history, get the scoop on it, be prepared to talk about it, write an essay on this "hidden treasure," and provide a visual aid to accompany the written report. She chose my grandmother's porcelain doll as her treasure. For years this doll sat inside a paper bag in a desk at my parents'. Last year, I took the doll to an expert and learned that this dirty old toy had a cash value of $900. That was interesting to me but essentially meaningless because the value of the thing was that it had been Gram's. The woman who evaluated it helpd me clean it, gave her a new wig, added a hand, repaired the joints, and hugged her over and over again when she gave her back to me. That's the way it is with dolls. Clean and respectable, Dolly is going to school sometime soon--sometime after my daughter writes her bio.

Wordless Wednesday

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45 Comments

  1. wow! This is some historic treaure!

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  2. that is an absolute priceless treasure. I am lucky enough to have a few things from my Grandfather's house after he passed away and to me they are pricless treasures.

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  3. Dolly surely does look grand for her age. What a wonderful treasure from your Gram.

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  4. I'm sure your girl will have lots to talk/read about this doll.
    I'm not sure how it looked like before the new wig and all, but I'm sure she's looking better than before :)

    Happy Easter Sandy!

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  5. That's a long time to have a treasure! How neat! And wow, how expensive. Scary!

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  6. Sandy, you must have nerves of steel sending a $900 antique off for show and tell. Not sure I could have that much nerve.

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  7. It makes me lapse into a musical number:
    "Hello, Dolly,
    Well Hello, Dolly,
    It's so nice to see you back where you belong..."

    -Greg

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  8. That is precious, what you have shared.

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  9. What a lovely tale. Hope you post her bio too.
    Cheers

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  10. I love dolls. Great shot. Happy WW:)

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  11. what a fun family treasure and legacy of loving.

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  12. 95 years old? SO much older than than many human beings!

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  13. Beautiful doll. Hard to comprehend that it is worth so much when it had to have so many repairs -- does that de-value it now? Good luck ot yoru daughter with her theme.

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  14. The doll is a precious memento for your family. That's interesting, Sandy.

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  15. That is indeed a treasure, especially as it has so much meaning to your family.

    Interestingly, my grandmother was a very serious collector of dolls, both old and new and from all parts of the world.

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  16. Some old doll you should never sell.
    With a beautiful porcelain head.
    Be careful with it ;)
    I have my first doll also :))

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  17. wow, a much loved treasure! i'm sure your daughter is so proud of her found treasure.:D

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  18. Too beautiful -and I love the story. She certainly doesn't look her age!

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  19. What a beautiful doll, I bet it would have stories to tell if it could talk. Happy WW

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  20. And she has her Easter Bonnet on. Such a stylish doll.

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  21. She's beautiful and she certainly does look much younger than her age!

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  22. A great treasure, that.

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  23. Lucky Dolly!
    How much better to be loved by a little girl than to sit in a paper bag.

    And you know I'll bet she always wanted to go to school. She probably heard a lot about it from Grandmother!

    I love the image of the doll doctor hugging her before giving her back. Beautiful!

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  24. She is looking good for being that old.

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  25. Some things are worth beyond money. Your doll is one. My Father in Law's fly fishing reel is another.

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  26. "...the value of the thing was that it had been Gram's..." --- i totally agree with you... this is such a wonderful treasure and heirloom... good luck to dolly and your daughter's presentation:)...

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  27. She's adorable!

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  28. What a beautiful family treasure!

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  29. With those sparkling eyes and apple cheeks she's going to be a big hit with all the kids at school!

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  30. What a treasure!!! And I mean not because she's worth money, but because she used to belong to your grandmother. So precious!

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  31. wow what a treasure it was
    hello there my friend
    just dropping by here
    have a great day and happy blogging

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  32. What a beautiful doll and a wonderful heirloom.

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  33. Seems you have added to this dolls family history by cleaning her up and adding youth to her many years of wear and tear. Fun story.

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  34. How wonderful that you have that! We have some old family pieces as well.

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  35. Sandy she is adorable. Family heirlooms like this is priceless. I have an old doll made by one of my great-great-grandmother, who was a slave. I gave it to my eldest daughter and she can't find it. I cried about it for months, but should have known better.

    Tell your daughter that no matter how much material things she may get in life ... this doll is more valuable. Thanks for sharing this.

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  36. What a phenomenal treasure! Makes me want to go dig out an old porcelain doll that used to be my moms...

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  37. Dolls tells more stories and history than most people are awere of.
    Not only the materials used, but also the face and structure of the Dolls.

    Keep it as a historical relic.

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  38. wow! she's a grandma!:)

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  39. What a great thing to have and hold... I hope this stays in your family for ever.. the stories this fine doll must know... $900 pale in comparision to it's true worth Sandy... I wish your daughter well with her school work.

    Happy Easter Weekend

    Tom
    Wiggers World

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  40. Anonymous3:26 AM

    what? she is adorable

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  41. Dolly goes to school. I love this. She is getting a second life. I also am confused about value. Which gives it more value, the $900 or the fact that it's your grandmother's doll. Makes me miss my old dolls.

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  42. Gram will be happy that her great grand-daughter is taking dolly to school... :)

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  43. sounds an interesting project, Sandy :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  44. Love Dolly! Granny has one of her old dolls-but it isn't in the best of shape.

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  45. you know they do movies of dolls like these; and their tiny little teeth.
    recalling when my sisters called me into the bedroom of my grandmothers sisters house and told me to open the drawer revealing a life sized doll like this taking up the entire drawer. I have not been the same since. ;-)

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