Dolls

Action Kewpie "Down on His Luck" Doll, ca. 1915

Appraisal: Action Kewpie Doll "Down on His Luck", ca. 1915

Transcript

GUEST: They were on my husband's side of the family. And his grandmother had it and gave it to her daughter, and she ultimately gave it to me. I love her, and I just want to know more about her.

APPRAISER: Okay, well, you sure it's a her?

GUEST: No. (laughs) Come to think of it.

APPRAISER: Well, Kewpies, you really don't know if they're a he or a she. They're one of those kind of things that could be either/or. It's a Kewpie. It was designed by Rose O'Neill, and this particular thing probably didn't come from the old country. This was made around 1913 up into the 1920s. So it was probably bought in New York as a little gift for her room. It's what they call an action Kewpie. Of course, they're doing things, not just a normal Kewpie standing there. This is an unusual one with the Kewpie, with the two baby Kewpies. Very good quality bisque porcelain, maybe made by a company called Hertwig, which was a German company that produced lots of nice little novelty figures. This particular Kewpie, the Kewpie that collectors call "Down on His Luck." So I guess he was expecting one baby and ended up with two. If you look around the back, little blue wings. All Kewpies that are real Kewpies have blue wings. No wings, they're not a Kewpie.

GUEST: Not a Kewpie.

APPRAISER: Did you have any idea what you think it could possibly be worth?

GUEST: Well, I thought maybe $25. I, I didn't know.

APPRAISER: Okay, well, originally, when it was new, it was a little novelty thing made for children. It probably cost no more than 25 to 50 cents. It's in good shape. It's good quality. And if you can find it, it would probably retail between $4,000 and $5,000.

GUEST: (laughing) Really?

APPRAISER: Yeah, really. I mean, it's a very rare action Kewpie.

GUEST: Whoa!

APPRAISER: So "Down on His Luck" isn't so down on his luck at all.

GUEST: Oh, my heavens.

APPRAISER: And be very fortunate that you own it. It's really adorable.

GUEST: Oh, she will have... He-- it will have...

APPRAISER: It, it.

GUEST: ...will have a place of honor in my home.

APPRAISER: Cool.

Appraiser

Richard Wright

Updated Value (2020)

$3,000 - $4,000 Retail

APPRAISED VALUE (2007)

$4,000 - $5,000 Retail

Event

Orlando, FL (2007)

Theme

Nostalgic Collectibles

Form

Dolls, Doll

Appraiser Speciality

Dolls

Material

Pottery & Porcelain, Bisque, Porcelain

Period

1910s, 20th Century

Update: December 19, 2011

Richard Wright, who originally appraised this object, died in 2009. We contacted appraiser Marshall Martin for an updated appraisal in today's market. Current Appraised Value: $3,000 - $3,500 (Decreased) Martin notes that the market for Kewpie dolls, as with many antique dolls, has softened since the taping of this appraisal in 2007.