China and Parian Dolls. China dolls are made of a special clay which is glazed and fired which results in a glossy, smooth surface. Parian dolls are made of another type of clay which is so called because of the resemblance to fine Parian marble porcelain.
GERMAN PORCELAIN LADY DOLL WITH BROWN HAIR BY KPM. 20″ (51 cm.) Slightly-tinted porcelain shoulderhead of adult lady with very angular face and elongated throat, modeled bosom, brown sculpted hair drawn smoothly around the sides of her face, looped over her ears into a small, flattened chignon at the back of her head, painted blue eyes, red upper eyeliner, single stroke brows, aquiline nose with accent circles, closed mouth with accent line between the upturned lips, muslin stitch-jointed body with porcelain limbs, fine antique costume. Condition: very fine virtually imperceptible restoration on face, hairlines on porcelain legs. Marks: KPM (Berlin mark). Comments: KPM Berlin, circa 1840. Value Points: most pleasing serene expression with rare brown hair on the rarely found model with two KPM markings. Sold for $2,400 at Theriault’s
Rare glass eye Parian-type shoulder head doll
With fixed blue glass eyes, finely painted lashes, brows, and closed mouth, pierced ears with pearl drop earrings and short blonde moulded hair with painted black Alice band, fixed neck to cloth body with bisque lower arms and legs with painted blue heeled boots, wearing original clothes, 41cm (16in) tall, together with Parian with moulded Snood, 24cm (9 1/2in) tall, and another. (3) Sold for £875 at Bonham’s
The majority of china / parian dolls were German and were exported in large numbers from the early 1800’s up until World War I.
A china shoulder-head fortune telling doll for the German Market
with painted black hair and blue eyes, china lower limbs, red wool hooded cape and skirt decorated with coins, sequins and braid, multi-coloured card fortunes under skirt and label on dress ‘Jedermann kann lesen in meines Kleiders Falten. Wie sich sein schlicksal wird gestalten’ –7in. (18cm.) high (one foot missing) Sold for GBP 576 at Christie’s
EXQUISITE ” ONE OF A KIND ” JENNY LIND CHINA HEAD DOLL THIS LITTLE LADY DATES TO THE “1840’S” AND IS VERY HARD TO FIND ORIGINAL CHINA HEAD HAS JET BLACK HAIR PULLED TO THE BACK IN A LOOSE BUN ROSY LIPS WITH A DELICATE EXPRESSION SOME PAINT RUBS TO HAIR AND A NIP ON HER NOSE CHINA HEAD HAS BEEN REPAIRED AS PHOTOS SHOW BODY IS POSSIBLY NOT AS OLD AS CHINA HEAD SHE APPEARS TO HAVE HER FACTORY ORIGINAL DRESS WITH INTICATE ADORNMENTS AND ORIGINAL UNDER CLOTHING DRESS IS UNFORTUNATELY DETERIORATING AS PHOTOS SHOW RARE DOLL Sold For$105 at Elate Estate Sales
Colors of china head dolls
The most common china head dolls are white. Creamy white are finer and the rarest ones are made from a pink china, which is really a delicate flesh colour known as pink lustre.
The white and cream colour dolls often have homemade bodies as well as professionally made bodies of cloth or kid. Some have china arms and legs but some of the very fine ones have kid arms and legs, with the fingers and toes indicated by stitching. The larger ones may have kid hands with fingers which are separate and distinct.
China Doll Shoes
The shoes are an excellent way to help identify the age. Flat soled shoes are more likely to date before 1850 whereas shoes which have a definite heel would be after 1850.
Identifying age of doll from the head
Dolls heads which were made prior to 1860 were not marked and records are often lost. After 1860 it is possible to identify some heads even if they are unmarked by comparing them with later identical doll heads which do have marks. Hair styles are also an indication of age but it should be noted that old molds were often used.
