Look what I found at the thrift store today! I thought it had to be a repro, but it doesn't appear to be. I saw it, said "Oh dear God!" grabbed it quick and paid $5.50 for it! I think I've got myself an 1890's "low-brow" chinahead that I think may have a replacement cloth body wired and stuffed with sawdust.
First I looked at the condition of the head- a few tiny paint rubs and chips, one little black mark by her corner of her mouth which looks to be very typical of the little scars these dolls can get when they are fired in the kiln. There are a couple of others on the back of her shoulders. The porcelain doesn't look modern, there are tiny flaws and imperfections in the glaze. It's hard to see in the photos but they are little bumps and dimples under th glaze:
She was dressed in a 1960's-looking homemade pants outfit that was sewn closed. I had to open the seam at the neck to get the body out.
Underneath she had a set of homemade underwear on, that seems to be made from mom's 1960's girdle.
The body looks to be a combination of machine and hand stitching. The seems in the body look like they are machine stitched, very uniform and close together. However the stitching to attach the limbs is definitely hand-stitched and some is coming loose. It is also hand-stitched around the legs where they are attached. I was hoping to see more wear and staining on the body, which is what makes me think it may be a "doll hospital" replacement. You can see one of the internal wires poking out on her left leg, about mid-thigh. On the backs of the thighs the seams are off from each other, which again makes me think this is either an original body in very good shape or repair shop's replacement. The seams are on the backs of the thighs, not on the sides.
This is what has me pretty certain she is not a repro- Under the clothing the shoulders are marked "Germany" and it's stamped in the porcelain and glazed over. From what I have read so far, the vast majority of these dolls were made in Germany and the glaze has a lot of the little bumps and dimples you typically see on these chinaheads. It isn't perfect and uniform like a modern repro. Also I haven't seen repros with these feverishly burnng cheeks like this one has. That was my first clue that this might be authentic was those cheeks. Repros usually have more of a subtle pink blush that people like better nowadays. There are bits of old glue flaking and coming out from under the head. Also another clue that if this is a replacement body it was done quite some time ago. By the 1890's I think the bodies would have been machine sewn though, so I'm not entirely sure.
The legs look very authentic with big bulbous calves and painted blue ribbons and brown shoes. There is an repair to one leg, pretty severe break glued back together, also some remenants of old glue visible around the break. The forearms are also bulbous. The forearms are unglazed, unlike the legs and head. (I have another chinahead that is this way too so I think these are the original arms)
I think she's the real thing but would like to get your feedback on what you think.
