Let’s start our week with another doll history lesson from Diana!
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There is another German company that creates very nice dolls, but is seldom mentioned nowadays, since most of its dolls today are baby dolls. This company is Zapf Creations they started in Germany, but now their production is in Hong Kong. They were established by Max and Rosa Zapf in Roedental, Germany, in 1932 and survived the war between 1938-1946 even though materials were hard to find. In 1960 they made the first dolls out of plastic instead of celluloid. As with all companies they went through many changes, this link gives the history:
http://www.zapfcreation.com/en/corporate/about-zapf-creation-ag/history/
They also had Doll Artists create special collections and I found this beautiful doll that I could not take my eyes off made by Bettina Feigenspan in 2002 (only 450 were made). She is from the Designer Collection, her name is Helene and she is 20 inches. She stands on her own and is part cloth and part vinyl, and she can pose. Here is the official description of her:
“Helene, 20 inches/52 cm By Bettina Feigenspan, has a real hair wig, crystal glass eyes and real eye-lashes. Her body incorporates a wire frame, making her arms and legs flexible. The integrated breast plate ensures the head has a natural posture. She dons a suede-like skirt with cut out designs and a fashionable sweater. Under this, Helene wears a knee-length body suit with buttons. Helene has a human hair wig, a jasper amulet on a cord, and real leather shoes. This collectible beauty is now available for you to bring home. 20 inch. Red Hair/Brown Eyes. Includes teddy bear.” from The Doll Peddlar.
She will be displayed in my room along with some very special dolls in my collection. I thought your fans would enjoy something different.
Helen upon her arrival holding her Teddy bear
A different angle of Helene
A closer look at her face and accessories.
A special smile for Doll Diaries fans!
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Thanks again Diana for another doll history lesson to start our week!!
she’s so pretty, although I’m not sure if that bulky sweater is really that fasionable, more just warm
She’s very beautiful, she has especially beautiful eyes.
She’s so beautiful and serene!
She looks for PRETTTTTY!!!! she almost kinda looks indian like?:/
@Ag Gabi
I noticed that too…
She is really pretty!
She’s awfully cute.
cutie pie! -tries to pinch cheeks- ow, what is your face made of? XD
Her hair reminds me of Anne of green gables
I thought that too!!!!!!
She is beautiful!
shes lovely!
I love how unique this doll looks!!! Her face is sooooo beautiful. The only thing Im not crazy about is her hair, though. Is it just the lighting or is her hair vibrant orange?
Cute!
Thank you All, the doll’s hair is a human hair wig and it is a natural redhead..;-) the light makes it more orange looking.
Wow, she’s pretty! I’ve never heard of Zapf Creations before. (now I know why)
How charming! Zapf actually used to make 18″ dolls similar to AGs some years ago – the most recent line was called “Girls Only”, and the dolls came with an audio tape that told their story. There were various modern and even two (pseudo-)historical characters.
They are discontinued but some are still available on Amazon.de (not .com, though) and ebay Germany. Zapf also released an 18″ doll of Lilly the Witch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_the_Witch) which shared the head sculpt of one of the Girls Only dolls.
She is so adorable, I love her hair color.
AG gabi- i thought she looked like kaya!
What a beautiful doll . She is a work of art. !!!!!
I love red hair!
I love that doll she is adorable! She does remind me of Anne of green Gables! I love her eyes!
she is soooooo adorable! I saw a Asian doll a toddler sized doll she had real hair and crystal eyes. I saw her at Toys For Keeps. she’s adorable! She was literally the size of a toddler. she’s $900.000!!!!