By Jayne Cremasco
From the 1840’s through until the early 1920’s, some of the
most beautiful dolls ever created, were produced in Germany.
The earliest dolls, often referred to as Parian (meaning
untinted bisque) were created in famous pottery factories in
Copenhagen and in Dresden. These dolls had beautifully delicate
molded features, including not only their faces, but their hair
as well, often with molded ribbons, bows, snood, flowers and
sometimes a collar. Delicate exacting colorations made every one
of these dolls a work of art. These dolls are rare and valuable.
Their popularity peaked around the end of the 1870’s and can be
dated by their hairstyles. Parian Bisque led to the more common
China Head Dolls. These dolls were mass produced, and have a
shiny glaze finish over the plain untinted bisque. These dolls
ranged in size from tiny 1” tall frozen charlotte type dolls to
large as 24”. These dolls were most popular between 1860 and
1900, as a cheaper alternative to the latest doll craze, that of
tinted unglazed bisque that was becoming more and more popular
and available. In the early 1890’s the German doll manufacturers
began mass producing many lovely quality dolls that began to
rival the quality of the French dolls.
Dolls began to be modelled after real children. Emotions and
expressions became visible. The famous period of the “dolly
type” face was born.
These beautiful dolly face dolls traditionally had “sleep eyes”
made to open and close, set into the head carefully with
plaster. The eyes were hand blown glass. They also have open
mouths, usually showing 4 upper teeth. Fine mohair wigs, or
human hair wigs were also used on these dolls. The heads were
attached to sophisticated ball joint bodies.
Many of these dolly face dolls were produced in small cottage
industry circumstances, and the maker of many remains unknown.
The more famous German doll manufacturers such as Heinrich
Handwerck, Heuback-Kopplesdorf, Kammer and Reinhard,
J.D.Kestner, Armand Marseille and Simon and Halbig, clearly
placed their hallmark, and doll mold numbers onto the back of
the doll’s neck, making it possible to date, value and appraise
many of their dolls.
One of the most famous dolls of all to come out of this period
was the “Bye-Lo” baby doll. It is documented that the artist,
Grace Storey Putnam searched hospital nurseries in the early
1920’s looking for just the right tiny model for this doll. The
Bye-Lo baby was followed by “My Dream Baby”.
The value placed on Antique German Dolls, is based on their
rarity, on the quality in craftsmanship of a particular doll,
the condition of the doll, and by how much of the doll remains
in original condition. This will include such factors as repairs
to the head or body, replaced eyes or wig, and many other
factors.
Antique German dolls continue to appreciate in value. The
quality and talent put into every doll made is appreciated more
and more by collectors of antique dolls as the years go by.
About the Author: For more information on doll collecting, and
antique dolls, visit www.eloradollhouse.com Jayne
Cremasco has been a doll retailer and appraiser for over 25
years.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=151132&ca=Recreation
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