Congratulations! You've discovered a beautiful thing: an antique bisque doll. Maybe it was you grandmother's, or maybe you found it at the flea market and decided it was worth picking up. Well you were right!

But wait, how do you know it's an antique bisque doll? Well there are a few things that go into identifying one of these lovely little artworks. First, the doll must be made of bisque. That is, the head will be made of bisque, the body will usually be made of composition with easily posable joints.

So what exactly is bisque? It's a form of unglazed(not shiny) porcelain, usually fired twice, that has a very smooth texture and a slightly translucent quality. This material is very easy to paint and more closely resembles real skin when compared to the regular glazed porcelain of traditional china dolls.

Ok, so you're pretty sure the doll you have is a bisque doll, but is it an authentic antique bisque doll? Well that's where the details come into play(but not too rough, bisque is fragile after all). First of all, the bisque of most antique dolls is of very high quality. It should be smooth and have no dark spots or blemishes. Also, some cheaper dolls made in later years have a darker, tan color to their faces. This is evidence of a cheaper porcelain or poor firing, either way, it's a bad sign.

Other details are important too:

• The paint should be very detailed, with obvious care put into each stroke.
• Eyebrows and eyelashed should show small "hairs" when examined closely.
• The lips should be full and well accented.
• There should be a slight, but not overt, blush to the cheeks, giving it an innocent or childlike feel.

All the detais check out. This is (or was at some time) an expensive toy. It must be the real deal! Well... not necessarily. You see, there are replicas being produced to this day that very closely resemble the real thing. Now, if you just want to build your collection for the sake of having these beautiful objects in your home, then there is no reason to continue your investigation into your doll's authenticity.

If, however, you are interested in delving deeper into the world of doll collecting, you'll need to learn a thing or two about provenance.

Provenance n. - The history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated.

Now, not all dolls come with provenance, but the ones that do are very valuable. They are not only the most verifiably authentic, they are usually the most interesting and fun to collect. A doll with provenance has a story to tell and makes a great conversation piece.

For instance, a doll that has seen its way through World War II in the hands of a frightened German child who eventually made her way to America and passed it down through the family to end up in your hands is far more interesting than the Jumeau Bebe sitting on the corner of the mantle that, while very pretty, lacks a real story of its own. Again it all comes down to your reasons for collecting. If you want a unique connection to history that can only be derived from the cherished belongings of our ancestors, then look for dolls with an extensive provenance, as they will provide that better than any other.

Your doll came with a full portfolio of documentation all the way back to it's date of manufacture. It's 100% authentic in every way. If that's the case, what are you looking for? Oh, I see. You're a different kind of collector. A purist. You collect the dolls for their own sake.You may attach some sentimetal value to them too, but it's not necessarily top priority, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Aside from the immense sentimental value often associated with these once-playthings, they are also very valuable from a more materialistic stand point. It's not at all uncommon for these dolls to sell for hundereds if not thousands of dollars at auction (and yes, that goes for Ebay too). Why anyone would want to sell these trully priceless treasures, I don't really know, but then again, money is, as they say, a powerful motivator.

Many people collect these dolls, viewing them as an investment that will only grow and appreciate over time, but as they expand their collection and come to love each doll in its own right, they find it increaslingly difficult to part with them. Some begin collecting only to end up passing the entire collection on to a younger relative rather than seeing them auctioned off into less caring hands.

So, if you find yourself falling madly in love with an inanimate object, don't be ashamed. You're not alone, and you're not crazy(well, I can't be sure about that last one). Welcome, my friend, to a new, wonderful world.

Oh, and one last thing: relax, and have fun with it