Rauenstein Porzellanfabrik Dolls 1783-1930 German
The Rauenstein Porcelain factory was founded by Friedrich Christian Greiner of the Greiner family of Lauscha, in Rauenstein, Thüringia, Germany in 1783, for making pottery and other household items. The earliest dolls made were nanking (cotton) China head dolls which maybe marked with the Rauenstein R, (the R marking is also used by other doll makers) or the doll mold 114.
After several changes of ownership in 1892 the factory of Hugo Michaelis was acquired by purchase, rebuilt after a fire and became Works II. Bisque doll heads, figurines and nick-knack making began, the two factories by this time employed 260 workers. In 1918 a third factory that of Amandus Michaelis was purchased Works III and now they employed 500 workers.
Most of the Porzellanfabrik Rauenstein antique bisque head white or black dolls we have found are small cabinet size dolls, but also dolls as large as 16″ tall, with glass eyes, open mouth with teeth, wigged and on a jointed composition body, some torsos are of course papier-mache with composition arms and legs.
Rauenstein Dolls Identified
1910 Rauenstein bisque socket head white doll 16″, glass eyes, open mouth with teeth on a composition jointed body, a Dollar doll with stick legs, doll mark Made in Germany two crossed flags D – 4 – 1/2.
1910 Rauenstein bisque socket head black doll 8 1/2″ face, glass eyes, open mouth with teeth, course body shown on right, doll mark Made in Germany two crossed flags, No. 9 – 0 G.
1910 Rauenstein bisque socket head black doll 8 1/2″ with a course paper mache torsos and jointed composition arms and legs, black doll mark Made in Germany two crossed flags, No. 9 – 0 G.
Rauenstein Doll Marks Identified
Rauenstein registered in 1892 the named dolls of Alice doll mold 191, a shoulder head doll with a jointed kid leather body and marked Made in Germany Dora doll. In 1895 Rauenstein registered their doll trade mark of two crossed flags, which usually includes the letters of A, C, D, G, N, No, P or R.
Rauenstein Doll Mold Numbers Identified
90, 114, 184, 191, 5430, 5431
Amandus Michaelis Doll and Toy Factory 1870-1918, 1922-1930s German
Amandus Michaelis was the company founder in 1870, when he passed away in 1885, Albrecht and Hugo Michaelis became the owners.