Hertwig Dolls 1864-1941 German

ca. 1895 Hertwig Pet name Helen blonde China head dolls
ca. 1895 Hertwig Pet name Helen blonde China head dolls

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

ca. 1890s Hertwig China head dolls nanking cloth bodies white or black
ca. 1888+ Hertwig China head dolls nanking cloth bodies white or black

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.

ca. 1914 Hertwig bisque bonnet shoulder head dolls
ca. 1890s-1910 Hertwig bisque bonnet shoulder head dolls

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
1914 Hertwig Nancy all bisque doll

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 mold 620, 621 all bisque dolls
Hertwig doll mold 620, 621 all bisque dolls, light brown painted shoes
Hertwig doll mold 626 all bisque dolls
Hertwig doll mold 626 all bisque dolls, light brown painted shoes
Hertwig all bisque dolls with molded clothes
Hertwig all bisque dolls with molded clothes, Buster Brown on left, Girl on right
Hertwig all bisque pudgy dolls molded flowers
Hertwig all bisque pudgy dolls, on left Girl with molded flowers
Hertwig all bisque animal doll figurines
Hertwig all bisque animal doll figurines; Monkey, Bunny rabbit, crocheted clothing
1914 Hertwig bisque head dolls
1914 Hertwig bisque head dolls, striped body, soldier, all bisque Bunny doll
1920s Hertwig all bisque dolls
1920s Hertwig all bisque dolls, big googly blue glass eyes, frizzy hair wig, bare feet
1920s Hertwig all bisque googly big eye doll
1920s Hertwig all bisque googly big eye doll

Hertwig Doll Marks Identified

Hertwig doll mark Germany
Hertwig doll mark Germany
Hertwig doll mark 1421 with house symbol
Hertwig doll mark 1421 with house symbol
Hertwig doll mark H with house symbol, a cat, Buster Brown Shoes
Hertwig doll mark H with house symbol, a cat, Buster Brown Shoes
Hertwig doll mark Hewika
Hertwig doll mark Hewika
ca. 1895 Hertwig doll mark Helen Patent App d for Germany
Hertwig doll mark Helen Patent App d for Germany

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.

Shop for dolls
Shop for antique Hertwig German dolls

Hertwig & Company Archives 1890-1937 book in 2000 by Florence Theriault, to purchase try (an affiliate link) eBay or Amazon. German Doll Encyclopedia 1800-1939 book in 1984 by Jurgen and Marianne Cieslik, The Collectors Encyclopedia of Doll’s books, vol. 1 page 292 in 1968, vol. II page 546 in 1986 by Dorothy S., Elizabeth A. and Evelyn J. Coleman. Note: if you have a question about a Hertwig doll, ask on our forum board.