Because September 5th was Labor Day, we could not meet at our usual spot and member Sylvia McDonald generously opened her beautiful home to us. She gave a program on the Gotz Doll Company and their artist dolls.
Sylvia began with a short history of artist dolls. She explained that in the early 1900s Marian Kaulitz in Germany began creating dolls that looked like real children. About the same time, also in Germany, Kathe Kruse began producing cloth dolls. She wanted dolls with faces that allowed children to project their own feelings during play. Here a little boy by Kathe Kruse stands next to a German bisque doll with the typical "dolly face."
German makers also created bisque dolls with more realistic faces, like these antique baby dolls.
Sylvia told us that Gotz was established in Germany in 1950. In 1964, Gotz entered into an agreement with Swiss doll artist Sasha Morgenthaler, creating the first reproductions of original artist dolls in the world. However, Morgenthaler was not satisfied with the dolls produced by Gotz and a few years later she transferred the making of her dolls to a company in England. Gotz again produced Sasha dolls from 1994 to 2001. The little blonde girl is one of the later Gotz Sashas while the red-haired girl belongs to the earlier Gotz production line.
Over the years, Gotz has entered into agreements with a number of doll artists to produce limited edition dolls. These were designed for Gotz by Sylvia Natterer.
More artists dolls produced by Gotz. The little girl in pink with blonde pigtails is "Mareike" was designed by Joke Grobben. The two dolls to her left are both by Sissel Skille. The wistful girl in the center is Tora and next to her, in a colorful ethic costume, is Rashanee, who represents a Thai hill tribe.
This is "Liddy," designed by Elisabeth Lindner.
Gotz also produces well-made play dolls.
Other members brought artist dolls to share.
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