c.1910–1920 Hertel, Schwab & Co. Mould 152 Character Baby – Germany

A c.1910–1920 German Hertel, Schwab & Co. mould 152 character baby doll with bisque socket head, glass sleep eyes, open mouth, composition bent-limb baby body and an apparently early blonde wig, dressed in a later white christening-style gown.

This German character baby doll was manufactured by Hertel, Schwab & Co. of Stutzhaus, near Ohrdruf in Thuringia, Germany, and dates from approximately 1910–1920. Established in 1910, Hertel, Schwab & Co. became known for finely modelled bisque character dolls, including babies, children and googly-eyed dolls, and also supplied bisque heads to other German doll manufacturers and distributors.

Measuring approximately 380 mm (15 inches) high, the doll is marked 152/6 on the back of the head. Mould 152 is a documented Hertel, Schwab character baby model produced in several sizes during the early twentieth century.

The doll has a finely modelled bisque socket head with large dark glass sleep eyes, painted upper and lower eyelashes, single-stroke brown eyebrows and softly blushed cheeks. Her expressive baby face features a dimpled chin and an open mouth with visible upper teeth and tongue.

The head is mounted on a composition bent-limb baby body, with characteristically rounded limbs, bent knees and moulded fingers and toes. The composition retains much of its original flesh-coloured painted finish but displays considerable age-related wear, particularly to the hands and fingertips where areas of the surface coating have been lost, exposing the composition beneath. Further rubbing, discolouration and surface wear are visible across the limbs and body.

She retains an early blonde wig which may be original, although this has not been conclusively established. The visible stitched wig foundation and aged fibres are consistent with an early wig, and surviving Hertel, Schwab mould 152 dolls are documented with mohair wigs.

The doll is dressed in a long white christening-style gown with lace detailing, matching bonnet and ribbon ties. The clothing complements her character-baby form but is not original.

Hertel, Schwab's mould 152 is a particularly appealing example of the German character doll movement of the early twentieth century, when manufacturers moved away from the idealised expressions of earlier dolls towards more naturalistic portrayals of babies and young children. With her rounded cheeks, dimpled chin and expressive open mouth, this doll demonstrates the realistic character modelling for which Hertel, Schwab became known.

Features

Measurements: 380mm

Condition: Excellent

Markings: 152/6

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.

Hertel, Schwab & Co. was a German porcelain manufacturer established in 1910 at Stutzhaus, near Ohrdruf in Thuringia, a region renowned for its porcelain and doll-making industry. The company became particularly known for finely modelled bisque character babies, children and distinctive googly dolls, capturing the growing early twentieth-century interest in more realistic and expressive children's faces. Hertel, Schwab also supplied bisque heads to other doll manufacturers and international distributors, meaning its dolls are often identified through their mould numbers rather than a prominent company trademark. Today, Hertel, Schwab dolls are valued by collectors for their quality bisque, expressive modelling and their place within the important German character-doll movement of the early 1900s.

Produced by:

Hertel, Schwab & Co.

Product Code:

D0045

Dimenions:

380(h)

x (w)