Posted 12 years ago
Lanellpusa
(1 item)
My parents purchased these dolls over fifty years ago in England. The details is exquisite: real hair, hairnet and multiple lace trimmed petticoats on the gypsy, hand-sewn 'jewels' on the matadors jacket etc. etc etc. We we re not allowed to play with them -- they were only to look at. Can anyone tell me about them: where were they made? For what purpose. What is the value?
They appear to be Klumpe and Roldan Dolls
Klumpe and Roldan dolls are dolls that were basically created for the tourist trade in Barcelona, Spain. Unlike many tourist dolls, however, these have a distinctive design. The dolls are made of molded felt and portray many characters, some of which were imported to other countries for collectors. In recent years, these interesting cloth dolls have attracted a growing number of fans. Without a paper label, it is sometimes hard to know if your doll is a Klumpe, a Roldan or another of 13 similar Barcelona companies that produced them.
Materials, Sizes and Characteristics of Kllumpe and Roldan Dolls:
Most of the Klumpe and Roldan dolls are fairly small, between eight and twelve inches tall for the most part. The dolls are made of molded felt, with painted features and floss or mohair wigs. The fabrics used for the dolls costumes are fairly nice and the little accessories that accompany some of the more intricate figures are detailed.
Dates of Production of Klumpe and Roldan Dolls:
The vast majority of Klumpe and Roldan dolls appear to have been from the the 1950s (starting in 1952) through the mid 1960s, but dolls were made through the early 1970s. The later dolls are not generally of the same quality as the earlier dolls.
Companies That Produced Klumpe and Roldan Dolls:
Klumpe and Roldan companies produced these dolls in Barcelona, Spain. We know this because of the paper tags found on the dolls. Unfortunately, we don't know much else about these dolls. There Several companies immported these dolls including Effanbee Doll Company and Kimport for the American market.
Marks on Klumpe and Roldan Dolls:
The dolls are unmarked. If you are very lucky, you can find the dolls with their original tag or tags. The dolls tended to have two tags sewn on. For Klumpe dolls, there can be a gold tag "Klumpe / Patentado / Barcelona" on the front of the doll, then a plain paper label on the back that states "Klumpe - Made in Spain" with handwritten stock numbers. The Roldan Dolls have a blue paper label on the front that says "Roldan / Barcelona / Espana" and a "Made in Spain" paper label on back.
Differences Between Klumpe and Roldan Dolls:
Generally, the Klumpe character dolls tend to be a little taller (11 inches vs. 9 inches) than the Roldan dolls, and they tend to have bigger heads. Klumpe eyebrows are also more severely in a "V" shape. I personally prefer the Roldan dolls which often are posed dynamically, and I also think they have more detailed accessories, but many people prefer the Klumpe dolls. Most collectors who collect one of the types of dolls will also collect the other and often also the similar dolls of the other Barcelona companies.
Secondary Market for Klumpe and Roldan Dolls:
The market has been improving for these dolls in the last two years. The dolls are actually pretty hard to come by - on eBay at any given time, you might only find ten or fifteen dolls, and fewer of collector quality. By far the most common Klumpe or Roldan dolls are the Spanish culture themed dolls intended for the tourist trade, including the matador dolls and the flamenco dancers. These dolls can be found for under $100 mint and for under $50 if in lesser condition. The character dolls, especially those that are harder to find, athletic figures and those with elaborate accessories can be over $200 if in excellent or mint condition. It is always desirable to have the original labels on the dolls, although they have often fallen off.
Other companies have made similar dolls, so if your doll doesn't have a tag it can be hard to say for sure if it was made by Klumpe, Roldan or another company including Layna, Nistis and others.
example just a random pick of one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Klumpe-Doll-Spain-cloth-over-wire-Lady-Bread-Basket-Stripe-Dress-Straw-Hat-/300758668178?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46069d1392