-40%
Vintage Early 1900s 16" Porcelain Adolf Heller Doll - Thuringia Dress
$ 26.4
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
I am selling what I believe to be a an early 1900s 16" Porcelain Adolf Heller Doll in Thuringia dress.There is raised print on the back of the doll that says "A.H.," which is why I believe the doll to be an Adolf Heller.
The doll's outfit has 11 separate pieces to it. The black outer pinafore is silk, but has frayed badly in the back (see photo). These clothes are not original to the doll. See BACKGROUND section below, for the ownership history of the doll (one of the photos shows a note explaining this history).
The doll is in poor shape, and has the following flaws (this may not be a complete list, although it is everything I could find):
The doll is missing the tips of some of the fingers and toes.
There is a 3/4" piece of porcelain missing from the right leg where the leg connects to the body.
There are fine cracks in the porcelain in the face, legs, and other areas.
The doll needs to be rewired. The appendages are loose.
The doll's right arm stays in an upright position. It can be pulled down, but it won't stay down.
The right eye is missing the eyelashes. This eye does not close when the doll is lying down.
The left seems like it doesn't open all the way, although I'm not sure about this.
The white teeth are loose behind the open mouth and no longer appear in place between the lips.
The pink surface material has chipped off the back in the neck in a 1/2" x 1/4" area, and on the buttocks.
BACKGROUND
I am selling this for a woman in her late 80's, whose mother, Gertrude, owned and played with it, growing up in Germany in the early 1900s. Gertrude moved to America when she was older, leaving the doll in Germany with her sister, Anna. Anna later sent it back to Gertrude, who then handed it down to her daughter, Margaret Lang, in 1939 (see the latter half of the displayed note, written by Margaret Lang's mother in 1970 chronicling the history of the doll; they refer to the doll as Elfriede in the note).
From a smoke- and pet-free home.