Simon & Halbig Porzellanfabrik Dolls German
The Simon & Halbig Porzellanfabrik (Porcelain factory) history; it was founded in 1869 by Wilhelm Simon (d. 1894) and Carl Halbig (1839-1926), they began making doll heads in 1875 at their two porcelain factories in Gräfenhain and Hidburghausen, near Thüringia, Germany. In 1920 S & H was bought by Kämmer & Reinhardt, who continued to produce dolls until 1932, shortly after the factory became known as Keramisches Werk Gräfenhain which ceased around 1943.
Simon & Halbig is known for their fine bisque doll heads and innovation in the doll industry and like most German porcelain manufacturers they did not make doll bodies, these were purchased from others. Simon & Halbig supplied bisque doll heads to many other well known doll manufacturers.
The firms that used a S & H doll heads are American; Arranbee, George Borgfeldt, Thomas Edison dolls, Gimbel, FAO Schwartz, John Wanamaker.
German firms; C.M. Bergmann, Carl Bergner, Catterfelder / Trautmann, Cuno & Otto Dressel, R. Eekhoff, Hamburger & Company, Heinrich Handwerck, Adolf Hülß also spelled Hülss, Kammer & Reinhardt, Louis Lindner & Sohn (doll mark LL & S), Franz Schmidt, Schoenau & Hoffmeister, Strobel & Wilken, Welsch & Company, Hugo Wiegand, Wiesenthal, Schindel & Kallenberg and Adolf Wislizenus. French firms; Fleischmann & Bloedel, Jumeau, some Elie Martin ondine swimming dolls, Roullet et Decamps and SFBJ.
Antique Simon & Halbig Dolls Identified
ca. 1888 Simon & Halbig doll mold 759 black or white doll, bisque socket head, glass sleep eyes, open mouth, cheek & chin dimples, composition jointed body.
ca. 1889 Simon & Halbig doll mold 1009 black or white dolly face, 23″ sleep eyes, open or closed mouth, bisque socket head, jointed composition body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 153 with painted eyes face, 16″ bisque socket head, molded blonde curls, closed mouth, composition jointed body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 164 Oriental doll 15″ bisque socket head, glass sleep eyes, open mouth with teeth, composition jointed body.
ca. 1913 Simon & Halbig doll mold 89 painted or glass sleep eyes, 5 1/2″ open mouth, molded painted hair, bisque socket head, jointed at neck, shoulders, bisque one piece torso & legs body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 120 face, 22″, bisque socket head, sleep eyes, open mouth, jointed composition body, like K & R Mein Liebling dolls face.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 128 face, 11″, bisque socket head, glass sleep eyes, closed mouth, composition jointed body. Mold 128 is also found on bent limb baby body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 128 with painted eyes face, 20″, closed mouth, bisque socket head, composition jointed body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 150 with painted eyes face, 24″, closed mouth, bisque socket head, composition jointed body.
ca. 1912 Simon & Halbig doll mold 151 with painted eyes 15″, open closed mouth with teeth, bisque socket head, composition jointed body.
Simon & Halbig doll marks & mold numbers are here
