Antique China dolls were made by various, mostly German companies from 1836 to
the 1940s. Glazed porcelain China head dolls
(unglazed porcelain dolls are referred to as Parian dolls) are usually found on a wood, cloth or
kid body with some dolls having partial China limbs as well. Most China dolls
found,
have molded painted hair, but some have a wig over a solid bald dome head. China
head dolls range in size from a tiny 3 inches to a big and very heavy 40 inches
tall.
China head dolls are
usually unmarked, some may have a mold number or doll makers mark on the back of the
neck or on the shoulder plate, thus it can be impossible to pinpoint the doll maker, so
dolls are described and identified by the type of hairstyle.
As hairstyles changed over the long history of China head doll making, dolls
changed too, which gives us a clue to their dating.
Shown above is China head doll hairstyle known as Countess Dagmar
ca. 1860s, photo courtesy of
Virtu Doll
Antique China Dolls For Sale
use a keyword, doll makers name,
hairstyle or term from this page,
to search and find your
doll.
Good luck to you!
So how well do you know your Hairstyles?
Items shown below are for reference
1840's
China Head Doll Bun
Damenkoph, Lady head,
Young Queen Victoria
Hairstyle is in a bun, braid or
hair rolled at the
back of the neck.
1840's
China Head
Child doll
Kinderkoff head
Can
be a female or male child shoulder head doll.
1840's China Head Doll KPM
KPM, Königliche Porzellan Manufactur Messen, King's Porcelain
Factory, is the company name not a hairstyle,
very
rare blanc de chine male shoulder head doll.
1840's China Head Doll
Lydia head (shown on left)
Hairstyle
parted in the center, smooth on top, ringlet type long curls on
sides. The photo onthe right is of a Sophia
or Lydia head - in other words it's close
to both hairstyles.
1840's
China Head Doll
Queen
Victoria head, exposed ears
If
you look at many of the photo's here, you will not see ears
beneath the hair, but this one shows the ears and was made
by TPM the Carl Tiesch Company of Poland 1840's.
1840's China Head Doll
Sophia
Smith head
Hairstyle with straight sausage curl
hair.
1850's China Head Doll
Biedermier or bald head
Solid dome bald shaped head with a wig over the
head.
1850's China Head Doll
Covered
wagon head
Hairstyle with a center part, flat on top with curls
around the head.
1850's China Head Doll
Greiner
style head
Hairstyle
with a middle part, wavy on the sides with comb marks, high forehead.
1860's China Head Doll
Alice
in Wonderland head
Hairstyle with molded headband
on a Motschmann type body.
1860's China Head Doll
Countess Dagmar head
Various elaborate hairstyles some with
pierced ears.
1860's China Head Doll
High Brow head
Hairstyle with center part, flat top, curls
around head, round face with high forehead.
1860's China Head Doll
Jenny
Lind head
Hairstyle parted in the middle and pulled
back into a bun with a high forehead
1860's China Head Doll
Morning
Glory head
Hairstyle with hair pulled back, wavy on sides
with
molded flowers at the neck.
1860-1870's China Head Doll
Mary
Todd Lincoln head
Hairstyle is pulled back and
held in place with a snood.
1860's China Head Doll
Waterfall head
Hairstyle, you better just take a look at the photo
to understand the description for yourself.
1860-1870's China Head Doll
Flat top, High
brow
or Civil War head
Hairstyle parted in the middle with
short curls, high forehead and flat top head.
1870's China Head Doll
Adelina
Patti head
Hairstyle with a center part, rolled hair with elaborate curls.
1870's China Head Doll
Curly
Top head
Hairstyle
has ringlet curls over entire head
1870's China Head Doll
Dolly
Madison head
Hairstyle with curls all over the head with
molded ribbon
1870's China Head Doll
Spill
Curl head
Hairstyle of curls on forehead and
spilling down the back of the neck
1870's China Head Doll
Currier
& Ives head
Hairstyle
with bangs, some have hair details like a headband shown on this
parian head of untinted bisque.
1880's China Head Doll
Highland Mary head
Hairstyle with bangs and curls at
sides.
1890's China Head Doll
Low Brow head
Hairstyle is common for this era with all over curls
could be blonde or black hair.
Antique China Dolls 1836-1940s
