Early figures had carved details in the hands, face and feet. In a portrait painter's studio, an appropriately dressed mannequin could "stand in for a sitter" relieving the sitter for many tedious hours while the artist rendered the folds of the costume as well as posture.

Some mannequins have been converted into dolls by dressing them.

Modern mannequins have been used as "artist challenges" - to use the mannequin as a part of a larger work of art or to decorate the mannequin in some artistic way. Very interesting creations have come out of these challenges.

Modern Artist Mannequins
 

photo by Jean D. Lotz

Today artist's mannequins are greatly stylized, with simply shaped parts. The balls in the ball-joints are just glued on, or suspended between parts rather than carved. They are also "swiveling spring jointed" rather than the older more elegant "hinged ball joint".  These small inexpensive jointed figures are readily available from art supply companies in many different sizes.

life-sized wooden family

Child Practicing Ballet

Life sized Artist Mannequins Dad is 6' tall! These large figures look fun. I can envision replacing the head and feet on one of these huge figures, dressing it and then propping it up in the music room so my daughter would always have an attentive audience while she practices piano! These figures are super poseable. Check out the jointing in the hands at each finger knuckle! This same manufacturer sells just the jointed hands which are readily available through art supply houses too. More photos of these mannequins Photos thanks to Mann Gallery

Detailed Artist Mannequins

Artist Mannequin with a Carved Head
Most Artist Mannequins do not have detailed carved heads. These would have been the "high end" type of mannequins or created as a special order. Also the artist owning this mannequin could have easily pulled off the stylized head and replaced it long ago with a carved one thus he/she made a more personable studio companion. Perhaps he/she carved the head himself? It is well carved, but unbalanced and a bit too small for the body. Carving a better looking replacement head for an artist mannequin is a common practice - especially today because the modern ones don't even have noses!

It is very hard to tell how old this doll is. It has the old fashioned type of joints that are very labor intensive. The hands and feet do not have the same detail level as the head, nor do they have the detail of the very oldest versions of mannequins. Another strange feature is the large hands. They are way out of proportion. It is almost like the mannequin maker quickly grabbed a pair of matching hands from a larger model by accident while assembling this doll. The body style is a standard type of stylized mannequin. The stylized chest area clearly makes this a woman. An older mannequin might have had a much more fleshy chest vs the simple cleavage. The head could have been carved in the 20's when short styles were the fashion. The body could be older than the head. Storing it in an attic aged the doll a lot. Heat brought some of the wood sap to the surface resulting in the uneven discolored patches. This poor storage could have also encouraged the growth of mildew.

I also noted that the previous owner had a sense of humor in his placement of nail heads on the chest in two strategic spots. These were not a replacement for missing dowels! There are also a few other "stray" nail heads showing. It is like the person who was repairing the doll (decorating with nails) didn't really understand the jointing of the doll. Especially since glue has been used on the ankle to the point that it can no longer move.

This doll can be dressed in any style of clothing where you will find a hair cut like this one for a woman (or perhaps as Meg in "Little Women" after she cut her hair short).
 

Photograph courtesy of Theriault's Annapolis, MD

Very Detailed, Small Artist Mannequin This 7" fully carved wooden doll has "dowel and pin joint" (or hinged ball and socket) articulation, and was offered for auction by Theriault's 11/82 - current location unknown. It is fully jointed and nicely carved with details down to carved facial features, ears, separated fingers, and crooked toes. It has a natural wood finish throughout, which is very typical of this type of doll. Theriault's value points: Especially small version of this doll has amazing detail of articulation and modeling.

The Schoenhut Mannequin

Schoenhut Manikin Photograph courtesy of Theriault's Annapolis, MD

The Schoenhut Mannequin (often referred to as a "Manikin" in the Schoenhut catalogs)  The Albert Schoenhut Company of Philadelphia, PA USA offered this doll for sale either dressed by the company, or nude to be used as an artist mannequin. It was well suited to being used as an artist mannequin. Schoenhut spring joints were very well designed and strong; allowing the dolls to hold their pose without sagging for long periods. This model was very poseable since in addition to the typical joints, this doll also had a ball jointed waist. The body proportions were also more correct compared to the other Schoenhut child dolls.

