Saturday 21 January 2012

A very good head


"Rye Museum 
An early Edwardian doll in the museum's collection of toys.  It has a very good head by Kamer & Reinhart c. 1903.  The articulated body is probably thirty years older."
This postcard was bought from Rye Museum, in Sussex, during the 1980s.  Rye was once a port on the south coast of England but is now some two miles from the sea.  It has a very long history and some beautiful old buildings, including the Mermaid Inn which dates from 1156.

A whole new world has opened up to me in trying to find out who Kamer and Reinhart were.  It turns out that it should be "Kämmer & Reinhardt", a doll company founded in 1886 in Waltershausen, Germany.

I read that Kämmer & Reinhardt made dolly faced dolls, and that held me up for a time, while I tried to find out what other sort of dolls anyone would make.  Apparently the alternative is a character faced doll, one that looks more like a real child and has more expression.

Clearly the doll in the postcard is a dolly faced doll even if her body is 30 years older.  I bet she's looking in the mirror wishing her body could be rejuvenated too.  I know how she feels.

A post for Sepia Saturday.  A click on the button will take you to the blog.



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26 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful doll. I just checked in my ’The Ultimate Doll Book’ to refresh my memory about this company - makes a change from turning to the internet first of all.

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    1. Ah, I see there is a doll expert amongst us. :)

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    2. Me, an expert? No just the possessor of a rather nice Doll Book.

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  2. A lovely doll, although truth be told I find them all a bit creepy!

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  3. Although my head is not 30 years younger than my body, I know what you mean. Now I have to go find a doll with a more childlike face on it. Interesting post.

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  4. Oh what an awesome way they presented her looking into the mirror like that, very interesting view! I would so like to visit that old Mermaid Inn...amazing!

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  5. Never mind the beautiful doll, did you know the Mermaid Inn at Rye is supposedly the most haunted pub in England. Watch out when you look in the mirror!

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    1. Now Bob IS an expert - on haunted buildings!

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    2. I know little about haunted buildings but I have walked past the Mermaid often enough - though nothing happened. Next time I must venture inside, avoiding all mirrors.

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  6. She looks a very healthy doll with the rosy cheeks. Must be the sea breeze on the hill.

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  7. What a lovely postcard! I just love her dress and those hands. I bet she wishes she had never hands! I could just imagine her character in a children's story!

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  8. Sometimes my body feels thirty years older too. What an expressive face she has.

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  9. Thanks for the informative post. I never heard of a "dolly" face before, and I didn't know the correct definition of a "character" doll.

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  10. The doll looks like she's sneaking around, trying to hide from someone, and peering around the corner.

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  11. I have to say that I agree with the others - it is a beautiful photograph but there is something just a little scary - especially with the mirror image.

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  12. I think this doll is one of the prettiest ones I've seen in the various doll posts - it scares me less than some of the others! I'm going to have to have a look at some character faced dolls now :-) Jo

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  13. No woman, or doll, whatever her age can resist looking in the mirror. And I know how you feel about wishing to be "rejuvenated."

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  14. She is beautiful. After looking at your link, I was impressed at how they made their doll heads to look so much like really little girls. I enjoyed the link to the Mermaid Inn too. How fascinating!

    Thank you,

    Kathy M.

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  15. Collecting paper dolls led me to all the wonderful books about dolls such as this one. I highly recommend the writing of John Darcy Noble on dolls of all kinds. Beautiful doll, very soulful face.

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  16. Sheila, you crack me up...I know I could use a transplant, at least, from the neck on down....wouldn't mind winning the lottery so I could invest in those fancy face creams, too.

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Welcome to my postcard collection! I love hearing what you think of the cards - but spam WILL be deleted.

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