Posted 11 years ago
Oldpug
(2 items)
This doll was given to me when I was 8 or 9 back in the late 40's. It belonged to a woman in her late 70's. The doll is made from a felt material and has felt dress and shoes. She has a one piece underwear and socks. I have been told she is a Lenci doll but she has no markings anywhere on her body. I was told there should be an "L" on the bottom of her foot???? height 12"
Hi glad you added more photo's . She has all the right markings for a Lenci . The zigzag stitch down back of neck , the double layer applied ears , the onsie ( white undergarment ) is correct . The dress seem to short so not sure if it shrunk from something or a piece of clothing missing . Are 2 center fingers stitched together ? I need to see hand better . Is there a metal snap on onsie .
The onsie does not have a metal snap. I sent another picture I have that shows the hands a little better. If it is not close enough, I can take another picture. The dress becomes a little longer if I pull on it but I don't want to chance tearing it. I thank you for your comment.
Her hands date her pre 1926 . Do her toes have stitching or just plain no sewing to look like toes ?
See picture.... the toes do have stitching.... Can you tell me when the first Lenci dolls were made?
Her feet are stitched so with all the area's covered she is a 1920's Lenci Doll ! :-)
her clothes will detract a bit from value from fading but she is wonderful
Here is one similar to yours
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EARLY-ANTIQUE-18-LENCI-FELT-DOLL-SIDE-GLANCE-EYES-/161089606504
Lenci dolls were made starting in 1909 into 2002
The Lenci company was begun by a young woman called Elena Konig Scavini in 1919. Born in 1886, Scavini ran away from home at 14 with her sister to join the circus. She married in her late 20’s and lost her first baby. When she was grieving, she decided to start making dolls and incorporated the Lenci company. According to what we know
The company made felt dolls with manufactured and processed felt faces or oil-painted faces. It also made porcelain dolls. The dolls were very expensive. The tall, beautifully crafted dolls started to attract a lot of attention in the nineteen-twenties.
She became known as Madame Lenci and
later contracted to 'Lenci', from which the acronym, and Lenci company motto: "Ludus Est Nobis Constanter Industria" was formed.
I am so excited to see another doll similar to mine. I see that this one has writing on the foot. Mine never did... is there any signifigance to that. Does that make it more or less value. I want to thank you for your interest and giving me information on my doll.
Some dolls did not have feet marked or it wore off . They may have just had a hang tag on wrist or a silver button clipped to onsie with name lenci . There were many look a like Lenci's and when not marked all the questions I asked you had to add up to being a True Lenci and your's is .
Glad I could help she is a treasure . Keep her out of sunlight and away from moths and she should live on to next generation . Very Collectible doll ,she made many faces and series of dolls . So one I showed you is not exact same but I did a quick look for you just now and she was closest and if you like you might go to ebay and do a Lenci doll search you may see exact one :-)
You can marked solved :-)
Great info