Dolls Made Specifically For A Diorama, Scene, or Statement (social or political)

Refugees or Homeless Men by a mystery artist possibly by Hidegard Wegner

Homeless, Destitute and/or Starving People Not all dolls are festive. Several artists have portrayed homeless and destitute people from around the world. Often these dolls act as social and/or political statements. Homeless woman by Hidegard Wegner

Large Indian (31.5") photo thanks to Gayla Lewis

Large Indian Doll possibly created for a Special Display Indian images are exciting and very abundant. Most people are very familiar with some of the many drawings and paintings of American Indian life, and most everyone knows of the "cigar store Indian" carved figures which advertised tobacco merchant store fronts. Most of this artwork was created by white people trying to capture the romantic, rustic lifestyle of the American Indian in some small part. Some displays were very elaborate, and detailed.  This doll is so unusual and so big that it seems to have been made for some special display. At this point I don't know if this was made by a native or a non-native. There are many dolls which represent American Indians but most were NOT created by natives. White doll artists today still love to portray native Americans and Eskimos. I research all wooden dolls but I am particularly interested in those dolls representing native Americans created by native Americans - a self-portrait of their lifestyles and important artifacts from their cultures, superbly crafted representations, and unusual wooden display dolls such as this fine one. Gayla Lewis stated: "This is a hand carved wooden doll of a Navajo man. He is a one of a one of a kind doll that is believed to have been carved some time in the 1930's - 1940's around Winslow, Arizona area. He stands a full 31.5" tall and has real hair. His blanket is made of genuine flax and his moccasins are real doeskin. He is attached to a wooden base as seen in the photos. The man I bought it from told me that the doll belonged to a woman that used to run an old Indian curio shop in Arizona and that is where it came from.  I think it has her name on the bottom of the stand. The woman's name is "Barbaea Bower" and it is on a tag taped to the bottom of the stand.  It is followed by 'Navajo Doll Navajo 1940 Carved Indian'.  " See more about American Indian and Eskimo Dolls in the web page: Lotz Dolls of the Americas: Native Peoples. If you know more about this doll, then please Contact Me

Doll House Dolls

Doll House dolls are figures made to fit a particular style and scale of doll house, room box or kitchen. They are part of the overall display. Many of the early mini dolls were carved out of wood. Some were very realistic and extraordinary works of art and others were simple dolls.

Christmas Displays
Creche Figures and Santa Figures

Dolls Owned and/or Dressed by Very Special People

Queen Victoria's Dolls

QUEEN VICTORIA loved to dress and play with her tiny peg wooden dolls. They are not only fabulously dressed but also the future queen of England and her nanny dressed many. I hope to get permission to show a small sample of these fine dolls. Keep your fingers crossed here.
 

Novelties - Dolls Dressed for a Decorative and Functional Household Use
 

string holder photo thanks to Henrietta Dobson

Coin Purses There was a lovely little Austrian leather coin purse with a small wooden doll head in the 1998 UFDC antique competitive exhibit. The leather formed the body and large skirt for the doll. It zipped at the hem. It was quite attractive. Dresser Dolls (example: pin cushion dolls , powder box cover) Kitchen Dolls (example: Toaster Cover, Tea Cozy and Egg Coddler Dolls) String Holders The cute string holder illustrated here has a wooden plate on the bottom to hold the ball of string in the hollow skirt area. The string comes up through the basket or hat that she is carrying over her arm. All of her parts are simple turned shapes that have been fitted together. Her hair is missing on one side.

