The Simon Halbig “Santa” dolls are always a fun find, as they have a special something to their face, in their category. Maybe it starts with the painted dot at the middle of their bottom lips, which the Santas always have, whether it is the 1248 or 1249 mold. These two 1249's came together in their coordinated outfits and it looks like they hope to stay together! One is a blue glass, sleep-eyed with blond antique mohair wig, and the other a brown glass, sleep eyed with a sandy brown antique mohair wig.  

From the earlier production at the Simon Halbig firm comes this important doll (25") with the number 979 incised on the back of her head. Some of this importance is a result of her actual high quality, weight and sturdiness, from her pale, finely featured bisque head, bulbous brown paperweight eyes, open mouth with square cut teeth and original blond mohair wig, to her very French type, heavy composition body with jointed wrists that has a pronounced size derriere for stable sitting positions.  

For the collector who feels they have just about everything they wish for, here walks in something familiar, yet very unique and probably not in your cabinet yet. The dolls is a collaboration of the two factories, Simon Halbig and Kammer & Reinhardt, and incised on the back of the head with both names. She has brown sleep eyes, an open mouth with teeth, smooth, even bisque, a content expression in her molding and decoration, pierced ears, and her original, long brunette human hair wig.

The Kammer and Reinhardt 192 mold poses a bit of a mystery as the doll has a considerable similarity in styling to a fine Kestner mold. At 15 1/2" and just marked “192” on the back of pale pisque head with brown glass sleep eyes, closed mouth with space in between the lips, strong but very attractive molding, decoration of eyes and subtle shading of cheeks gives us the usual signs of a high end Kestner child, however the pierced ears (small chip at lower left earring hole) change our course of identification to the K*R school of thought.

From Kammer and Reinhardt, here is a tall ray of sunshine in a rarer mold, the 128 character on a fully jointed, slant-hip toddler body. This happy girl has brown glass sleep eyes, an open, smiling mouth with upper teeth, peachy, beautiful bisque and shading, and an older, long strawberry blond human hair wig. Look at that healthy toddler body with original finish, chunky limbs, slanted hips and jointed wrists.  

 These lanky lady dolls from Cuno and Otto Dressel, depicting ladies of the pre-flapper age, always seem to be in motion, even when standing still! She is the mold 1469, has brown glass sleep eyes, a closed mouth, a heart-shaped, peachy bisque head with multi-stroke brows and lashes, finely formed nose, and she wears an antique brown mohair wig wrapped into a pretty rear bun.

 The fully jointed composition body is nicely matched to the bisque color, in a warm medium brown. The mariner-inspired frock is of a navy/royal linen with a polished finish that has a pleated skirt, lace trim and a multi-colored insert of ruched fabric on the front bodice. Under the skirt is a sewn in, starched organdy pleated slip with lace trim. The dress is in excellent condition and when looking at the workmanship and quality on the inside, it confirms that this dress is from her period of manufacture.

At the very top of her forehead is a 1/2” factory red surface line that is really nothing but she wants you to know anyway. And that body! A fully jointed, chubby Kestner toddler body with straight wrists and playfully posed fingers. Her silky cream shift is made of antique material as is her lacy pinafore having a convenient front pocket that carries her vintage teddy bear toy. Check out those ivory leather antique bootines with snap closures and also her flower adorned, fine straw hat.