The Greatest American Dolls

American doll makers granted us with rich history of beautiful and diverse dolls. Here is a rough overview of them.

American Wooden Dolls

SPRINGFIELD WOODENS

The rock maple dolls of Springfield, Vermont, were produced from 1873 to 1893 by a number of men who made almost continuous modifications, mostly to accommodate production. Joel A. H. Ellis was the first of them. Like so many 19th century American production dolls, they retain the look of the German china and papier-mâché dolls of the period.

A primitive woman, probably early 20th century whose glistening unpainted body bears remarkable likeness to the 1880s Springfield wooden, 10 and 12 inches tall. The Springfield doll reflects a combination of several patents taken out by the collaborative group of men in Vermont: the Martin hip, the improved ball and socket knee of Sanders and Johnson's added neck piece.

This 1882 Springfield doll of multi-heritage is paired with an 1873 patent Joel Ellis wooden in the larger 15 inch size. Both are seated in the carriage which is stamped ELLIS under the seat. Before making dolls, Joel Ellis manufactured toy carts and carriages; it is satisfying to see one carrying one of his dolls.

SCHOENHUT

One of the most vital American dollmakers was Albert Schoenhut, who followed in the traditions of the German wooden toy industry. He emigrated to the United States in 1867 at the age of 17 and five years later opened his own factory in Philadelphia, making pianos and other toys. By the turn of the century he introduced his first circus, which was produced until 1935. These human and animal figures honed his wood turning and modeling techniques, which enabled his doll business, initiated in 1910, to reach a phenomenal level of success. Beautifully molded and articulated, his All-Wood Perfection Art Dolls were eminently playable, not readily breakable, and washable, so they met several of the modern ideals. After Albert's death in 1912, his six sons, headed by the eldest, Albert F., carried on the Schoenhut Company. While the dolls, made until 1930s, are found with a variety of eye treatments, carved hairstyles or separate wigs, they all gently depict real children with lifelike expressions.

The Schoenhut carved hair dolls are often deeply sculpted and full of character, especially those of the early years. The hair styles are numerous, some quite elaborate and other simple realizations of children. Seen here are a 14-1/2 inches tall bonnet-headed girl from 1912 with wonderfully carved wisps of hair peeking out from under her cap, a 1911 girl at 15-1/2 inches tall, designed by M. Graziano in the initial production year, and the classic boy with short, light brown hair, from about 1915. He stands 16 inches tall. All wear the union suits which were part of every Schoenhut's basic wardrobe. From The Strong Museum collections.

These three babies illustrate offerings from the Shoenhut firm. Left, the wood-bodied, ca 1915, "Nature Limb" baby body with bent limbs and fat rolls was offered through most of the production years, as infant dolls gained in popularity throughout the teens and early twenties. Center, a replica of the phenomenally received Bye-lo baby 15 inches designed by Grace Storey Putnam and destributed by Geo. Borgfeldt & Co., was produced in very limited numbers under Harry Shoenhut in 1925. They have been found on several body types probably produced outside the company, such as this stuffed cloth frog-leg body with celluloid hands. An explanation suggested by Ruth and Robert Zimmerman in Doll Reader, June/July 1985 is that Schoenhut, who maintained a business relationship with Borgfeldt, began a venture that did not procced, for this doll appears in the Schoenhut catalogs. The 16 inches doll on the right, from around 1924, is one of Schoenhut's "Stuffed Dolls with Mamma Voices". Her hollow wood head swivels on a wood shoulderplate, she is relatively lightweight and comfortable to hold, and she follows the rage of the mid to late 1920s. From The Strong Museum collections.

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DOLL KINGDOM

The Greatest American Dolls

American Wooden Dolls

SPRINGFIELD WOODENS

SCHOENHUT