c.1899–1905 Simon & Halbig Mould S.H 9/ Waltershäuser Puppenfabrik Bisque Doll – Germany

A large c.1899–1905 German Simon & Halbig mould 1009 bisque-head girl doll with blue-grey sleep eyes, four porcelain teeth and a fully jointed wood and composition body bearing the red WP mark attributed to Waltershäuser Puppenfabrik of Waltershausen.

This impressive German bisque-head doll features a Simon & Halbig mould 1009 head and dates to the early twentieth century. Measuring approximately 540 mm high × 340 mm wide × 140 mm deep (22 inches), she has blue-grey glass sleep eyes, finely painted eyelashes and eyebrows, rosy cheeks and an open mouth displaying four upper porcelain teeth. She wears a long curled brown wig, possibly original.

The back of her bisque head bears the impressed Simon & Halbig markings, including the mould number 1009 and size number 9. Her fully articulated wood and composition body features a worn red factory stamp attributed to Waltershäuser Puppenfabrik (WP), suggesting that the Simon & Halbig head was combined with a body supplied or assembled by another German manufacturer.

She is dressed in an elaborate cream lace dress with pale pink satin ribbons and coordinating footwear. Her clothing is period-appropriate, although its originality has not been confirmed. The doll displays age-related wear, including surface discolouration, scuffing and damage to several fingers. Despite these imperfections, she remains an attractive example of early twentieth-century German doll manufacturing.

Features

Measurements: 540 h x 220w x 140d mm

Condition: Very Good - Age appropriate damage and wear

Markings: Simon & Halbig / S & H / 9 / 1009

Date Note: Date is an estimate based on available research and stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us to help update our records.

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Made from the following materials

Country:

Germany

Germany’s toy history includes wooden toys from the Erzgebirge, world-famous Steiff teddy bears, and intricate bisque dolls by companies like Armand Marseille. Modern innovations like Playmobil and Märklin trains ensure Germany’s legacy in the global toy market.

Simon & Halbig was a prominent German porcelain manufacturer established in 1869 by Wilhelm Simon and Carl Halbig in Gräfenhain, Thuringia, Germany. The company became renowned for producing high-quality bisque doll heads, characterised by finely modelled facial features, delicate colouring and expressive glass eyes. Simon & Halbig manufactured a wide range of doll heads, including fashionable lady dolls, child dolls and character dolls, supplying them to numerous German doll manufacturers and assemblers, including Kämmer & Reinhardt. Its dolls were exported internationally and became highly regarded for their craftsmanship and realistic appearance. Production continued into the early twentieth century, with the company becoming part of Kämmer & Reinhardt in 1920. Today, Simon & Halbig dolls remain highly sought after by collectors and are recognised as important examples of Germany's historic doll-making industry.

Produced by:

Simon & Halbig

Product Code:

D0043

Dimenions:

540(h)

x 220(w)