Antique German China Head Doll, Attributed to Conta & Boehme, 26 Inches, circa 1870s
$450.00
Sale price
$450.00
Regular price
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Antique German China Head Doll, Attributed to Conta & Boehme, 26 Inches, circa 1870s
$450.00
Sale price
$450.00
Regular price
Antique German China Head Doll, Attributed to Conta & Boehme, 26 Inches, circa 1870s
This unusual large antique German china head doll dates approximately to the 1870s and stands about 26 inches / 66 cm tall.
She is distinguished by a rare mature facial type and an expressive high Highbrow hairstyle. The molded curls are swept upward and extend above the exposed ears, creating a distinctive silhouette compared in an earlier collector’s description to butterfly wings. Her elongated cheek modeling, pronounced chin, deep neck, and smoothly shaped adult shoulders give her an especially stately and uncommon appearance.
The head is made of glazed porcelain. Her pale face features painted blue eyes, black brows, soft cheek blush, and an early red-orange tone used for the lips and eyelid crease lines.
The back of the shoulder plate is marked with the size number 9.
The maker has not been conclusively documented. Based on the modeling characteristics and surviving collector notes, the doll is attributed to Conta & Boehme, although this attribution should not be considered a confirmed factory identification.
She is mounted on a slender early cloth body. Of particular interest are the leather hands with individually stitched fingers, a rare and evocative detail that emphasizes the doll’s age and historic character. The lower limbs are also made of cloth.
Her costume is made from antique fabrics and includes several early garments: two antique cotton petticoats, a chemise, pantaloons, stockings, and brown leather boots. The overall presentation is harmonious with the period and beautifully complements the mature character of this china head doll.
Condition
The doll retains important early elements, including the cloth body, leather hands with individually stitched fingers, antique garments, and leather footwear.
The condition of the head, body, clothing, and accessories should be assessed from the photographs provided. Natural signs of age and wear consistent with a 19th-century antique may be present.
Details
- Type: antique German china head doll
- Attributed maker: Conta & Boehme
- Country of origin: Germany
- Period: circa 1870s
- Height: approximately 26 inches / 66 cm
- Head: glazed porcelain
- Hairstyle: rare high Highbrow style with molded curls
- Eyes: painted blue
- Marking: number 9 on the back of the shoulder plate
- Body: early slender cloth body
- Hands: leather, with individually stitched fingers
- Legs: cloth
- Clothing: costume made from antique fabrics
- Included garments: two cotton petticoats, chemise, pantaloons, stockings, and brown leather boots
This doll is of particular interest for her impressive size, rare mature facial type, unusual hairstyle, and preserved early body and wardrobe elements. She would make a striking centerpiece in a collection of china head dolls and a fine example of 19th-century German dollmaking.
This doll has a specially created musical composition and a short art video on YouTube(coming soon)
The doll will be carefully packed with consideration for her age and construction
Where Every Doll Carries a Story
About the Creator / Gallery
Meet Yana Lamar
I am Yana Lamar, a collector and restorer who turned a late‑found curiosity for dolls into a carefully curated gallery of antique characters.
I seek dolls that carry quiet stories — France, German, Japan, American - bisque girls, shy companions from attics and trunks — and give them a second life with gentle restoration instead of perfection.
In this online boutique you will not find mass‑market pieces, only a small rotating collection chosen for their personality, history, and the feeling they bring into a room.
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Whispers from Collectors
Thoughtful words from people who welcomed these antique souls into their homes.
“Opening the parcel felt like opening a century‑old storybook. The doll is even more delicate and expressive in person than in the photos, and the description was absolutely accurate. Packaging was careful and elegant, so she arrived safely despite the long journey.”
Anna M., United States
“I have collected antique dolls for over twenty years, and this is one of the most thoughtfully curated boutiques I have come across. Yana answered all my questions with patience and sent extra close‑up photos before I decided. You can feel real love for dolls behind every detail.”
Claire R., France
“The moment I saw my doll on the website, I knew she was special. In real life, her presence is incredible — soft, quiet, and full of character. The outfit is beautifully coordinated, and I appreciate the honest notes about her age and restoration.”
Elena S., Italy
“This was my first antique doll purchase, and I was a little nervous. The entire process was gentle and reassuring: clear communication, transparent condition report, and shipping updates all the way. When I unboxed her, I felt like welcoming an old friend home.”
Julia K., United States
“Every time I visit this gallery, there is something unique and soulful to discover. The dolls, accessories, and rare treasures are presented with such sensitivity that it feels more like an art collection than a shop. I am already looking forward to my next adoption.”
Margaret L., United Kingdom