Some of the most beautiful antique dolls were made by Heinrich and Minna Handwerck in Gotha, Germany in 1876. The most distinctive feature of their models is that they have a pair of large almond-shaped eyes. In 1902 the company was taken over by Kammer and Reinhardt after Heinrich’s death. The Kammer and Reinhardt company continued to make the dolls until 1932, when most dolls bear the “oHG” mark.
His “109” mold had a French type appearance and was also made of bisque head and ball joint composition body. The dolls’ heads were designed by Handwerck and manufactured by Simon and Halbig. The handmade dolls were of a high quality and the company is best known for its baby dolls, infant dolls and its bisque Bebe doll-faced heads. However, the company also produced celluloid dolls over the years.
Some of the molds have other numbers on the head indicating their design, which may also have been made by other doll companies and these were the W, 69, 79, 89, 99, 119, 139, 189 molds. Some other molds They have names and letters. symbols such as his Bebe de Recalme, Baby Cut, Bebe Cosmopolite, Bebe Superior, H, HH, HcH H, HHW, HW, La Bonita, Lotti and HANDWERCK LaBelle.
The line may not really have names to identify them like series from other manufacturers. However, these marks on the doll‘s head and also on their bodies can determine the approximate year it was made. However, it should also be noted that even if the body of the doll does not have these markings or the same composition as the head, it does not necessarily mean that the doll is fake. Remember that some doll manufacturers order parts of their dolls from other manufacturers. Therefore, the marks may be different or may not have any marks at all.
There was also a doll named Daisy that was made for Ladies Home Journal in 1911. A total of 26,000 Daisy dolls were made with 5,000 of which were made by JD Kestner. However, Simon and Halbig also created some of the orders marked Heinrich Handwerck Germany 1. This is just one example of how multiple doll makers can make a doll model.
Today, a Heinrich Handwerck doll can fetch as much as $1,000 just like one of his 31-inch dolls on display at an online auction. A doll in good condition can really go as far as some may have been around for a hundred years. Anyone who might consider collecting Heinrich Handwerck dolls should be able to find one at auctions or at doll conventions.
