Description

A beautifully restored antique German bisque doll by Cuno & Otto Dressel, marked 1912-4. Standing approximately 21 inches (53 cm) tall, she is an exceptional collector’s doll presented in historically sympathetic clothing made from carefully selected antique and vintage textiles.

Her original bisque porcelain head is free of cracks. Her characterful original composition body retains honest traces of age, carefully preserved so that the doll still carries the visual history of an early-20th-century child’s plaything.

Doll maker

Cuno & Otto Dressel were German doll manufacturers known for their finely modelled bisque-head dolls of the early twentieth century. This doll bears the mold marking 1912-4.

I also share the history of this doll and other porcelain dolls made by the Cuno & Otto Dressel factory on my website.

Restoration at Doll Stories Hospital

This doll has received a complete, conservation-minded restoration at Doll Stories Hospital. The work included:

• Thorough cleaning of the doll.

• Replacement of the elastic stringing cords.

• Strengthening and restoration of the body shell.

• Installation of a restored sleep-eye mechanism.

• Creation of a custom pate to cover the head opening.

• Sewing of cotton underwear for the doll.

The bisque head is free from cracks. The body retains age-appropriate signs of time and has been finished with natural varnish to preserve its antique appearance.

All restoration work was carried out using methods and natural materials chosen to be sympathetic to the doll’s original period of manufacture, the beginning of the twentieth century.

Antique-inspired clothing

The doll wears a one-of-a-kind, handmade outfit created with antique and recycled vintage materials.

• Shirt: Made from an antique child’s shirt, with the original tailoring, construction, and stitching preserved wherever possible.

• Suit and cap: Sewn from a recycled vintage jacket in natural Italian wool. Every garment element is lined with vintage fabric.

• Stockings: Made from cotton knit fabric using an old stocking pattern.

• Boots: Handmade from vintage genuine leather following an antique boot pattern. They are fitted with natural-leather laces for the most authentic possible appearance.

The result is a carefully composed period look that honours the doll’s age while remaining practical for display.

Condition

Excellent condition following professional restoration.

• Original bisque head with no cracks.

• Restored and restrung body with an intentionally age-appropriate appearance.

• Restored eye mechanism.

• New handmade pate, underwear, costume, stockings, and leather boots.

• Natural, period-appropriate restoration materials and techniques.

This distinguished Cuno & Otto Dressel doll makes a meaningful addition to an antique doll collection—an heirloom piece to be enjoyed today and passed on to future generations.