German Biedermeire Dolls

What IS it about these German Biedermeire doll heads that catches my eye so? Who knows, but they do. So much so, that when I saw that Kristin Hubick of Retro Cafe Art was selling a downloadable collage sheet of these doll heads, I bought one immediately! I knew it would be on its way in a matter of minutes, because Kristin is quick like that.

This is a Biedermeire German Doll Head Collage I created on Faux Rusted Canvas Board. I used a gold German scrap crown, transparencies, copied German book and dictionary papers, rubberstamps, wire for hanging, Catherine Moore's Character Constructions doll stamps for creating the arms, Distress Inks by Ranger, and lots and lots of Diamond Glaze!

Biedermeire doll heads I collaged onto paper copied from a - get THIS - 1851 German book that Mary Ann gifted to me!! Was this just perfect for my little projects or WHAT?!
and the German dictionary pages I've copied and used on my tags? Yes, Mary Ann gifted those to me as WELL!
And if you are drawn to these as much as I have been, the collaged art piece as well as the tags shown, will be listed in my Etsy Shop by the weekend. I will be listing more that I am currently working on, as well.

If you would like to receive notice on their arrival at the shop, send me your e-mail address and I will be sure to let you know!

Here's a little history on the Biedermeier doll:

About the earliest type of china head is the "Biedermeier" which was intended to have a wig of soft child-hair or mohair. It is smooth without a molded headdress, and has a black tonsurelike spot about the size of a half dollar at the top, to which the wig was fastened.

This doll, which dates to the Biedermeier period. 1820 to 1830, is first pictured in Max von Boehn's Dolls and Puppets. Most German china dolls have black hair and blue eyes, though some have blonde hair, and a few of the black-haired dolls have brown eyes. The brown-eyed china doll is rather rare and much sought after by collectors.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never knew the name of these and just referred to them as porcelain doll heads...Thanks for the education and I may need to order a dl of those...$weden has not figured out a way to tax me on downloads, lol! PS..Listening to Loves in Need by stevie wonder brought back a rush of memories from Spelman and Morehouse days! Gina

Chriss Rollins said...

love your profile and scrolled down to the stamp shop, not many stamps lol

chriss x

and thanx for the intersting facts on yoour president.

Just-Kim said...

I tell you, Sherry - you are a wealth of information. I've never heard of these dolls and have learned so much about them today! Thanks for sharing!!

~*~Patty S said...

Oh I adore how you've used those precious dolly heads. I had bought a collage sheet recently with heads very similar and created some 'dolls' for an upcoming art challenge. Your are inspirational, Love those Cicada wings!