Liquor Bottle Toppers and Corks

Decorated Corks

The Denver Museum of Dolls, Toys and Miniatures has an unusual collection of Italian wine corks. These dolls have simple, uncarved wooden heads, but they are very effectively dressed in regional costumes making them really nice souvenirs from Italy.
 

click image to see a close-up of his face Bottle topper sitting on a glass photo tanks to  Johnsie Posey

Bottle Toppers The owner of this old 1/2 doll states, "The head and arms are the most wonderfully carved wood. The body is a bell shaped hollow piece of wood, and doesn't fit hands or fingers (the doll doesn't really seem to be a type of glove puppet). There is also no sign of where anything else was attached."  Actually this carved wooden 1/2 doll is a charming novelty that appears to be a cover for a wine bottle. This guy looks very contented or tipsy. Perhaps he's been at the bottle too often.  His carved hat seems to represent a Dutch cap or a sailor's cap. His vest and coat (with tails) are made from felt that seems to have been laundered and stretched. He is jointed at the neck, elbows and shoulders and strung with elastic. About 1996 Harald Naber also carved a butler 1/2 doll that was designed to be a wine bottle topper. He manufactured a wood/resin edition made from his hand carved oak original. The butler doll definitely had an appropriate attitude for a bottle topper.

Fortune Telling Dolls
 

need a photo

Simple dolls (often peg wooden) are dressed with many slips of folded paper hidden under the outer garments. A guest should choose and unfold one of the papers to read their "fortune" written on the paper. They can also be used to "make a wish" or collect autographs.

Sea Shell Dressed Dolls
 

click for bigger photo Photograph courtesy of Theriault's Annapolis, MD

Decorating with seashells was quite fashionable around 1840. Trinket boxes, dolls and other decorative art objects were embellished with shells of many colors and shapes.  This little doll stands on a base so the doll may be kept in a glass dome. Note the cleaver use of different shell types and colors to provide the correct texture, color and scale for each element of her outfit. This is far more careful craft work than can be seen today in souvenir shell shops at the seaside.

Fashion Dolls, Milliner's Model, Fashion Mannequin (including Regional Dress Dolls)

Dolls, which are made specifically to display clothing, are referred to as mannequins or fashion dolls. These can be made to show off clothing made in miniature or full scale.
 

Display Mannequins
Museums often will use mannequins to display their collection of antique clothing. These mannequins are generally life-sized. While most of these museum mannequins are simple, bland representations of the human form, some are outstanding sculptures.

Milliner's Models
Milliner's Models are similar to French Couturier Dolls in purpose. Milliner's models were used to illustrate a design of a commissioned fashion or were used to illustrate the capabilities of a tailor or seamstress. Some of the dolls were not as grand as the fabulous clothes that they modeled. At one point in the book "Hitty Her First Hundred Years" by Rachel Field, Hitty is used by Miss. Millie Pinch to be a milliner's model. Millie laments that Hitty would have to do since she couldn't afford any better doll.

Voodoo or Not?

Voodoo or Not? photo thanks to private collector

This doll was recently advertised as "Diviners Hand Made Doll (Voodoo)". She was found in the attic of a home in Granbury, TX. The seller's research and conversations with folklorists had led her to believe the doll might be a "diviner's" doll or a "mid-wife's" doll. The seller indicated that "no bad luck had ever came of owning the doll"!  She is carved in a folk art style, but dressed so wonderfully that she is far from primitive! Unfortunately she is not in pristine condition, but she is still a great piece of Americana. The skill of the carver is far short of the skill of the seamstress.  She might have been made by a "free woman of color" working as a seamstress used as a fashion mannequin or milliner's model to show her sewing skills to potential customers. There are many examples in museums like this one, where the finery of the costuming contrasts greatly with the crudely made doll. This is most likely the correct way to view this doll - with no Voodoo magic at all! More about this doll on the Lotz Wooden Folk Dolls Web Page.

Regional and Historical Costume Dolls
Souvenir dolls are often dressed in regional costumes. And many doll artists have enjoyed researching regional costuming details and historical information.

Some bride dolls also reflect historical and regional details for example: Frank and Elizabeth Haines (NIADA) wrote several books about regional and historical bridal customs. The Haines illustrated these books with their accurately dressed "wooden dolls". Although both the Haines and their publisher referred to their dolls as "wooden dolls", the Haines dolls were NOT carved wood dolls - they were actually wood/composition dolls.

