Bonnet Dolls

BONNET DOLLS
Bonnet Dolls are somewhat older than most dolls we study, but are a 
very interesting category. They are a class of dolls that were made 
with the hat molded on the doll head. There were made of china, wax, 
parian, celluloid, wood, composition, paper mache and straw. They 
usually have painted eyes. 
Many years ago no lady would appear outside her home without a scarf 
or a bonnet covering her head. And these dolls depict that bygone 
era. Dolls have always represented the fashions of the era they were 
made. Many half or pincushion dolls also fit in this category of 
dolls as they often have a head covering. The bonnet styles can be 
very stylishly beautiful or very whimsical. There is one that I 
love. The doll has a butterfly for her hat. 




The  hats can be a very large style to a small hat or scarf. 
The dolls and half dolls were made in a variety of sizes usually 
sixteen inches tall or less. The half dolls were usually used on 
pincushions or as handles for mirrors and dresser sets. The larger 
heads and arms were 
sometimes sold without a body and were to be placed on a cloth body 
and dressed by the owner's Mother. Therefore the clothing styles are 
as varied as the many people that dressed them are. Many examples of 
these dolls can still be found in original clothing at reasonable 
prices, although prices vary by area.




These dolls when new were inexpensive compared to the tinted bisque dolls.
Note the white skin color of these dolls.  These dolls today are sought after
by collectors and some are reasonably priced.

I have in my doll eollection some bonnet dolls.  Here is a picture of my 
largest doll and a favorite.  She is dressed in a dress that was made from a
ladies hankerchief. 

China Dolls With Molded Hair

China (glazed)head dolls of the mid 1800's.

Porcelain became popular at the beginning of the 19th century. Its a name used generically to refer to both china and bisque dolls. China is glazed, whereas bisque is unglazed. Dolls are named after the variety of hairstyles they wore--be it a "Covered Wagon" style (hair flat on top with sausage curls around the head, 1840s).



"Alice in Wonderland" (molded head band, 1850s)







or the "Dolly Madison" (curls all over)

--whatever was fashionable at a certain time.China heads were replaced by heads made of bisque in the 1860s.

Germany, France and Denmark started creating china heads dolls in the 1840's they are often identified by their hairstyles.

The most beautiful china head dolls unquestionable belong to those with molded hair,
historically produced during the late period of 1830’s until the early part of the 20th century. Among these, the lady- like china stand out as art objects rather than toy dolls.
The highest number of production made in Germany from 1850’s through 1890’s, centered around the cities of Sonnenberg and Nuremberg.

The Hair Dress is a good indication of the period the dolls were manufactured, as they imitated the styles that were fashionable at the time they were made…For example a doll with a chignon, or waterfall hair dress, could be dated as 1860-1870. Bangs would indicate a much later period, early 1890, when this style was worn.

Many china heads, especially those with unusual hair styles, are called "portrait dolls" and are named for those they are supposed to resemble-Queen Victoria, Mary Todd Lincoln, Dolly Madison, Countess Dagmar, Jenny Lind, Adelina Patti, and Alice in Wonderland. It is unlikely that these ever were actual portraits. Doubtless some fancied resemblance has caused collectors to so name them….Unfortunately, most china dolls are unmarked that makes it difficult to distinguish which company designed which doll. Sporadically, dolls are marked within its shoulder plates, putting the company name that manufactured the item. Some companies also put a number on the reverse part of the shoulder plate of the china doll.China heads made after 1898, will of, course be marked GERMANY, Occasionally they will be marked with letters or numbers, but there seems to be no way of finding out what these markings mean.Harper's Bazaar referred to china dolls as "old fashioned" in 1873, though they continued being made well into the early 20th century. China doll heads were produced in large quantities, in different parts of Europe, counting in the millions.sitting or standing alone in antique shops and even in flea markets, waiting to be loved and valued again. We need to appreciate these old dolls with particular affection, even if for the thought alone that they have survived well over a hundred years.