Posted 10 years ago
Nanasdoll
(1 item)
I have a bisque head doll, with weighted eyes that used to open and close ( they were attached to a weighted wire, came loos, fell into the head and the delicate glass eyes balls broke in the back, so I ad them glued in to prevent damage to the actual eye ares as they appeared to be hand blown, or very thin glass); kid leather body, sawdust filled, has jointed knees, porcelain forearms/bisque hands, jointed at elbows, legs both jointed or attached with metal button-like pieces at hips, open mouth with teeth. Marking on head is an H with a 2/0 across the cross bar of the "H" with the 2 on the top left of the crossbar, and the 0 on the bottom right under the crossbar of the H. My grandmother has the doll in 1905, and it was a "used" doll when she received it. I have never been able to find this mark. Other markings are the numbers 139 and 27 w/a superscripted, underlined 5 after Doll is about 21.5" long. I've been trying to find this mark for 20 years. Best guess from the 139...is Heinrich Handwerck, but...no other marks seem to jive with that. Any ideas greatly appreciated.
She is mold 139 by German doll maker Heinrich Handwerck they did also buy heads made by Simon and Halbig and those models usually ended in mold number 9 like yours . Dates from 1876-1902 . She is on a kid leather jointed body . Her wig is not original to her she would have had Mohair or Human hair .
The other numbers refer to size of her head . These dolls with open and close eyes should be stored face down to prevent strain on plaster holding eyes in place . When stored many years on their backs the plaster holding the rocker arm on eyes pulled off and eyes fell into head . This can be repaired by a doll hospital . Not sure what you glued and to where in head you used glue to hold eyes but glue is not good to use. Very nice heirloom you received . Thanks for sharing her on CW and welcome to the group !
Oh and they did mark the heads with several different marks just so you know I am adding a photo of a head so you can see the mark they used like yours.
The writing on front of body seems to be a owners name a parent put there . Most of the dolls they did were on a hard composition body jointed that they stamped the name Handwerck on ,your kid body was not marked they would have bought it from another company . Dolls at the time often had parts from different companies . Anyway her is one for you to see
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heinrich-Handwerck-shoulder-plate-head-only-5-3-4-mark-H3-0-1-2-139-0ver-27-/111279125218?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e8c0b2e2&nma=true&si=KFFyuMux9dFqhU34b4dzz8rIVuc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Thanks so much. I just love having internet! You're correct on the wig. In 1962, my grandmother took her to a "doll hospital" in San Antonio, Texas and had her cleaned up. She had a mohair wig, which was removed and discarded, along with the original clothing she'd had on the doll since she had received it in 1905. She replaced it with a 100% human hair wig at that time! and that's the wig you saw there. The original clothes were also discarded. (I know, UGHHHH!!!). And, I believe they probably stitched up some small tears near the joints and added a bit more sawdust to her. I'm not sure to what extent they did any repair or touch ups on her but that's what I do know. She had the doll redressed, in period clothes they made for her and when she came to Florida in 1963, she gave me the doll. I can't even remember if I still have those. Since they were new in 1962 I may have tossed those since they weren't original...or they may still be in the drawer where I store her. Anyway, My mom never cared for or saw any value in anything antique, or fussy, so she let me actually play with the doll in the 60s. I wasn't rough, but I was six. The fingertips of her hands broke off and I still have them somewhere. As to the eyes, a doll shop glued the eyes in and I have no idea what they used. I do know I didn't receive the rocker weighted wire/bar back. My main concern was that no further damage be done to those glass eyeballs, and a piece of glass was already chipped out very close to the area where, if not stabilized, and it had broken more, the dolls eyes would have been totally ruined. (You'd have seen a hole in her eye when you looked at it. And yes, that's my grandmother's writing. She named the doll Romaine, and added her maiden name, so I guess that's her name. My grandmother lent her to a museum in Texas for a short time in the 1960s and they wanted to buy her, but she refused so she could give it to me. This doll is one of a few things in my life, that I wish I'd had a bit more supervision on in ensuring she was well cared for...but I suppose you live and learn. I'd give anything to have her original wig and clothes...and I'm not positive that my grandmother didn't bring those with the doll...in fact I think she might've bc I remember seeing the wig for sure. If she did, my mom, who's motto is "when it doubt throw it out" likely was the culprit who threw that away. Sigh. That, and for sure an entire silver service I inherited from an aunt when I was 17. (A leg on the tray needed re sautering, and my mom"wasn't going to polish silver!!!!" So into the trash pile the whole thing went.). I often think I'd have loved to have been the garbage collector for our house growing up. Hahaha. Thanks again for the information.
Nice if you keep the history with her so she has the documentation of her history in family
Do her eyes open and close now ? Or did they set them to not move ?
I would buy a old wig and age appropriate clothes for her not reproductions . I always want them to be as original as possible and at least have old wig and clothes
That was a great story and I also had a Mother who tossed everything out :-(
Her broken fingers do not decrease her value much and if you have them I would glue to hand so they don't get lost . Glad I could give you the makers name she is quite lovely .
Regrettably, the eyes had to be set not to move due to the damage on the back of the eyeballs. They were quite thin and fragile. Maybe one day I'll purchase a new wig and old clothing. For now, back into the dresser drawer she goes. Maybe my granddaughter will be able to get some money for her one day. ;-).
Store her face down on a soft cloth or towel wrapped around head to protect it :-)