Category
Antique Toys
Long Description
I had just acquired 2 lovely antique bisque dolls, I am not sure if they are all original (I know the wigs+clothes are not but i am unsure about the body parts and eyes) also I was hoping if any info on the year the dolls came out and anything more about them would be greatly appreciated, thankyou so much! One doll is marked SIMON & HALBIG & k (w/a star) r, she is 26" tall compo body, the other is marked: C.M. BERGMAN SIMON & HALBIG 9 1/2 she is 23" tallĀ there is also red stamp on the left side of her bottom: HOLZMASSE in the circle below the stylized WINGSĀ on her compo body(the first 3 pics are of the 1st doll the others is of the 2nd) both have peirced ears,Ā Ā
Price Paid (If known)
$100-200.
For Sale?
No
Re: 2 German bisque dolls
Unfortunately there is no precise way to date antique dolls. We can get a good idea knowing the time frame the manufacturers were in business. Many of them closed their doors when the Great Depression hit in 1929. What I can say is both are circa 1900-1910 and are all original. Simon & Halbig made the bisque heads for the respective companies named on each doll. German maker CM Bergmann had a location here in the United States as well. They would purchase heads and bodies, ship them and assembled them here. The marking on the Bergmann doll body with the stylized wings is that of Cuno & Otto Dressel (also German doll makers). Bergmann purchased the body from them. The word Holzmasse was a Dressel patented composition material used for their bodies which basically translates to Fast drying wood. Composition was made by using sawdust and a resin glue which was pressed into a mold and dried quickly.
Neither doll is marked "Made in Germany" this tells me they were made in Germany and entered the USA via immigration with a family. All items made outside the US for sale to the American market were required to have the country of origin imprinted on them.