No. 10

Mein Liebling (K*R 117)

German Antique Reproduction

Details

Original

Kammer & Reinhardt mold 117 'Mein Liebling', head by Simon & Halbig, 1911

Costume

Hand-crocheted and knitted by Thecla Van Eijl (Netherlands)

About this doll

A doll in a blue lace dress and bonnet with white ribbons. The entire outfit was made by hand, crocheted and knitted, by Thecla Van Eijl of the Netherlands, the aunt of the artist who supplied the records, who is now 92.

The original is Kammer & Reinhardt's most celebrated character doll, 'Mein Liebling', which means 'my darling'.

Background

Kammer & Reinhardt registered the trademark 'Mein Liebling' in 1902, the first time the company had given a doll a name. Mold 117, introduced in 1911, is a character child with a closed mouth, glass eyes, feathered brows, painted upper and lower lashes and a composition ball-jointed body, incised 'K (star) R Simon & Halbig 117' with the size. It was followed by 117A and by 117N 'Mein Neuer Liebling' (1916-1930) with an open mouth and flirty eyes.

When Kammer & Reinhardt registered the 'character doll' trademark in 1909, doll faces moved beyond the idealized 'dolly face' to natural expressions modeled on real children, and Mein Liebling is the face that best represents that change. Reproduction molds of the 117 in many sizes are offered today by Seeley's, Byron and others.

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