American Indian and Eskimo dolls are made by natives and non natives. The best are outstanding because of the level of detail and research into the regional dress and personalities in their portrait dolls - see dolls by Ethyl Washington(native), Dolly Spenser (native), Francis Bringloe (NIADA - non-native), and Mary Ellen Frank (NIADA - non-native). Often the native doll artists will use traditional methods to sew their skins and may carve their dolls in traditional folk styles like carving stylized soapstone heads, or carving mask faces to be mounted on skin heads. See more about American Indian and Eskimo Dolls in the web page: Lotz Dolls of the Americas: Native Peoples.
 

American Pioneer Family by Frances Bringloe NIADA PHOTO

Lt. Henry Timberlake by Virginia Little (ODACA) Locust Lane Dolls advertising photo

Norway by Ella Pfingsten Photos by Art Pfingsten

Swiss Souvenir Doll in regional dress Photo thanks to Regina A. Steele

German Girl early Krahmer Doll Photograph courtesy of Theriault's Annapolis, MD

Krahmer Doll "Kuck in die Welt" Doll ("Have a Look at the World") dressed in a regional costume photo thanks to the the more-than-dolls-shop

click for full length by Sieglinde Haas photos thanks to Gail Enid Zimmer

"Continental Ladies" or "Royal Fashion Dolls" or French Couturier Fashion Dolls
Before fashion catalogs and photography, French fashion houses showcased their best work using dolls. These fashionably dressed dolls were shipped all over the world to their wealthy patrons to advertise the fashions available from their firms.

These dolls vary greatly in styles and materials, but they are all dressed in the finest manner. While most wooden fashion dolls are peg wooden, some of the more spectacular examples of French fashion dolls are converted crèche figures, or wonderful, custom-made, finely sculpted dolls. While they were dressed in France, the dolls themselves may have been imported from the Alps, Germany, Spain and elsewhere.

Royal Fashion Dolls are some of the oldest Fashion Dolls which are those made to illustrate the current fashions appropriate for court dress and society functions. These dolls were shipped to foreign royalty to insure that a visiting dignitary or royal knew exactly what was being worn for any occasion.  These dolls may have been carved in many different regions: Alps, Germany, France, Spain, The Netherlands and etc. Some appear to be portraits of the women who the dolls were made for.

The local royalty or friends of the visiting royalty commissioned these grand dolls and gowns. These are fine dolls meant to exude wealth and privilege. No expense was spared on either the doll or the costuming. These dolls were made to impress as well as educate. These are some of my favorite wood dolls ever made.

Strangely, I have seen one old wooden royal fashion doll belonging to a Russian czarina that was no more than a crude stick figure finely dressed as any of the most wonderful royal fashion dolls - perhaps this doll was a local milliner's model.

A Beautiful Doll - French?

"Beauty" Photograph courtesy of Theriault's Annapolis, MD

From the moment I first saw a photo of this doll in a Theriault's advertisement, I have nicknamed her "BEAUTY". Her beauty just took my breath away. I can see her dressed in the finest fabrics with the best tailoring. I don't know who is her current owner but I sure would love to tell them about my nickname for her.  She has a very naturalistic style with elegant, thin, and somewhat elongated body proportions. Her "pivoting ball hinge" joints give her the ultimate in poseability. The joints are precisely worked so they are tight fitting and clean looking. I can't say enough about her personality or the subtle modeling of her face and chest, so I will just advise you to look at her.

An Elegant Doll - German c. 1815

photo from Sotheby's

This is a stunning c.1815 painted German doll, which is elegant enough to wear the most elaborate early 19th century fashions. At 28-1/4", she would stand tall and command attention. She has finely crafted "pivoting ball hinge" joints, which will allow a good range of movement and poseability.  Note the elongated body proportions, which were popular in the early 19th century, are more obvious when you look at the full-length photograph of this doll. She was part of the fabulous Dina Vierny collection that was recently auctioned by Sotheby's.

A Portrait?

photo by Christie's

This is a fabulous antique c 1770 wood doll was auctioned by Christie's in England. It has a very unusual wig - look at the shape of the hairline. It also has ball and tendon joints, swivel neck, carved breasts and wears an original printed cotton sack back open robe and petticoat. She has a very strong face - perhaps she was a portrait. Her hands are shaped like other early quality continental dolls.