Dionne Quintuplets Dolls & Rocker, ca. 1934
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GUEST:
My nana bought these many years before I was born, and from the time I was two or three, and remember my nana, she said these dolls would be mine. I never got to play with them. I mostly got to rock them. I don't know too much about them.
APPRAISER:
Do you know who they are or who they represent?
GUEST:
I've heard they're the Dionne quintuplets.
APPRAISER:
You're right. The "Dee-own" or "Dee-on" quintuplets were born in Canada in 1934, and in '34, a multiple birth of five identical children was very, very unusual. And because they were so unique, the media swarmed the home and wanted to know more information about them. There were newspaper articles, and because there were five, the government felt they should be cared for, and they were taken away from their parents.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
A special home was built for the Dionne quintuplets, a hospital, a special doctor was hired, a special nurse. People would drive for miles to drive around the house just to see these children playing.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
It was extremely tragic, because they had no other playmates other than themselves. There were dolls produced, there were spoons, there were calendars. There were all kinds of items.
GUEST:
Oh!
APPRAISER:
These dolls were manufactured by a company called Madame Alexander, American company. They are made of composition, which is a material that's durable, but it doesn't last well if there's changes in temperature. You are very lucky that they have survived. They're in an original presentation rocker, with the swans on the side. This is unusual to still see the decals of their names in front of each one. Their names were Marie, Émilie, Cécile, Annette, and Yvonne. My feeling, in a retail shop today, they'd be worth $2,500.
GUEST:
(gasps)
APPRAISER:
And maybe even a little bit more, because of the wonderful condition. I noticed there's one shoe missing. I think with a little luck, you can
replace that shoe.
GUEST:
Awesome, I'll be able to give them to my daughter someday!
APPRAISER:
Great.
GUEST (exclaims): Fantastic!
Appraisal Details
Current Appraised Value: $1,500 (Decreased)
Martin explains that since this appraisal in 2008, "[Dionne Quintuplet] dolls have taken a big dive in value."
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