Help with dolls please

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by John Brassey, Feb 5, 2024.

  1. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    I hope that I’m in the right forum but I can’t find a doll forum.

    I specialise in ceramics but as I was getting outbid on everything at the latest auction I decided to go for these dolls. Of course I know nothing about them but they looked interesting.

    The first is a half doll. The half doll part is about 15cm tall . Her arms are attached by wires and beneath her is a sort of wire cage . There is an impressed number.

    The second appears to be made of paper mache (the head) . She is 40cm tall and has either GW or CW impressed. I found a German maker Gustav Wohlleben but this doesn’t look like examples of his dolls that I’ve found.

    All help gratefully received.

    IMG_7673.jpeg IMG_7672.jpeg IMG_7671.jpeg IMG_7670.jpeg IMG_7668.jpeg IMG_7669.jpeg
     
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  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

  3. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Not an expert but... What with the marcel wave, low, tweezed brows, and cupid bow lips, the half doll looks 1920s. Dress not original.

    Debora

    042415-history-of-eyebrows-2-d0ed26508b1e4a678fdb54025cc4f4d8.jpg
     
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  4. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    Yes I agree not original. I will probably sell without the dress and the strange wire frame.
     
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  5. Matahari

    Matahari Well-Known Member

    the wire frame probably fitted over a jar (on a dressing table )
    although looks like it's been "refurbished"..maybe it's rusty underneath
     
    judy likes this.
  6. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    I removed the dress.
    IMG_7681.jpeg IMG_7682.jpeg IMG_7683.jpeg
     
    judy likes this.
  7. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    I think she's a half boudoir doll.
     
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  8. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

  9. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    Boudoir dolls were very popular with ladies in the 1920s. They would take their dolls out dancing, etc. When at home, the dolls lay on their owner's pillow.
     
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  10. bluumz

    bluumz Quite Busy

    Or perhaps she was meant to fit over a roll of toilet paper? :)
     
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  11. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    I never saw those dolls that went on top of toilet paper until the 1960s.
     
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  12. sassafras

    sassafras Well-Known Member

    Neat! @Bookahtoo got it. She's a boudoir doll, but the not the kind that sits on the bed that most people immediately think of. Sometimes you find these with a "cage" under the skirt and a socket for a bulb to make her in to a lamp, sometimes they're phone covers, some are candy boxes, etc. These girls got around! It's hard to know what her use was without her original clothing. What she was wearing looks to have been made in the late 1970s/early 80s. I'm sure she's grateful to be out of that dress. :)

    Can you get a straight-on pic of the markings on the other doll's neck and a close up of the face? There are a couple of maker's that I can think of that could be possibilities.
     
  13. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    Thank you. I will do that first thing tomorrow
     
  14. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    judy likes this.
  15. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    She came with a sister who I assumed was by the same maker but seemed unmarked. I’ve now found that she is marked. Could you help with this one too please @sassafras ?

    IMG_7739.jpeg IMG_7738.jpeg IMG_7737.jpeg
     
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  16. sassafras

    sassafras Well-Known Member

    Don't know either of them off the top of my head, but I'll pull some books today and see what I can find. @judy might want to take a look at this new girl too. She's a cutie!
     
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  17. Satin In A Coffin

    Satin In A Coffin Well-Known Member

    The arms are also replacements.
     
  18. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Could you show more of the dolls back, the one in red might be
    Walther & Sohn
     
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  19. John Brassey

    John Brassey Well-Known Member

    Thank you. Unfortunately I can’t get to see more of the back as the clothes are too tight.
     
  20. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    I can't add anything that would help.

    I checked my books on half dolls, and none show a wire frame like this.
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
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