Posted 8 years ago
Msriss86
(5 items)
Help! I just won this doll in an online auction and I have no idea what she is or who she is made by. I found only one other doll online that was exactly like her with the same marking on the foot... and they had no identification for her either (only speculative guesses as to whom she might be made by). There is only an inscription on the bottom of the foot that reads "Made In Italy Brev. No. 7422", no other markings are present. She is a wind-up mechanical clockwork doll, who walks, moves her arms up & down and moves her head side to side.
I have not received her yet in the mail, but the auction description is as follows: "18 inch Antique Composition/Bisque Mechanical Doll. Features an antique doll with a bisque material head with moving glass eyes and a matching bisque-like material arm with composition material legs with a painted paper mache torso. Doll is designed to have a mechanism movement that moves the arms, legs and the eyes. Includes real human hair on the head."
I just want to know a back story on this doll and/or a little more information about it-- at the very least, the maker... Until then, I have no idea where to start researching. If anyone knows who she is, I am dying to know.
**UPDATE: added photo of progress in restoration, thus far**
The Brevn means patent so it is patent number 7422 . Their are many Italian doll companies but I don't see her face as bisque from photo more hard plastic or Celluloid ? Does neck of her head have any markings on neck ? She has googly eyes that move side to side that is common in Italian dolls . Let me know what is on back of her neck ok
Thank you so much for your reply Manikin! Any little bit of information will go a long way in helping with identification... So, thank you for that! Knowing all the tiny details really helps a lot.
Actually, I just won her in an online auction and I am trying to start the research a little early (perhaps prematurely), but from what the auction description says and from what I can see in the photos... there is no marking on the back of the neck or anywhere on the exterior of the body (except for the foot). When it arrives in the mail (probably around the first week of January, is my guess)... I'll have some new information to add to this post (hopefully).
I was just hoping that maybe someone who has a doll exactly like this one (or someone who just happens to know off the top of their head what kind of doll this is) would be on here, recognize it and tell me a bit more about it... Long shot, I know-- but definitely worth a try, regardless. In the meantime, there is no detail too small. All information is helpful. :)
I should say her eyes are called Flirty eyes also . Is she missing a arm ? I will be curious to see her when she arrives and you can look for more markings and tell me if had is really bisque as Italians did not generally make bisque heads but she has the face of a Italy doll there are always distinct features on them like the way they pained lips .
Another doll with the same number:
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/italian-key-wind-1940s-mechanical-249398400
Yes but again maker unknown on link :-( Apparently yours will not be marked either since this one wasn't . There are times in doll collecting we have to just say it is attributed to a company because no documentation to prove who made it . I would date her 1930's appx . Your dolls face is not same as links not same doll . The Patent number goes with the shoes that roll not doll .
Your doll is older than one on link :-)
Thank you Manikin and Efesgirl. It seems to me, that this doll is certainly living up to its "unsolved mystery" status. lol. :'(
I bought this doll with the intention of restoring her back to her original self, including fixing the mechanism and getting her working again. I only found one other doll on the internet that was an identical match, but different coloration (black hair, olive skin-- more Italian looking). The one I found was different from the one that Efesgirl provided a link for, but again... still no identification. If I want to have any chance at replacing that missing arm... I will need to know the maker. However, if I absolutely have to, I can make a new right arm (I actually have a BFA in sculpture, so I could do it).... but that will take some time to do (at least a week's time for just the arm). I would much rather find a "salvage" arm if possible, to save me some time and to keep it as "authentic" as possible.
As far as the materials used by the maker goes... I won't know for sure until she arrives in the mail (fedex says on or before Dec. 22). If her head IS actually bisque, I pray that she survives the shipping process alright. She appears to have either paper maché or plaster limbs with composite that is in some serious need of restoration.
The cool thing about this doll, is that: she appears to have her original clothing (including her slip) and her original wig which appears to be in a "manageable" condition. Though, I do believe she is missing a pink bow (or two) in her hair, but that's the easiest of fixes. Her wig also appears to be real human hair, which should make cleaning it up and restyling way easier to do.
I just had this feeling when I saw her (even though, I was initially really "creeped" out by her) that she was something rare and very special. I may or may not be right about both of those speculations, but I am starting to feel like she must be somewhat of a rarity considering how little information I can find on her. Actually, antique mechanical composite dolls, in general, seem to be quite difficult to find information on (online). All I keep finding information for is the walking wanda doll, which as you said, Manikin: she seems to be older than the 1940s/1950s... So that wouldn't line up with the Walking Wanda doll chronologically. Therefore she couldn't be a competitor to the Wanda Doll, but rather, perhaps a predecessor? I agree that she must be from the 30s (possibly the 20s?) considering the style of clothing that she is wearing and the materials (paper maché or plaster with composite).
Forgot to add: when the doll arrives in the mail, I will be sure to post on here (immediately) what kind of materials she is made out of.
