Coquette Doll, c. 1903-1912 Made by Gebrüder Heubach, Germany Bisque, satin, lace, and muslin; 21 in. 7893 Gift of E.P. Cutter

Many dolls were made in the 19th and 20th centuries in the so-called “Golden Age of Toys.” During this era, toys were constantly being produced and were made to be colorful and quite elaborate. In the early 20th century, dolls were a big business in Europe. Hundreds of new patents were being made for various forms of doll details such as types of jointing, eye movement, special materials, and even face models. Germany paved the way for producing bisque dolls, creating thousands of dolls with elaborate details such as glass eyes and real hair wigs. They were made to be durable, with the colors baked on and the bodies made to be unbreakable. Bisque dolls refer to the type of porcelain used to create the doll’s head, using an unglazed porcelain to give it a more natural and realistic appearance. The dolls showing more expression and life-like faces are known as character-faced dolls. Companies such as Gebrüder Heubach were known to use this realistic approach, even creating doll faces with glancing of flirting eyes which were later called “coquette dolls.” These bisque dolls were popularly produced in Europe, and would generally come with accessories such as umbrellas, gloves, and shoes. And their hair and dress always reflected the fashion of the time.

This “Coquette” bisque doll has been featured in four Bowers Museum exhibitions including the 1977 “Doll, a Nickname for Dorothy," the first major showing of the museum’s extensive doll collection from the 19th and 20th centuries and “36/86 - Golden Anniversary Exhibition” celebrating the Bowers' 50th anniversary. When this “Coquette” doll was created, it was stamped on the back with a stylized sunburst in a semi-circle, signifying this doll was made in Germany by Gebrüder Heubach, and “7850” signifying she is a “Coquette” model. This particular model is thought to have been produced between 1903 and 1912, during the era of the German brand’s characteristic trait of the "flirting eyes." The doll has blue intaglio eyes with the signature bisque head and shoulders. The body of the doll is made of muslin, and she is fashioned with a turquoise satin dress, two petticoats, pantalettes, and ecru lace trim. The doll also has bisque arms, hands and lower legs, along with shoes painted in a blue luster.

The “Coquette” doll is just one of over 250 dolls from the Irene Cutter Memorial Doll Collection at the Bowers Museum. The collection was generously donated by Irene’s husband, E.P. Cutter, in May of 1950 so that the doll collection could be displayed and enjoyed by all over the years.
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