Three Antique Dolls Now For Sale In Aid Of The "Help Save Dolls Houses Past & Present Website" Fundraising!

Further to my last post on here ( https://ktminiatures.blogspot.com/2018/07/please-help-save-dolls-houses-past.html ) I understand that the fundraising to save the wonderful Dolls Houses Past & Present website, has now surpassed the halfway mark, which is amazing!!! However, much more is needed if the wonderful Dolls Houses Past & Present website  is to be saved.  

I have decided to donate three antique large scale German dolls towards the "Help To Save Dolls Houses Past & Present Website Fund"  and all three are now available to purchase from me. They were acquired quite some time ago from a northern auction house (UK), and have been packed away in a box ever since. My knowledge of these large dolls is limited, as my interest has always been with the smaller dolls house size dolls. They came along in the same auction "lot" with a batch of antique dolls house items and although lovely, are surplus to my requirements. The dolls deserve to go to good homes where they will be appreciated, rather than sit in a dusty box in my loft for a few more years.

All information below has been given in good faith and they are being sold as seen, on a first come - first serve basis. If you wish to purchase any of these dolls, please email me as soon as possible at: info@ktminiatures.com in the first instance with your best offer and I will then let you know the postage cost.You will find KT Miniatures' general payment and postal information here: ktminiatures.com/how-to-order. 

Every penny paid for these dolls (excluding postal costs) will be donated to the DHP&P fundraising fund, via their FundRazr page. 

ANTIQUE GERMAN DOLLS NOW FOR SALE ON HERE

Ref: Doll 1
Lovely Antique "Porzellanfabrik Burggrub" Bisque & Composition German Doll

SOLD FOR £40
Thank you to Jane Huggett for her generous offer. 

Approx. 19" (48.5cm) Long - Played With Condition - Some Slight Damage Mostly To Hands & Feet

This magnificent large doll I believe has a bisque head and composition body, and there is a makers mark at the back of her head on the hairline. 

I think it says Porzellanfabrik Burggrub - it is hard to  make it out clearly as the hairline is partially glued over the wording. But underneath it clearly says 169 3 3/4 Germany. Age of this doll is unknown but probably early part of 1900s?

I love her face - she has real character!

She has gorgeous facial features, including glass eyes with opening/closing eyelids, plus an open mouth and dark coloured wigged hair. 

Her limbs are loosely strung and all limbs are present. 

Please note that there are some chips and scuffing to the composition body here and there, and most significantly there is heavy scuffing on her lower arms, hands and fingers as seen in these photos. 

I thought the arms and hands were simply dirty at first, but then realised that the outer layer of composition appears to have been rubbed off considerably, particularly over the hands and fingers in places. But when she is wearing her clothes, this damage is hardly noticeable. However, her bisque head is fully intact and in good condition. 

There is also some scuffing and chips to her toes, but obviously are hidden with shoes and socks on. I think I will describe her as being in a well played with condition and has been much loved:) She really does need a gentle clean as in places she really is a little grubby,  but I will leave to that to the new owner, as due to my lack of knowledge of these kind of dolls, I am wary of doing any damage. 

She came with a knitted vest, dress and cloak plus cotton petticoat, socks and old leather shoes. The petticoat looks old, so too the shoes but I suspect the knitted clothing is not so old. The style of clothes reminds me of those dolly knitting patterns I used to see in my Grandma's old Woman's Weekly magazine during the 1960s? On one of the shoes the sole is just slightly coming adrift. Personally, I think she would benefit further from wearing a pretty antique dress with her old petticoat and shoes...then I think she would look even more fantastic! I do hope someone reading this can give her a new home:) 

She measures approx. 19" long (48cm) to end of shoe when laid out flat.

UPDATE: Thank you to the lady who has informed me that the next two dolls seen below are known as "Dream Babies" and probably originate from the 1920s. 

Ref: Doll 2
Pretty Armand Marseille German Bisque & Composition Baby Doll 
SOLD
Thank you to Diane Pearson who paid £50 for both these Baby Dolls

Approx. 12" (30.5cm) Long - Played With Condition - Some Slight Damage Mostly To Hands & Foot

This is a very pretty little baby doll, believed to have a bisque head and composition body. 

She is marked A.M. Germany 351 / 2 1/2 K on the back of her head. So am assuming that she was made by Armand Marseille. In fact as this doll is dressed in female clothes I am going to refer to her as a female doll, but could be either sex! She measures approx. 12" long. Age unknown but am assuming early part of 1900s?

Her facial features are beautiful with fixed glass eyes (not sure if they used to open at one time - as her brother below has opening eyes), an open mouth showing two bottom teeth, and the most delightful rosy cheeks! She does have a scratch and some wear to her face as you can see. 

