Hertwig Dolls 1864-1941 German
Hertwig & Company was founded by Christoph Hertwig, Johann and Benjamin Beyermann who produced porcelain and earthenware products in their factory in Katzhütte, Thuringen, Germany from 1864 to 1941. By 1869 Mr. Hertwig was the sole owner, after Christoph passed away in 1886 his son and grand-sons continued the company. The first mention of doll head production was in 1884. Hertwig & Company was a prolific producer of China head dolls on nanking bodies, they employed 300-500 factory workers, plus 600 more home workers, most of the citizens of Katzhütte earned their living from this enterprise.
Hertwig produced Amberg’s all bisque Nancy dolls designed by Hazel Drukker, all bisque dolls some with molded clothing or molded hair decoration, all bisque Animals, Bathing Beauty dolls, Character dolls; Moritz and Struwelpeter, all bisque Comic figures standing or seated with wide open big mouths, Palmer Cox China man on a white horse, seated or standing all bisque dolls, Doll house dolls, Kewpie like dolls, Nodders, Piano Babies, Snow Babies, bisque shoulder head dolls with molded bonnets called Margueritas, Half Bisque dolls and many other figurines and small knick knacks. In 1925 Hertwig advertised porcelain head cloth body Hewika doll molds 648 to 686.
Hertwig is probably best known to the American market for their exclusive Pet Name China head dolls that have the dolls name in gold printed on the front of the head Agnes, Bertha, Dorothy, Esther, Helen, Mabel, Marion and Pauline and China head dolls with nanking cotton cloth bodies.
Antique Hertwig Dolls Identified
1888+ Hertwig China shoulder head dolls, 4 to 29 1/4″ tall, black or white dolls, China or bisque shoulder head and partial bisque lower limbs with cotton (nanking), some dolls with printed flags, alphabet etc. cloth stuffed body, painted facial features, molded painted hair blonde or brunette, doll mark Germany or unmarked.
1890s-1910s Hertwig Bonnet head dolls, (4 heads) various sizes, bisque shoulder bonnet head on a cloth body, partial bisque lower limb, lots of variety an actual molded bonnet from small to large with flowers and other finery, white fur trimmed hood, butterfly bonnet, doll mark Germany or unmarked.
1914 Hertwig Nancy all bisque doll 6 3/4″ tall, made for Amberg & Sons, designed by Hazel Drukker. Nancy has molded painted blonde hair, one or two blue mold bows on either sides in her hair, painted blue eyes, closed pouty mouth, jointed at the shoulders, blue band at top of short ribbed socks, painted light brown Mary Jane single strap shoes, doll mark Germany, unmarked or reproductions of this doll mold are available to be made by hobbyist / artists hopefully they signed with initials, their name and date.
Hertwig Doll Marks Identified
Hertwig Doll Mold Numbers Identified
104, 150, 150A, 150B, 150C, 165, 173, 175, 205, 206, 209, 210, 213, 214, 215, 217, 320, 330, 353, 354, 355, 383, 384, 385, 386, 392, 414, 423, 429, 483, 523, 526, 529, 581, 582, 583, 586, 600, 601, 603, 610, 611, 616, 617, 620, 621, 623, 626, 648, 649, 651, 652, 653, 654, 656, 665, 751, 810, 811, 1289 bug on a laughing face, 1312, 1313, 1421, 5112, 7281, Ruth all bisque doll.
