Antique DOLL Collector March 2014 Vol. 17, No. 2
The Complete Guide to Antique, Vintage and Collectible Dolls
March 2014 Volume 17, Number 2
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LA POUPÉE BIEN ELEVÉE – THE WELL-BRED DOLL THE JOYS OF CROSS-COLLECTING
CHINESE CRYING BABIES, ENIGMAS, MOTSCHMANNS, TÄUFLINGE By Carol Corson
At an annual meeting of the Doll Collectors of America, members shared an extraordinary number of these early dolls.
By Samy Odin The author points out that it is hard to resist doll-related antiques, especially images that represent the dolls we love and collect.
Traditional täuflinge, also known as Motchmann Babies or Enigmas, were made for some fifty years. At the 2012 annual meeting of the Doll Collectors of America, members shared their examples, revealing the simple charm of these dolls which still captivates us today. Photo Carol Corson
About The Cover
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THE RARE PAIR CELLULOID MARIE AND PETER BY KAMMER & REINHARDT
By Margo Delaughter Kammer and Reinhardt’s popular mold 101 was also made in celluloid, few examples which remain. 6
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ATTIC TREASURES
By Mary Krombholz A group of dolls stored in an attic for over a hundred years remain pristine.
14 Auction Gallery 59 Emporium 66 Mystery
68 Calendar 71 Classified
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The author shares her learning experience exhibiting at the national UFDC convention.
One of two special exhibits organized by Donelle Denery.
RIBBONS: A COMPETITION EXPERIENCE By Kathy Meador
2013 UFDC SPECIAL EXHIBIT: LETTIE LANE & FRIENDS
1. Roullet et Decamps Mechanical ‘Tata’ – this 14” french R.D. keywind is still in her factory clothes and ‘rocking’ the original baby as seen in Decamps original advertising! A comic cabinet character of early 20th century Paris! $2250 2. Lithesome Wax Fashion – what an exquisite all original bustled silk gown on this unusual turn of the century 20” fashion lady w/ perfect arms and carriage! $1100 3. Original French Trade Fashion – Rare and early Simon Halbig ‘920’ Long Face Jumeau look w/ PW’s, cl. mo. and Factory Original from bonnet to shoes; a true fashion plate of bustle back french design w/ mint bisque arms. $3500 4. 4-1/2” ‘Schafer and Vater Naughty’ – choice quality, Edwardian whimsy, signed and mint! $175 5. 14” Rare German Fashion – stunning mint factory wig coiffure, crystal tri-color blue eyes, pursed cl. mo w/ drawn teeth, orig. earrings and leather body, a vintage jewel! $1800 6. 17” Elegant D & K Lady – the renowned chiseled features and molded breasts with shapely body in 5 fantastic layers of clothes! $950 7. Some spoiled bebe will have this ‘lifesize’ 10” high Fur Kitten w/ green eyes and orig. bow! So mint! $495 8. 23” Vibrant ‘Bebe Charmant’ – by Francois Gaultier for Pintel and Godchaux, with a hidden invisible flaw and huge blue PW’s set in creamy, plump cheeks plus the rare patent P & G body! Just $1250 9. The Proposal – a large 10” Child holding her doll in its long gown. $450 The Suitor – w/ love letter and flowers in hand! $150 10. 14” All Original Halbig ‘Character’ – a choice ‘1299’ youth, powder fine quality and mint from her wig and lace cap to leather shoes for her First Communion! $750
(212) 787-7279 P.O. Box 1410 NY, NY 10023
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Chinese Crying Babies, Enigmas, Motschmanns, Täuflinge by Carol Corson
Photos by the author except where noted
The 8 ¼” doll is accompanied by an 11” brother. Both have separated big toes.
Photos of 9” ( 23cm.) Mitsuori ningyo, Taisho Period, undressed to show his body structure. The thighs are hollowed out in the back to allow his calves to fit neatly when he kneels. He has a tiny penis and tufts of hair in front of each ear and at the base of his head in the back as well as a longer one on the crown.
Research and many of the photographs for this article were done in preparation for an educational exhibit and program at the 2012 annual meeting of the Doll Collectors of America. The dolls photographed belong to members of DCA. In the late 18th and early 19th century there were few commercially produced baby dolls in Europe or America. Dolls made of wood, or composition over wood heads, were not cuddly and though some were designed to be babies, they didn’t have the softness or easily folding joints that encouraged a child to “care” for the baby represented. Thus they were not as popular as those representing adults, boys and girls. Although some of these dolls were quite large, 20
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many were quite tiny. Cuddly cloth dolls were mainly home made at this time and few have survived to this day. Japan began making jointed baby dolls in the Edo Period (1615-1868). These first dolls were Mitsuore Ningyo, or “three bend dolls”. They had joints at the neck, hips, knees and rotating joints at the ankles. The backs of the thighs were hollowed out so the calves could fit neatly into them allowing the doll to kneel in Japanese style. The upper arms were made of silk crepe over wire. From the elbows through the fingers they were wood or composition with many layers of fine smooth white gofun (oyster shell) cover, as were the torsos, heads, legs and feet. The ankles were jointed and the feet turn out to facilitate kneeling.
There was no wrist joint. These dolls were popular with wealthy women who played with them and changed their clothes. By the second quarter of the nineteenth century the Ichimatsu Ningyo was developed. The head, shoulders, pelvis, hands and feet were made like those of the Mitsuori Ningyo, however, they have a soft mid torso section with a cry box in it. They also have soft upper arms with no wire in them and soft thighs. Some had “floating” hands and feet. These dolls represented young children and were specifically made for children. These new dolls were exhibited at the World Exposition held in London in 1851. Edmund Lindner, of Louis Lindner & Söhne, Sonneberg, is thought to have seen the Ichimatsu Ningyos at the World Exposition. Varying histories state that he brought one back to Sonneberg either from the fair or from a toyshop in Belgium or Cologne. He gave the doll to a Sonneberg factory owner and had a German adaptation made which at first looked quite Asian. As a Verleger, an export businessman, he ordered a number made by various factories in black as well as white. According to the Ciesliks a Verleger was educated in several languages and was responsible for seeing what the next great seller would be and giving the design to factory owners to produce. The factory owner then parceled out assignments to the many home workers who produced parts, which were then assembled in the factory. Kestner is believed to be the only German company that produced everything in the factory. Soon baby dolls based on the Japanese baby were being produced in large numbers. Most had the hard parts, head, shoulders, hips, hands and feet made of composition or papier maché. They came with jointed necks or in a shoulder/ head version. The lower arms and legs were wooden tubes. Many of these early examples have floating, loosely jointed, hands and feet. The upper arms, and legs as well as the mid torso were cloth. The mid torso contained a cry box, some activated by squeezing the torso. Others cried when the shoulders were pressed towards the hips. The Germans dressed them in simple shirts and bonnets and called them Täuflinge (singular: täufling from the German word taufe, Baptism or Christening). English speaking collectors tended to think all things Asian were Chinese and first called them Chinese Crying Babies.
The largest boy is 22” (54 cm.) His pale blue tie dye obi is an indication that he represents a young child.
The body design of this 9” täufling was directly taken from the Japanese dolls as were the almond eyes and the painted hair style. There is no separate big toe on the Sonneberg dolls.
This 9 1/2 inch fully jointed täufling has curved hands which can grab things. He bears an uncanny resemblance to Alfred Hitchcock!
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