Material: Porcelain
Marks: Lower back ~ 5230, Faint On Rim ~ Germany
Maker: Unknown German
Size: Height ~ apx. 7 inches
Quantity: 1
This fine vintage Flapper girl half doll was manufactured in Germany apx. c.1915-20's.
She has blond hair molded in a perfect 1920’s style, with a sweet expression on her
face, with a rosy blush to her cheeks.
Her elbows are away and hands are on her neck.
She has a period molded, painted bodice and sits on on a wire frame that is wrapped
with old pink ribbon.
Her skirt is a pale pink satin, with three rows of very fine lace trim.
This half-doll is pictured on page 339 of The Collector's Encyclopedia Of Half-Dolls
by Marion & Werner, 1979. Per this source, as well additional similar reference
material, this type of doll was designed to be displayed in milady's boudoir, on
her vanity or dressing table, usually covering some type of powder jar or other cosmetic
container.
This doll is in very nice condition, free of cracks, chips and breaks. Her wire
frame is also very nice and is still well wrapped with the old pink ribbon, which
also attaches her to frame.
Her hand stitched skirt is in good condition also, however it could stand a wash,
as it does show some general light spotting and darkening. See close up. We do not
know if this is her original dress, as she came to us this way many years ago, but
it certainly looks old and of the period. A couple stitches of thread that attach
the top layer of lace around her waist to the satin underneath have loosened slightly
right at the very back, allowing the lace to separate slightly from the satin. Only
noticeable if you lift up on the lace right at her waist, at the back. I had her
for years and never noticed!
Overall a very nice vanity, dresser or display half-doll. The book mentions that
theses Flapper dolls were probably considered quite modern when they were first manufactured
and likely quite daring, also, with their short hair and bare arms.
