Doll

Most doll heads made of glazed and unglazed porcelain for the dolls American girls of the 19th century played with came from the German potteries that also produced vases, dishes, and decorative figurines. German manufacturers exported the first doll heads in the 1840s, and most of the heads of this era depicted graceful women with fashionable hairdos of the day. By the 1880s, doll makers made heads with the shorter, wider necks, fuller faces, and big eyes of children. These heads were made in many sizes, and they were often sold individually to mothers who made bodies for the dolls. Some young girls practiced their sewing skills by making clothes for their dolls.