Plus she has what looks to be a water stain or similar, down the right side of her face?

Her limbs are strung and movable.

Overall I would say she is in a well played with condition, some wear including little bumps, scrapes and cracks, and she is a little grubby. 

Please note that she does have some specific damage to some fingers on both hands and one foot, as shown in the photos.  I have ringed them in white in the photos, as I realised that the colour of my carpet is very similar to the patches where the composition is damaged! I dare not fiddle with cleaning her as I am not an expert on these dolls and do not wish to do any damage to her unwittingly.  But still she is very lovable indeed!

Her whole outfit of knitted clothes in a peachy/pink colour,  probably are not that old but I think you will agree, are very pretty and adds to her charm greatly. She has obviously been much loved. Her entire outfit consists of a vest, pants, bootees, dress, jacket and bonnet. Isn't she lovely!!!

Her twin brother(or sister) is for sale below. Together they look absolutely gorgeous!

Ref: Doll 3
Pretty Armand Marseille German Bisque Baby Doll
SOLD

Approx. 12" (30.5cm) Long - Played With Condition - Slight Damage To One Hand & Foot, Plus Wandering Eye. 

This is a rather lovely little baby doll is practically identical to the baby doll being sold above, and also believed to have a bisque head with composition body. But as this doll is dressed in male clothes I am going to refer to him as a "he"!

On the back of the head it is clearly marked A.M. Germany 351 / 2 1/2 K. So again, as with the baby doll above, I am assuming that he was made by Armand Marseille. He measures approx. 12" long. Age unknown but am assuming early part of 1900s?

The facial features are beautiful including glass eyes complete with opening/closing eyelids, an open mouth showing two bottom teeth, and the most delightful rosy cheeks! Please note that the iris of his left eye is a little out of sync. with the right, so looks like he has a wandering eye.  I think it just adds to his quirkiness and character!

There is some slight staining to the right cheek and in the corner of the right eye. 

The limbs are strung and movable.

Please note that he is in a played with condition, there are some little bumps, scrapes and cracks, plus he is a little grubby. I dare not fiddle with cleaning him as I am not an expert on these dolls and do not wish to do any damage unwittingly. 

He does have some damage to one finger on left hand and to one toe of right foot, plus some considerable flaking in the groin area, as shown in the photo.  But still very lovable indeed!

He has a rather splendid extensive outfit of knitted clothes in a peach/pinky colour, very smart. And he has obviously been much loved. There is a knitted vest, pants, long all in one trousers which cover feet too, jacket and hat. 
Isn't he just adorable!

I hope you can give these lovelies a new home and help save a magnificent website in the process!
Thank you
Celia Thomas
KT Miniatures

Please Help Save Dolls Houses Past & Present!

Many of you, particularly the vintage dolls house collectors amongst you, are probably already aware of the wonderful dolls house website:  
www.dollshousespastandpresent.com  

But...it is now in need of your urgent help!

Since 2009 it has grown from small beginnings into an enormous website containing valuable free information about a vast array of dolls houses and contents. Although it touches on modern reproduction dolls houses, much of the website deals with the older dolls houses, both antique and vintage. The photographic galleries are fantastic, as not only does it have comprehensive databases on G&J Lines and Tri-ang dolls houses, but there are literally dozens and dozens of galleries containing private collectors own dolls houses, including furniture and accessories of all kinds. They have provided a free quarterly online magazine for many years, crammed with fascinating dolls house related articles written by people from all walks of life, and from all around the world. And there has been a lively forum, with people on hand to give advice freely, plus much more! 

But now......

in recent times the website has been suffering from mega technical problems and web host difficulties. Occasionally on some days people cannot access it at all, such are the problems!  Slowly more and more features are ceasing to work and the website is grinding to a halt. So Rebecca Green, the intrepid Australian owner of the website, and her band of administrators, have decided that it is time to move onto new horizons and a brand new website with modern day technology that can offer all the facilities that are needed. But it comes at a cost! As Dolls Houses Past & Present is not a business, has no income, has no external advertising and wants to continue to remain as so, with free website access to all,  the substantial costs for a website of this magnitude needs to be raised.

So...Rebecca and her administrators, who give up their time freely to run the website, have set up a crowdfunding page on Fundrazr to raise this money. You can donate by clicking on the following link:

CLICK HERE

Every single donation, no matter how small, will help to save a truly wonderful website that is basically a huge archive documenting dolls houses of the 19th and 20th centuries, completely free to everyone. I have just looked at the above page and at the time of writing this, can see the total has already risen to £2887 from 75 contributors, which is fabulous. But that is still only 29% of the total amount that is needed. 