Oh, and here is the link to the doll that seems to be an identical match (but different coloration than mine):
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/toy-18-composition-key-wind-walking-91536597
****UPDATE****
The doll finally arrived today & here's what I observed:
*No maker's mark is present anywhere inside or outside of the doll. I opened her up and took off her chest plate and found nothing (...but dusty gears that need cleaning and re-greasing)... :'(
*Her face is in wonderful condition, as are her eyes (aside from missing some lashes)... I cleaned her face gently and all the dirt came right off, to reveal a beautiful complexion and perfect face (no crazing). Her eyelids are a separate mechanism from the eyes. They are on their own mechanism and completely unattached to the eyeball. Also, her eyes are, indeed-- flirty eyes and I was able to bend her "wonky" eye back into its normal position with no trouble at all.
*As far as the material goes-- the doll's arms, legs and head are made entirely out of a type of grey colored paper mâché with a thin plaster-like, composite-type coating. Her head is built much like a bisque doll... there's an open top with a separately attached dome cap.
*Her mechanism actually works (and it works quite well, I don't know why the auctioneers thought that it didn't). As far as movement goes: she moves her arms up and down, shuffles her legs forward and backward and her head moves side-to-side... a lot like what is seen of the Walking Wanda Dolls from the 1950s. Though, I do believe that this doll is actually from the 1920s (her facial features seem very 20's t0 me, and so does her dress).
*Her dress appears to be original (and it's in rather rough shape). It's 100% pure silk taffeta, and from what I can only guess, originally a sort of dusty rose color and white. It's pocked full of holes from perhaps sunlight exposure or moths. I'll be saving the dress, storing it in an acid-free paper package and placing it in climate controlled storage for saving/preservation. I suppose I will be making an exact replica of the dress, at some point (for looks)-- obviously after the restoration is completed.
*The wig is, indeed, human hair and in terrible condition. I took it off to open up her head and see what was going on with that eye of hers. Currently it's sitting in a ziplock bag and I am trying to determine if it's salvageable or not. It's very greasy, matted and shedding tons of hair. Oh, and the wig was sewn into a pink muslin covering that was attached to the doll's head and covering the cardboard cap. It appeared to look a lot like sew-in hair extensions. There is a top section with the part and two lower rows. Funny story, actually: The doll's hair color is an absolute identical match to my own hair color-- and I mean absolute color match. I may be getting a hair cut soon... lol.
* As for that missing arm... It's looking like I'm going to have to make a replica. Unless, I find out what kind of doll this is and I can search for a salvage part. Seems unlikely, at this point. I won't be giving up on trying to find out what the heck kind of doll this is, but my focus is on her restoration and the arm is truly the least of my concerns (that can be dealt with later).
She is truly a stunning automaton.
Really interested in seeing her when you have finished restoring her..very good luck!....:-)
Thanks Inky! I will definitely post photos of her when she is finished.
However, it's looking like it will take a few months to get her to "museum quality". Have to source all the proper materials and do all my proper research before proceeding.
Best of luck in this endeavor! She already looks amazing compared to her first appearance =) Very sweet face. Would love to see her when the restoration is complete.
Why thank you AnnaB! I am very excited to see the outcome as well. I will certainly be posting some photos of her when she is all finished. :)
Still working on the identification, though... My guess is that she most likely had a paper label at some point and it just wore off, or a hang tag and it was removed/lost. :'(
She is looking so much better :-) nice job
Thank you very much Manikin! Do you think, perchance, that she may be a Furga doll that was produced during their "black years"? I found an article that mentioned Furga dolls being [often] unmarked and using plaster coated cardboard... Well, my doll is paper mâché (cardboard-like) and coated with a thin layer of plaster. I wish I could find a book on early furga dolls, but all that comes up in my google searches are the 1960s Furga dolls. -_-
Your doll's little sister was just uncovered in my 91-year old mom's basement. Original doll box is marked "gioia bimbi" which I'm told translates to "happy baby." Other box info is: IMERA. Soz Impotazion Esportazioni Rappresentanzi ROMA. Esoluzivita.
As to doll's age, there is some fuzziness. IF it belonged to Mom, date would be about 1930 because as a toddler, she would have "walked" with her. IF it had been purchased for one of her older sibling's daughters/Mom's niece, the date would be early 40's, and absolutely no later than 1951, but doll's clothing as you say supports 1930-1940 styles. I have photos but haven't figured how to attach.
Es una muñeca italiana Marazzi, años 30 aproximadamente, más tarde en los años 50 GoiaBimbi, también italiana, hizo con el mismo mecanismo muñecas andadoras, y en España también debieron de comprar la patente y la muñeca se llama Duixa, En Youtube hay una demostración de como anda y del mecanismo, buscar por Marazzi.
You can see the mechanism if you search the Internet for the Giocattolo museum in Naples. There is a lot of data.
Ithink I was confused when I said it was Marazzi, I meant that the gait mechanism us the one registred by Marazzi, this doll is a Gioia Bimbi, the Marazzi are made of felt, tipe Lenci, excuse moi