Adolf Wislizenus, B. Illfelder Dolls German
Adolf Wislizenus Dolls 1851-1931 German
Gottlob Schafft founded this doll factory in Waltershausen, Germany in 1851 to make papier-mâché dolls, by 1870 Adolf Wislizenus joined the firm as a partner and became the sole owner in 1878. Over the years ownership changed several more times and in 1931 Wislizenus filed for bankruptcy at which time Konig & Wernicke acquired the estate.
Wislizenus doll factory made wax doll heads, figures, animals, mechanical toys, Täufling, Dolly face dolls, unique body Child dolls, Character Baby dolls, mechanical walking dolls and painted eye dolls, in 1902 Old Glory doll, in 1910 Queen Quality doll, in 1919 Mein Glückskind (My Lucky Child) doll.
Wislizenus dolls are of very good quality. Wislizenus bisque doll heads were supplied by Bahr & Pröschild or Simon & Halbig, after 1910 by Ernst Heubach or Armand Marseille. Wislizenus dolls may have been distributed in the USA by Hamburger & Company. After 1931 Konig & Wernicke used Wislizenus patent Certa doll head for their Nicaput doll.
Adolf Wislizenus Dolls Identified
ca, 1894 Bahr & Proschild doll mold 320, 24″ tall, bisque head with sleep eyes, closed mouth, unique composition jointed body with ribs and swivel waist by Adolf Wislizenus, doll mark 320.
ca. 1908 Adolf Wislizenus doll mark AW bisque shoulder head doll, sleep eyes, closed mouth on a kid lady body, doll mark Germany AW.
ca. 1908 Adolf Wislizenus doll mark AW Special Germany, 24″ tall, bisque socket head with sleep eyes, open mouth, jointed composition body, doll mark AW Spe¢ial or AW Special Germany.
Wislizenus Doll Marks Identified
Wislizenus Doll Mold Numbers Identified
101, 110, 290, 295, 1105, Bahr & Pröschild made 252, 289, Simon & Halbig made 1079, 1249, 1429
ca. 1908 B. Illfelder doll mold 101 My Sweetheart doll face, 22″
B. Illfelder & Company Dolls 1861-1930s German, NYC
Berolzheimer, Illfelder & Company was founded in 1861 in New York City, the name was shortened to B. Illfelder & Company about 1870. Illfelder registered the doll trade names; My Sweetheart, Little Sweetheart Baby Marion, Sweetheart, Our Rosebud dolls.
B. Illfelder doll mold numbers Identified 101