China Dolls

China dolls are quite possibly the most established of all the dolls. They are immediately recognized with their beautiful porcelain faces and fancy costumes from an era that has long since passed. China dolls have been a passion of doll collectors since their introduction in the early 1800s. China dolls were popularly produced from the early 1800's through the early 1900's.

When dolls were first created, they were made out of hardy materials such as wood.

The concept of a china doll was beyond the abilities of the doll makers. As doll making evolved, people wanted dolls that were more life like. Doll makers experimented with several different materials and ultimately began using porcelain. Porcelain is a clay mixture that can withstand extremely high temperatures. The word is used to describe both china dolls as well as bisque dolls, since they are both made of porcelain. The only difference between china doll heads and bisque heads is that bisque is glazed and china is unglazed. Most classic china dolls have the porcelain heads and hands, but the rest of the body would be made out of cloth. These china dolls were the toys of children, so they had to be somewhat durable, which is why they weren't entirely made of porcelain.

Of all of the doll makers in Europe, France and Germany perfected the look of the china doll in the 19th century. These china dolls are rare and expensive due to the age and fragility of the porcelain. France produced the classic antique china doll, with unglazed porcelain faces, glass eyes and wigs. They also produced the first bebe or baby porcelain dolls, which were the first china dolls that did not resemble adults. However, Germany's porcelain dolls quickly overtook the French porcelain dolls because they were far more affordable. In the early 1900's, china doll production went to the United States and then towards the end of the 1900's to China. Nearly all porcelain dolls created today are made in China.

China dolls are beautiful, classical and wonderful to have. Their porcelain faces and hands are eerily similar to our own, and their expressions are exquisite. For any doll collector, owning a china doll, especially one with antique porcelain, is extremely exciting. For any doll lover the china doll is a mainstay and memorable type of doll to own.

 

Antique Dolls. Denise Van Patten. County Lines Magazine, March 1999. http://www.dollymaker.com/antique.htm. October 2o, 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica.- A history of dolls Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2006. <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9362925&g t;. October 29, 200