Kurt Adler Ornament help

[jellybeanscloset412]

Well I already feel dumb so maybe I know the answer. I have a Kurt Adler lace doll ornament without a body. It is just the head and arms with a very long lace gown.

Does anyone know if this how it is supposed to be? All the ornaments I have researched appear to have bodies but on some it is hard to tell. Thanks for any help and feel free to laugh because it already sounds stupid in my head.

[Deleted]

Can you look under the skirt to see if it looks like anything is broken off or came unglued? Is it possible she was a tree topper and should have had a cone?

[jellybeanscloset412]

It has a nub of something. Maybe it was attached to something and  a piece of white wire cleaner. It's hard to tell. I'll add a picture in a little bit. It's a shame because it's in really good condition otherwise and really pretty.

[jellybeanscloset412]

Here is the bottom. I guess now seeing it in a picture it could be possible that something was attached. I'm still not 100% sure.

[Deleted]

The long skirt makes me think she is a tree topper. Here's one with a "Plastic cone on the bottom to attach to the tree" - maybe that part broke off yours?

www.kurtadler.com/product/55573

[Deleted]

I buy wholesale from Kurt Adler for my FT job. I've been to their NYC showroom once a year for the last 18 years so am familiar with their products.

That said, I'm not really sure if your doll was meant to be a tree topper or just an ornament. Typically, their tree toppers are angels with wings, and have adult faces (your looks child-like). And it would have had some sort of cone underneath, as ahrn pointed out, though that could have been removed or fallen off. Is it rough and jagged underneath - where the porcelain of the doll torso ends or is it smooth? If it's smooth (I can't really tell from the photo) it either was made that way, or possibly the cone was removed.

My opinion, it's a vintage-look doll ornament or decor piece. Since the dress is so long, the bottom half of the body was not meant to show. It's cheaper NOT to produce that part of the doll if it's not an integral part of the piece, and cheaper to offer it to buyers, which makes it more salable for resale. I've seen them do that with other similar items throughout the years.

They get about 99% of their goods made for them from China and use many different factories, so just because one item of theirs was meant to be that way doesn't mean ALL of their similar items are that way. (Am I making sense?)

[jellybeanscloset412]

Thanks everyone. It’s smooth underneath. The cone makes more sense than a body.
I guess it has no value. It’s a shame because it’s really pretty and in great condition.

[SA]

Hot glue a bottle stopper to the bottom and sell it as a custom Kurt Adler wine topper And put it on Etsy. And upcharge it.

Or not. I have no idea of the value of these types of things.

[Deleted]

Oct 26, 2017 22:51:33 GMT jellybeanscloset412 said:

Thanks everyone. It’s smooth underneath. The cone makes more sense than a body.
I guess it has no value. It’s a shame because it’s really pretty and in great condition.

Not necessarily. 

The company has been around since the 1950's.  At first they imported most of their product from Germany and other European countries.  They still do have a smattering of items that are imported from Europe even today, though those things are mostly Steinbach nutcrackers and hand blown glass balls and elaborate Polonaise glass ornaments.  But who knows...maybe you doll is vintage and was made in Europe.  And I bet some of their older but not quite vintage stuff could be too, or at least, maybe collectible.