May 24, 1987
By Helen M. Fagg
Vigo County Historical Society
Close look shows china dolls’ distinctiveness
China-head dolls are made of translucent vitreous porcelain ceramic covered with a glossy coating called a glaze.
Chinaware is a term used as early as the 17th century to describe ceramics imported into England from China. Since then it has come to be used almost synonymously with porcelain to designate most of the finer ornamental and useful ceramic wares, and, to the doll collector, a specific type of doll.
The real charm of china-head dolls is not apparent at first glance. They often are dismissed as being too similar and, therefore, uninteresting. When a detailed study of the many types of heads is made, however, china dolls are one of the most rewarding areas for collectors. They have remained constantly on the market for more than a century and a half. They were consistently available and affordable, and remain comparatively so today.
In viewing doll collections in museums and in the nurseries of historic homes, several types of china-head dolls are in evidence. The old china heads also show the wear and tear of having been loved by their small owners.
The value of a china head doll is judged mainly by its type of hairdo and the quality of the porcelain. Since they were produced by many factories, the range of quality of the porcelain is extensive. The more elaborate heads with chignons, extended buns high on the head, braids, or the ones with ribbons and snoods molded into the ceramic are the most desired by the serious collector. These early rare and unusual examples are elusive and expensive. Dolls with wavy hair or with curls are more plentiful. Many different hairdos were used on the heads and they reflected the hairstyles of the time.
Nearly all of the dolls before 1880 had black hair. Later, blondes became more plentiful and by 1900 one out of three of the common types were blondes. Once in a great while a brown head or a redhead can be found. These are highly prized.
Pressed china heads usually are older than poured ones, but this is not always true. For many years individual doll artists have been making reproductions using the old heads as molds. These sometimes are difficult to detect. Older heads generally show some evidence of wear at point of contact, however, such as at the back of the head or on the nose. Older heads also have a slightly different color and degree of translucency.
Some factories produced china heads with names stamped on a molded yoke. These were referred to as “Pet Name” heads. Some of the names used were Marion, Agnes, Helen, Bertha, Ethel, Dorothy and Grace.
The majority of the china-head dolls were sold in kit form. The bodies are varied and sometimes almost grotesque in appearance. Dolls are found with unusually short or long arms and legs or with one limb longer than its mate. Some creative mothers added padding for a fuller bosom or for a more pronounced derriere.
The 1914 Marshall Field Doll Catalog advertised glazed china heads from $1.50 to $3.70 a dozen and included instructions on how to measure for the appropriate size body and china limbs. In the same catalog, kid bodies were listed and in the mid-19th century china heads were made to fig on peg-wooden bodies.
Harper’s Bazaar of November 1884 states, “China head dolls are most exclusively the product of the factory. A single oven contains 5,000 dolls and 30 ovens are often full at one time.” This gives the reader an idea of how plentiful the china head dolls were.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley has several nice examples of china head dolls in different size. Some are unattached and others are complete dolls. The most unusual one in the collection at the museum is a very large head with blonde curls. The head and the arms and legs are together in a box and appear to never have been made into a doll.
The china head dolls are on display in various places in the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.