OK. SO YOU'RE NOT AN EXPERT ON TROLLS. IS IT TIME TO SELL THAT VINTAGE COLLECTION OF YOURS, OR THAT YARD SALE FIND? READ ON FOR SOME QUICK TIPS FOR EVALUATING AND LISTING YOUR TROLLS....
Early Wishnik 6 Inch Troll on 1960's Lamp, With Original Cowboy Hat, Chaps and Gun Belt
PART ONE - EARLY TROLLS [THE 60'S TROLLS]
First, a word on what this article is NOT. This is not a collector's guide to the wonderful world and history of trolls, and troll appreciation. Several excellent books have been written on that subject, and the reader may wish to consult such examples as the TROLL Identification & Price Guide by Debra Clark, Hobby House Press, Inc., for a more thorough treatment. [You may find it disappointing to rely on the dollar values in these guides for our purposes, however, since ebay auction values have not been reflective of the Guide values]. The trolls in this article are the more familiar and popular trolls of the 1960's and 1970's [and in Part II, the popular trolls of the1980's and 1990's], and such things as Nyform Trolls and troll animals will be discussed separately, if at all.
This article will give you some quick things to look for in pricing your vintage trolls, and some useful [hopefully] keywords to include in your title.
Age -First of all, as noted above, I've divided trolls into two groups - those made or copyrighted in the early 1960's [DAM (c)1964 is a popular one]; and those from the late 1980's and early 1990's [Norfin and Russ Trolls are typical of this era]. Within the first group, trolls marked for their creator or parent company, such as Thomas Dam, or Dam Things Est. 1964, or Scandia House Enterprises (S.H.E.) on either their back or their feet, are among the most desirable, with Scandia House trolls seeming to command the highest prices. Popular to a lesser degree it seems, are the Wish-niks. These little trolls also appear to date from the 1960's or early 1970's, and are generally marked with a double horseshoe on each foot. "Tab-backed" or tabbed trolls may also date from this era but are generally unmarked and have not been commanding the prices of their counterparts. [Tabbed trolls are so-called because they have a plastic tab at the back of their necks].
Above - Tabbed Back Troll on the Left - Some of These Tabbies Were Actually Wishniks
Height - Most trolls in this early catagory, and seemingly the most popular, are between 21/2 and 3 inches tall. Larger trolls, up to about 12 inches tall, can also be found with the DAM or Scandia House names, and may command higher prices, although with trolls, bigger is not always better. Rarity is a factor which may better be determined by consulting your trusty Troll Guide. Uneeda Wish-nik and DAM also made larger 5 inch to 5 1/2 inch trolls in a variety of styles, including banks, starting in about the early 1970s. These are sought after by some collectors although they have not historically, attracted the greatest interest on ebay.
Pencil-toppers - As the name implies, these little trolls [about one inch tall] were made to fit on top of pencils, and were made and marked by DAM, SCANDIA HOUSE and possibly others. Again, the Scandia House pencil-toppers in good condition seem to command the highest prices, followed by DAM and unmarked pencil-toppers. Note: When displaying pencil toppers or other tiny trolls, it's a good idea to include a REPRESENTATION OF SCALE [a ruler, quarter, etc.] in the picture, in order to alert the bidder to the actual size.
Hair - Hair seems to be a big factor for troll collectors as you might expect - since trolls are often more hair than body. Mohair was the original fiber of choice for trolls, generally attached in the form of a glued-on plug. A full head of hair in two or three colors will usually contribute to a troll's value. If the hair is "replacement hair" (often by the seller), the seller will usually so state in the auction, although this usually does not adversely affect value (Many trolls, it seems, are charter members of the Hair Club for Trolls). Vinyl rooted hair [like Barbie] can add to a troll's value, particularly if it is plentiful. Some unmarked trolls I've seen have a fairly thin layer of vinyl hair framing their faces, and which covers a hole in the top of the head. I've often found these with painted on "frog eyes", and their value tends to be significantly lower than those more lavishly made. Also, many trolls suffer from thinning hair - either weak mohair or some woolly or synthetic fibers (think fine steel wool), and this condition will potentially detract from value, unless you're selling them in an as-is lot, where some happy troll-crafters may get into a bidding war). Black and white are common hair colors, followed by pastels and vivids such as reds and oranges. All things being equal, purple, blue or lavendar tend to command the highest prices at the moment. If you have an unusual hair color, you might include that in your title.
