An Introduction: Composition dolls overtook the market for bisque dolls in the early 20th Century. Hailed by American dollmaking companies as unbreakable compared to bisque (also often called porcelain) dolls, the novelty of the new material for doll heads, coupled with World War I, helped to bring down the once mighty German dollmaking industry, and helped to make America the premier dollmaking country of the early to mid 20th Century.
What is Composition and What is a Composition Doll? Composition is generally a mixture of glue mixed with sawdust. Heavier and denser than paper mache, composition is easily molded and is thus an excellent material to make doll heads. Composition was used to make doll bodies for many years, from approximately the late 1870s, long before it was widely used to make doll heads. Since the material a doll head is made from determines the type of doll, only dolls with heads made of composition are referred to as composition dolls.
Dates of Production of Composition Dolls: Composition dolls were made from approximately 1909 through the early 1950s. The height of the market for composition dolls was the 1920s through the 1940s. Today, only the rare reproduction or art doll is made of composition.
Sizes and Characteristics of Composition Dolls: Although you can find nearly any size of composition doll, generally you didn't find very small ones, but tiny composition dolls such as the Wee Patsy or National Costume Dolls of only a few inches in height do exist. Alternatively, very large dolls were generally not made of all-composition because they would be far too heavy for a little girl to play with. Large Mama Dolls, for instance, might have a head and lower limbs of composition but a torso of cloth.
Companies That Produced Composition Dolls: A large number of doll companies made composition dolls. They were made in countries including the United States, Germany, France and Japan. By far, American manufacturers produced the most. Certain companies were especially known for the quality and innovation of these dolls, including Madame Alexander, Ideal, Horseman, Effanbee, American Character, Amberg and others. Many other companies would then copy their designs and sell unmarked dolls, and many dolls that are found today are unmarked.
Types of Composition Dolls: Nearly every type of doll was made of composition, but the most popular styles tended to be Mama Dolls, baby dolls, and especially after Shirley Temple, little girls and even teenagers. Mama dolls were toddler dolls with a mama crier. Some of the dolls had all-composition bodies jointed at the neck, hips and shoulders. Others, especially the baby dolls, had cloth bodies with composition heads, arms and legs. Many had sleep eyes made of tin and wigs made of human hair or mohair. Many had real eyelashes. Earlier pre-1930 dolls were more likely to have painted eyes and molded hair.
What Caused The Demise of Composition Dolls? In short, hard plastic caused the demise of composition dolls. In the late 1940s companies finally created the first truly unbreakable doll out of hard plastic. If you dropped hard plastic it didn't break, if you put it near fire it didn't ignite (like celluloid) and if you got it wet (like composition) you didn't ruin the finish. Plus, hard plastic dolls were relatively inexpensive. After hard plastic was introduced, composition dolls only lasted a few short years more, into the 1950s.
What is Crazing of Composition Dolls? Composition dolls, especially those with a heavily sealed or lacquered finish, are especially prone to fine cracks, called crazing. The crazing is cause by changes in moisture and temperature. Because so many of these dolls have crazed over the years, light crazing on a composition doll is acceptable to collectors.
By Denise Van Patten, About.com Guide, edited by Jennifer Parker Aleman
What is a Mama Doll?
A mama doll is a young toddler doll made out of composition and cloth with a voice mechanism that produces something sounding like "mama," usually when tipped, rocked or shaken. The doll's head, arms and lower legs are made out of composition, and the body is made out of cloth. The legs usually "swing" freely thanks to sewn, jointed cloth hips. These joints allowed the dolls to "walk." The dolls were chubby in appearance, and, thanks to their composition head and limbs, they were advertised as "unbreakable." The dolls were also advertised as "life like" by many companies.
When and Where Mama Dolls Produced?
Some dolls that are considered mama dolls commenced production as early as 1915; however, the dolls didn't become wildly popular until the early 1920s. The Georgene Averill company played a major part in the development of the doll, and even was granted a patent for a mama doll in 1918. By 1922, American companies such as Effanbee, Horsman, Ideal and others were producing mama dolls. By the mid 1920s, many, many American companies were producing the dolls. By the late 1920s, demands for the dolls slowed down somewhat and slightly slimmer mama dolls started to come into vogue. Mama dolls continued to be produced, in their classic form, into the early 1940s.
Why are Mama Dolls So Important To American Doll History?
Mama dolls helped end the lock on the doll market that German Bisque dolls enjoyed in the beginning of the 20th century. Mama dolls were primarily manufactured in America and they literally swept the nation in 1922-23; they can be considered the first "doll craze!" The dolls were in huge demand at this time. Their popularity was due to the fact that they were "unbreakable" (well, at least they were far less breakable than their bisque forerunners) and the doll seemed very "life like" in feel, especially compared to bisque dolls. Children also loved the fact that the dolls could "talk" and "walk." And, all the features of this doll allowed for inventive advertising by the doll companies that produced them. The dolls seemed very new and exciting compared to the bisque dolls that had been on the market for so many years.
What Modern Dolls Do Mama Dolls Resemble?
The mama dolls are the forerunners of most popular baby dolls with cloth bodies that are produced today! Although most of our current crop of mama-type dolls don't talk or walk, the toddler-type dolls of companies such as the Lee Middleton Company and Adora Babies, among others, are the descendants of the composition mama dolls from the 1920s and 30s. These dolls often "feel" like a real baby or young toddler, and are made for play.
What Are Some of the Most Popular Mama Dolls for Collectors Today?
Madame Hendren Dolls
Flossy Flirt
Bubbles (and many other Effanbee mama dolls)
Horsman babies
Why Do People Collect Mama Dolls?
Few collectors seem to solely collect mama dolls. However, mama dolls are an essential part of any collection of composition dolls, or any collection of baby dolls. Collectors that focus on one manufacturer of dolls, such as Effanbee, Ideal or Horsman, also seek these dolls out. Collectors of American-made antique dolls include mama dolls in their collections.
What Are Mama Dolls Worth Today?
The dolls can be reasonable in price, and a mama doll that doesn't have original clothing but which is in excellent condition can often be found for between $50 to $150, sometimes even for less. Dolls in excellent condition with original clothing can often be found for approximately $200 to $300. However, mint, marked dolls with their original clothing, labels and box can cost several hundred dollars.
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