So folks, please do help us all save the wonderful Dolls Houses Past & Present website if you can.

Thank you.

Celia

Lovely Photos Of Jane's Completed Workshop Project!

Followers of KT Miniatures may remember earlier in the year I had promised that if anyone who came to my 2018 workshops sent photos of their completed project, I would show you on here....with their permission of course! 

Well....here we are!

Jane Sharp was one of the lovely ladies who attended the May workshop. During her time with us, she had mentioned that she was just about to have a knee operation, and that she was looking forward to carrying on with the project during the few weeks of recuperation, following her operation.  

 A couple of weeks after Jane's op' she emailed to say that she had been able to get going with her project as planned and sent some photos of the project in progress. She had managed to paint the tiled effect floor, and chosen to have a mixture of blue and white tiles.  She had mixed a pale blue paint with a dark blue paint, in order to get the shade that she wanted.  I agree with Jane that very oddly,  the floor looks like it is black and white in the photos, but it is most definitely blue. Jane said that she took it slowly and carefully, and although there was a bit of touching up to do, she was thrilled with result. I think it looks super!

The tiled effect floor can be quite tricky as the paint has a tendency to bleed underneath the masking tape sometimes, no matter how carefully the paint or indeed the masking tape is applied. But any "bleeding" can be easily rectified by "touching up" with the relevant colours using a tiny brush.

Above you can see that Jane had made good progress with her kitchen range whilst she was actually at the workshop. 

And here is the finished kitchen range...it is brilliant. The reproduction blue/ beige Delft type frieze was part of the project and Jane is delighted with how the colours of the frieze and floor go together well. 

Jane had also finished creating and constructing all the furniture which were part of the workshop project. 

And now...just a few more weeks further on, Jane sent me photos of the finished project, with all the furniture painted and accessories created. 

Isn't it amazing!!!!! 

She has also added some of her own bits and bobs in varying scales that she has been collecting for this project. 

In the antique toy German kitchens of the early 1900s the contents would have been in different scales, and I personally love to see  the varying scales combined in antique/vintage style miniature settings - it adds authenticity and character to the overall effect.

Jane said that she thoroughly enjoyed making this project and adds...."it is amazing what you can do with wood, card, paint and some lovely accessories". 

Well...it has given me great pleasure to see such a stunning example of this workshop project created, it really is beautiful.  I am very grateful to Jane for allowing me to share her photos with you and hope that you have enjoyed taking a peek too. 
  

If you CLICK HERE you can see full details of the workshop project and more photos. I hope to bring you details of KT Miniatures 2019 workshop project later this year. 

Celia

Four Interesting Little Antique German Items For Your Dolls House...

Just listed to KT Miniatures website over the past few days are four antique  metal items, all believed to be of German origin and all equally interesting but quite different from each other. These are currently for sale at the time of writing this blog. 

Antique Miniature Oil Heater

First up is this little antique metal heater, of the portable kind. There is such conflicting information put out there on the internet with regards to this particular item and it is origin, and must not be confused with the more modern reproduction model of this type of heater. This is genuinely old and came with an antique dolls house from the early 1900s. 

It has no makers mark or country of origin mark anywhere that I can find, but the consensus of opinion is that it originates from Germany from the early 20th century. In the olden days, a real life size heater of this kind could be taken from room to room, as required. 

This comes in original condition, painted in a black and silver finish. There is a movable handle, and this is all fully intact. It stands at a height of 2 3/8" high. 

c1930s German "Anfoe" Vacuum Cleaner

This is a genuine antique miniature vacuum cleaner from the 1930s, marked GERMANY underneath. 

Wonderfully the manufacturers name ANFOE is printed in red lettering at the top of the original black material bag. 

This item is in a reasonably good played with condition, although there is a considerable loss of black paint from the handle.

An added nice touch is the red triangular symbol that is just about still present on the front of the vacuum cleaner. 

c1920s/30s German Miniature Alarm Clock

This is a great favourite of mine. I already own one, so this second example has been put up for sale. 

This is a tiny metal alarm clock, with original paper clock face (albeit a little brown from natural aging), and the original celluloid clock face cover.

On the back it is marked GERMANY and there are some delightful moulded details. Isn't it fabulous!

All these three items can currently be seen for sale on KT Miniatures General Page: 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Large Scale Antique German Cutlery Basket & Cutlery

Here is an antique metal and blue mesh cutlery basket, with 17 pieces of metal cutlery.

This set comprises of six spoons and forks, and five knives, so presumably there is one knife missing?

What is delightful is that every single piece of cutlery is marked GERMANY. 

This is large in scale, more like doll size but would suit an old dolls house where scale does not matter. It can currently be found on KT Miniatures Kitchen Page: 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW