What are So Called Antique Belton type Dolls?

Belton type Sonneberg bisque head doll mark 21 face

The common characteristic’s of so called Belton type antique dolls are a solid dome bisque head, an uncut pate with one, two or three holes in the top of the head crown.

Belton type dolls are sized 9 to 24″ tall, usually a bisque socket head on a composition jointed body, occasionally a bisque shoulder head on a kid body is found, even turned shoulder heads. Belton type dolls, usually do not have a doll makers initial or symbol in the marking, only a size number or mold number.

So called Belton type dolls are not attributed to any single antique doll maker, dolls are probably German, but usually attributed to the French. It’s also possible, Belton-type dolls were made in both countries. Examples of antique bisque head Belton type dolls made between 1870 to early 1900’s are shown below. Click images to enlarge.

belton-21-sonneberg-doll-2-holes-body — Belton doll mark 21 Sonneberg doll 2 holes composition body

belton-21-sonneberg-doll-2-holes-head — Belton doll mark 21 Sonneberg doll 2 holes flat top head

belton-42-5-1-turned-shoulderhead-doll-18-5-face — Belton doll mark 42 turned shoulder head doll 18 1/2″ face

belton-42-5-1-turned-shoulderhead-doll-18-5-body — Belton doll mark 42 turned shoulder head doll 18 1/2″ kid body

belton-106-doll-shoulderhead-face-11-3 — Belton doll mark 106 doll shoulder head doll face 11 1/2″

belton-106-doll-1-hole-pate-11-head — Belton doll mark 106 doll 1 hole pate head 11 1/2″

belton-106-doll-kid-body-11 — Belton doll mark 106 kid body 11 1/2″

belton-137-bisque-doll-17-face — Belton doll mark 137 bisque head doll face 17″

belton-137-bisque-head-17-body — Belton doll mark 137 bisque head doll composition body 17″

belton-144-doll-head-3-holes-pate-12 — Belton doll mark 144 bisque head with 3 holes pate 12″ tall (face, body not shown)

belton-193-bisque-head-oriental-doll-11-face — Belton doll mark 193 bisque head Oriental doll face 11″

So called Belton type antique doll mold numbers identified

II, 6/0, 2 (Ernst Grossmann), 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 42, 46/3, 50, 51/4, 59 2/0, 76, 100, 117, 120, 121, 122, 129 (2), 131, 137, 152, 154, 166, 180 XIII, 183, 185, 190, 193, 207-7, 238, TR 511, 809, 813, 900 TR, 3094 1/2, 3095, GK, Alt, Beck & Gottschalck mold 630, Bahr & Pröschild doll mold 200 series, the doll mold 129 is a character doll with a closed smiling mouth with or without clown face paint, Kling doll mold 166, Gebrüder Kühnlenz are oriental belton type doll molds 129 or 193.