Antique German Dolls – a Little Bit of History

Delicate exacting colorations made every one of these dolls a work of art. These dolls are rare and valuable. 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". 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. The famous period of the "dolly type" face was born. Fine mohair wigs, or human hair wigs were also used on these dolls. 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. 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.

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