Hertwig Antique Bisque Dolls 1864+ 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 is probably best known in 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.

Hertwig produced all bisque dolls some with molded clothing or molded hair decoration, all bisque anthropomorphic animals; bears, birds, bunny rabbits, dogs, ducks, cats, elephants, frogs, monkeys, squirrels and more, 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.

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, rare are China head dolls with a whistle in the head or with an open mouth with teeth, 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, an actual molded bonnet on the head with molded small to large flowers, white fur trimmed hood, butterfly bonnet or other finery, doll mark Germany or unmarked.

1914 Hertwig Nancy all bisque doll 6 3/4″ tall, for Amberg, 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. Reproductions of the doll mold are available hopefully signed with name, initials and date of artist.

ca. 1914 Hertwig doll mold 620, doll mold 621 all bisque dolls, light brown painted boots.

ca. 1914 Hertwig doll mold 626 all bisque dolls, light brown painted boots.

ca. 1920s Hertwig all bisque dolls painted green band, white socks, blue slippers, doll mark Germany 6,

ca. 1920 Hertwig all bisque dolls with molded clothes, Buster Brown on left, Girl on right

ca. 1920s Hertwig all bisque pudgy dolls, on left Girl with molded flowers

ca. 1895 Hertwig Pet name Helen blonde China shoulder head doll, cloth nanking body, China lower limbs, doll mark Helen Patent App d for Germany.

1914 Hertwig bisque head dolls, 1. striped body, 2. soldier, 3. all bisque Bunny doll, doll mark Germany.

ca. 1920s+ Hertwig all bisque animal doll figurines; Monkey, Bunny rabbit in crocheted clothing, doll mark Germany or unmarked. see Carl Horn.

1920s Hertwig all bisque dolls, big googly blue glass eyes, frizzy hair wig, bare feet, doll mark Germany.

1920s Hertwig all bisque googly big eye doll, molded painted blue dress, white socks, blue Mary Jane single strap shoes, doll mark Germany or unmarked.

Hertwig Doll Marks Identified

Hertwig Pet Name doll mark Helen Patent App d for Germany

Hertwig doll mark Germany

Hertwig doll mark 1421 with house symbol

Hertwig doll mark H with house symbol, a cat, Buster Brown Shoes

Hertwig doll mark Hewika label

Hertwig Doll Mold Numbers Identified

1 1/2, 6, 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, 5000, 5012B, 5020, (3) 5112, 7281, Ruth an all bisque doll.