Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik Dolls1900+ German
The Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik (First Steinbacher Porcelain Factory) was founded in 1900 by Max Kiesewetter in Steinbach, near Sonneberg, Germany, in 1902 Mr. Hugo Zucker also joined the firm as a co-owner.
ca. 1905 Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik doll mold 23 bisque socket head girl doll, feathered eyebrows, sleep eyes, open mouth, mohair wig, five piece jointed composition body, doll marked EStP.
From 1900 until 1912 Steinbacher used the doll mark of company initials EStP inside an oval cartouche or EStP with an elephant symbol, as shown below.
Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik Doll Marks
Wiefel & Company Dolls 1912-1923
In 1912 Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik was sold to Hugo Wiefel and renamed Wiefel & Company, thus a new doll mark was used of W & Co or W & C with or without a doll mold number.
By 1914 Wiefel’s manufacturing was shut down because of World War I and restarted up again in 1918, although it doesn’t appear that bisque doll heads were resumed being made until around 1923.
Wiefel & Company Doll Marks
Wiefel & Co doll mark 1908 AM triangle DEP W & Co. AM in triangle = Amandus Michaelis
Wiefel & Company Doll Molds Identified 201, 250, 301, 1908
Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik Wiefel & Company KG 1923+
In 1923 Robert Carl and his son-in-law Gustav Heubach became silent partners in the Wiefel firm and the company was renamed Erste Steinbacher Porzellanfabrik Wiefel & Company KG and doll heads were again being made.
Gustav Heubach used the doll mark GH, G & H, as shown below. In 1926 Mr. Wiefel left the company and in 1937 Mr. Robert Carl passed away, thus leaving Gustav Heubach the sole owner.
Gustav Heubach Doll Molds Identified 500, 510, 520, 1904, 1905, 1909