Limbach Porzellanfabrik Dolls German

ca. 1914 Limbach Nancy molded hair all bisque doll 4 1/2"
ca. 1914 Limbach Nancy molded hair all bisque doll 4 1/2″

Johann Gotthelf Greiner (1732-1797)  is known as the Father of Thurginian Porcelain, he came from a long line of German glass makers. Johan Gotthelf began working for his father by age twelve, by age eighteen he took over the management of the factory.  In 1761 Johann, Georg Dummler and cousin Johann Gotthelf Greiner (1728-1768) began making hard paste porcelain in their converted former glass factory.

Limbach production of bisque doll heads was from 1893, then production stopped in 1899 with small jointed dolls being made and resumed in 1919. Limbach continued to produce all bisque dolls, character figures Max and Moritz, Penny dolls, anthropomorphic all bisque animal figurines with heads of all kinds a cat, dog, pig, rabbit, etc., bathing dolls, bisque doll heads on jointed composition, kid or wood and spring bodies, China head dolls on nanking cloth bodies, knick-knacks plus more. Limbach production ceased in 1937.

Limbach Doll Identified

1911 Limbach doll mold 8552 Irish Queen Parian shoulder head doll

1911 Limbach doll mold 8552 Irish Queen untinted bisque Parian shoulder head doll, molded black hair and blouse trimmed in light blue, doll mark clover symbol 8552 or 8553.

ca. 1919 Limbach bisque socket head doll 19" face

ca. 1911 Limbach bisque socket head doll 19″ face, composition jointed body, doll mark shamrock, three leaf clover symbol 11.

ca. 1919 Limbach Wally bisque socket head doll face 24"

ca. 1919 Limbach Wally bisque socket head doll 24″, jointed composition body, doll mark Wally crown, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach

1920s Limbach Googly eye doll 8" face with dimples

1920s Limbach SK Googly eyes doll 8″ bisque head face with dimples, closed watermelon mouth, doll mark SK crown symbol, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach

1920s Limbach doll mold 5001 and Ruth ll bisque dolls with painted socks and shoes

1920s Limbach doll mold 5001 jointed 5″ and Ruth 5″, all bisque dolls with painted socks and blue shoes, doll mark 5001, Germany Ruth clover symbol.

Limbach doll mold 166, doll mold P47 all bisque googly dolls

1920s Limbach doll mold 166 , 1/2″ with jointed limbs and mold P47 all bisque googly eye dolls with molded painted blue socks and light brown shoes.

1920s Limbach all bisque Boston terrier and Bulldog dolls

1920s Limbach all bisque Boston terrier and Bulldog dolls marked Germany.

1920s Limbach all bisque Mickey mouse and Rabbit dolls

1920s Limbach all bisque Mickey mouse and Rabbit dolls marked Germany.

1920s Limbach doll mold 8035 all bisque Max and Moritz dolls

1920s Limbach doll mold 8035 all bisque Max and Moritz dolls marked 8035 Germany.

Limbach Doll Marks Identified

Limbach doll mark two crossed bars
Limbach doll mark two crossed bars
Limbach doll mark LB
Limbach doll mark LB
Limbach doll mark crown symbol Limbach
Limbach doll mark crown symbol Limbach
Limbach doll mark 3 leaf clover shamrock 11
Limbach doll mark 3 leaf clover shamrock 11
Limbach doll mark P39 II
Limbach doll mark P39 II
Limbach doll mark Germany Ruth 3 leaf clover shamrock
Limbach doll mark Germany Ruth 3 leaf clover shamrock
Limbach doll mark Pearlie label P607
Limbach doll mark Pearlie label P607
Limbach doll mark P607 Germany
Limbach doll mark P607 Germany
Limbach doll mark Our Mary label P607 Germany
Limbach doll mark Our Mary label P607
Limbach doll mark SK crown, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach
Limbach doll mark SK crown, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach
Limbach doll mark Rita, Wally crown, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach
Limbach doll mark Rita, Wally crown, 1772 three leaf clover Limbach
Limbach doll mark clover, shamrock symbol 8552
Limbach doll mark clover, shamrock symbol 8552 Irish Queen

Limbach Doll Mold Numbers Identified

112 (multi two-faces), 331, 338, 511, 547, 566, 607, 682, 747, 750, 771, 785, 801, 880, 958, 1772, 2780, 4297, 4473, 4507, 4527, 4771, 4886, 5001, 5002, 5053, 5331, 5271, 5274, 5548, 5568, 5701, 5774, 5801, 6248, 6335, 8035, 8552, 7309, 7886, 8007, 8008, 8093, 8095, 8098, 8099, 8552 Irish Queen, 8553, 8660, 8661, 8675, 8679, 8682, 8822,  8833, 8857, 8867, 8887, 9027, 9109, 9282, 9307, 9771, 9772, 9775, 10000, 10698, 10703, 11161, 11456, 80986, 90921, P2, P11, P15, P19, P23, P27, P38 googly eyes, P39 II, P45, P49, P59, P85, P112 (multi two face doll), P607, P610, SK doll with googly eyes.

Limbach Doll Names

Norma, Our Mary, Pearlie, Rita, Rose, Ruth, SK (googly), Wally dolls and Limbach doll trade names, a Parian Irish Queen shoulder head doll, Max and Moritz all bisque dolls

Porcelain Factories Associated with Gotthelf Greiner and Family

Porzellanfabrik Sitzendorf Volkstedt, Limbach, Porzellanfabrik Grossbreitenbach, IImenau Porzellanfabrik, Closter (Kloster) Veilsdorf Porzellanfabrik, Porzellanfabrik Wallendorf, Porzellanfabrik Gera, Porzellanfabrik Rauenstein, Porzellanfabrik Schlaggenwald, Porzellanfabrik Tettau.

Shop for dolls
Shop for antique Limbach dolls

German Doll Encyclopedia 1800-1939 book, pages 189-190 in 1984, German Doll Marks and Identification book in 2001 both by Jurgen and Marianne Cieslik, The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Dolls books, vol. I pages 390-391 in 1968, vol. II pages 720-722 in 1986 book by Dorothy S., Elizabeth A. and Evelyn J. Coleman.