Eyes - The most common troll eye color for this era is amber - either glass, plastic or painted-on. Green, blue or lavendar are less common and so more sought-after. Among glass eyes, spiral eyes [with little lines radiating out from the iris] are generally are the most prized. Some collectors will replace amber eyes with a more desirable colors, and most reputable seller/collectors will disclose this in their auctions. Again, I have not seen these after-market upgrades detract from a troll's value.Often if it enhances the aesthetic, it seems to positively affect value. Again, if there's room in your title, eye description should be included if you have one with a rare eye color.
Special Features - Wish-nik made a line of two-headed trolls which are attract quite a following, and DAM and SCANDIA HOUSE offered trolls with specialty outfits such as Playboy Bunnies, Cheerleaders, Vikings or Eskimos. Trolls which are 12 inches tall or taller and marked DENMARK, will also garner more interest and these features should be mentioned in your title.
Two-Headed Troll Marked Uneeda Wishnik 1965 on Left - Dam Donkey Stamped Dam Things Est. 1964 on Right
Clothes - For this era of early trolls, original felt outfits are a plus, and shoes are an especially nice find. Some sellers offer One of a Kind trolls [OOAK] and/or troll outfits, and prices for their lovely creations can be $20 to $120, or more depending on detail and materials . [Fairies, angels, and lovely ladies in poodle skirts or evening gowns seem to have sold well in this early part of 2006, with my personal favorites being a troll in a tiny dinosaur costume, and a dog groomer with pup, selling for about $40 to $80 or more apiece !].
Country of Origin - The most popular early trolls will be marked as being from Denmark, if the country of origin is given. Generic brands, including Uglies animals, will be marked JAPAN or possibly HONG KONG and do not generally command as high a price.
A Note on ODORS - Some trolls have been much-loved by smokers, and the smoke odor can be quite pronounced. Because of their age and materials, some trolls cannot safely be cleaned with normal washing, so bidders will usually want to know something about the olfactory appeal or lack thereof. Seller judgment and discretion on this point is advised and preparing your description.
Some Further Notes on ODORS: I am reminded by a member, that smoke is not the only troubling residue. Mustiness - such as the troll houses tend to collect - are troublesome as well. However, and more importantly, attempts to neutralize, mask or control the odors are best left to the experts. Many people suffer from chemical sensitivities and environmental allergies and can suffer severe systemic reactions to household cleaning agents. [ I remember an example that came to me at an allegry treatment unit from a woman who though she had deep-seated resentments against her husband - everytime he came home from a business trip, she suffered terrible bouts of chronic fatigue, asthma and headaches. It turns out she was doing a very thorough house-cleaning in preparation for his arrival. When she stopped using household cleaning solvents and switched to what we now think of as GREEN CLEANING, she was actually quite glad to see him!]. In the case of our member, some treasured items had to be returned because they had been treated with an air freshener preparation. As a seller, it's ofen a tough call as to what might enhance the buyer's satisfaction, but we may have to assume that LESS IS MORE nad WHEN IN DOUBT, LEAVE IT OUT are adages by which to be to be guided in this.
KEY WORDS for your TROLL auction might include: the MAKER of your troll [e.g. SCANDIA HOUSE or DAM], the HEIGHT (When measuring trolls, it is best to measure without including hair. If lovely, long and flowing, that can be noted separately); the vintage or age if known; the eye type and color if desirable [e.g. GREEN SPIRAL EYE], and a good hair description such as PEACH MOHAIR or LONG GREEN HAIR, if applicable. Also, add any distinguishing features such as TWO-HEADED or PLAYBOY BUNNY or CHEERLEADER to catch the serious bidder's attention!
The value for any particular troll may be hard to determine until the hammer falls. However from this range of characteristics, you can hopefully determine what features to highlight and the relative desirability of your item. With a good header, supply and demand should do the rest.
If your troll collection or question is not addressed here, perhaps your trolls were made and first made popular in the 1980's or early 1990's . If so, please check out PART TWO.
And if you have trolls of any kind, you are fortunate, indeed. Whether they are from Denmark or Hong Kong, big or small, hairy or near hairless, chances are, they have crossed cultures and have soaked up much love over the years. And when you are looking at a troll face, it is hard to take yourself or life too seriously!!!
P.S. If you are interested in trolls or troll outfits, you might enjoy some of the very creative offerings on ebay. Word search TROLL HAIR OUTFITS VINTAGE. Or try usernames such as unicogoddess or mariebeecher, for some fine examples - and I'm sure your searches will yield even more!
For more information on trolls, and particularly the Russ, Norfin and related trolls, please check out THE THUMBNAIL GUIDE TO SELLING TROLLS - PART II.
Orignal From: THE THUMBNAIL GUIDE TO SELLING TROLLS- PART ONE
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