When submitting a figurine for online evaluation, appraisal. We need:
1) Provenance: The item's history and where you obtained it from.
2) Measurements/dimensions in either inches or centimeters.
3) Digital photographs giving the front and side view, and another picture of the the base with any marking.
4) Is there are any cracks or repairs (that you know of), because these generally cannot be determined by simply look at the online photograph.
5) If possible, who made it, i.e. Lladro (spain), Dresden (Germany), Hummel (Germany) Royal Doulton (England) etc. Along with any model numbers, i.e.:
a) Royal Doulton figurines have HN followed by a number on the base, i.e. the above photo of Sarah HN 3380, while the bunnykins line has a DB followed by a number, and toby jugs have a D followed by a number
b) Hummel figurines have a model number or a name.
c) Royal Copenhagen figurines should have a model number on its base.
d) Lladro figurines should have a model number or name on its base.
e) Dresden figurines are often very fine and susceptible to breakage so handle them gently. They should have the the word Dresden or a Beehive mark on the base.
f) Often there are no markings, in which case a picture of the base is always helpful as was done for the above mid 19th century figurine of C. Stewart on his horse.
As with all on-line evaluations, appraisals, the more of the above informations that you can provide, the more accurate our online evaluation, appraisal will be.
Commentary
Words of caution. When considering the evaluation of most contemporary figurines, their market value is not particularly high. Although most contemporary Royal Doulton figurines have a replacement value of $400, at auction you can expect to only get $50 to $125, for them.
If there is a lesson to be learned, only buy contemporary figurines because you enjoy them. Do not buy them as an investment because in all likihood within your lifespan, their market value is not going appreciate considerably and their market value may never surpass what you payed for them from a retail outlet. This does not apply to all figurines, just the vast majority of 20th and 21st century ones. I.e. There are some Royal Doulton figurines whose values are skyrocketing but for the most part these are pre WWII and even then this only applies to certain figurines and not all pre WWII Doulton figurines. Accordingly, in general, we do not recommend having official appraisals performed on contemporary figurines, unless it is done for insurance purposes,or as part of a collection or for market purposes as part of an estate.
However, antique figurines can be another story. The above mid 19th century pearlware figurine of C. Stewart has a replacement value of $550 and a market value between $275 and $350. Similarly, the pair of mid to late 19th century Staffordshire whippets have a replacement value of $650 with a market value between $325 and $400. In both these cases our expectation is that these values will continue to increase with time.
