1940s Kathe Kruse Stoffkopf Rare Pied Piper of Hamelin Doll VIII
Character.USD $900.00
Condition : Used
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On offer today is a rare, very-vintage Käthe Kruse doll VIII character.
When I bought the doll, his identity was unknown... I thought at first from his outfit he was a Christmas elf, but just recently I found a vintage Doll Collector Magazine with him on the cover... described as The Pied Piper of Hamelin!
The magazine article tells how the author came by him- from the daughter of a German woman who worked at the Kruse factory, and more about his story.
Of course I am including the magazine in this sale, so nobody can forget again who he really is!
One special feature about this doll is his hands. Each hand has a crocheted loop connecting the thumb to the first finger.
The photo of the doll in the magazine shows him holding a long black-painted metal flute, with a close-up photo showing the crocheted loops.
Unfortunately this doll's original flute did not come with him, but perhaps a replacement could be found, or re-created from metal or wood.
MARKS:
Has purple Käthe Kruse stamped signature on Left foot, with red serial number 4_1506.
The space after the first number indicates he was made in the Soviet Zone, 1948 to 1950.
I do believe the doll was made before Käthe fled with the rest of her family to the US zone in 1950, when the communist government seized her business. There are no VEB markings, and the doll's manufacturing details are consistent with dolls completed in this era under her supervision.*
The other foot has only some pencilled numbers.
Has original ID string around neck, but the cardboard tag is sadly missing.
*(I have in my reference collection photos of at least one doll VIII, dated on head 1948
, with the same configuration of marks: purple KK sig, red number with space
).
CONDITION:
Overall good vintage condition. Some dust and discoloration that comes from time and storage.
Under his clothes the kapok-filled body looks quite new (though there is at least one light water spot on the lower left leg).
There are a few moth munches in the wool felt costume, but the colors are still quite bright.
The feather on the cap is much the worse for wear. One could replace it if desired with an antique feather in better shape.
There is a painting flaw at one ear, which doesn't show normally, given the length of the wig.
There's some 'craquelee' of the paint on the head. There was a missing flake on his cheek, which I sealed, filled and touched up so it wouldn't detract. No other repainting or restoration has been done.
Dark smudges inside hands from holding his metal flute long ago.
The magazine shows a black felt bag dangling from the belt, but this doll doesn't have his. I think it'd be easy enough to make something similar of black wool felt.
MEASUREMENTS:
Kathe Kruse dolls VIII were advertised as being 52cm tall, or about 20 inches, give or take.
It would be fun to assemble an "off-season" outfit for him, with his longer hair "he" could even be a girl who's just playing the role of The Pied Piper.
As The Pied Piper of Hamelin, he'd be wonderful to display with smaller dolls in a tableau.
And of course at Christmas, he makes a great elf!
SHIPPING INFO: No In-Person Transactions/Pick-ups, sorry.
Will be shipped USPS
with tracking, your choice of Ground or Priority.
Note ground shipping times are SLOWER
than they used to be!**
I refund any shipping difference of $2 or more.
I ship Monday through Friday. From non-smoking, pet and perfume-free home. **I have added a Priority shipping option, $50. If you need USPS Express, it would be $120. Ebay only lets me add two shipping options, so if you need "Express" shipping, please let me know before purchase and I'll upgrade it for you.
Thank you for looking!
When I bought the doll, his identity was unknown... I thought at first from his outfit he was a Christmas elf, but just recently I found a vintage Doll Collector Magazine with him on the cover... described as The Pied Piper of Hamelin!
The magazine article tells how the author came by him- from the daughter of a German woman who worked at the Kruse factory, and more about his story.
Of course I am including the magazine in this sale, so nobody can forget again who he really is!
One special feature about this doll is his hands. Each hand has a crocheted loop connecting the thumb to the first finger.
The photo of the doll in the magazine shows him holding a long black-painted metal flute, with a close-up photo showing the crocheted loops.
Unfortunately this doll's original flute did not come with him, but perhaps a replacement could be found, or re-created from metal or wood.
MARKS:
Has purple Käthe Kruse stamped signature on Left foot, with red serial number 4_1506.
The space after the first number indicates he was made in the Soviet Zone, 1948 to 1950.
I do believe the doll was made before Käthe fled with the rest of her family to the US zone in 1950, when the communist government seized her business. There are no VEB markings, and the doll's manufacturing details are consistent with dolls completed in this era under her supervision.*
The other foot has only some pencilled numbers.
Has original ID string around neck, but the cardboard tag is sadly missing.
*(I have in my reference collection photos of at least one doll VIII, dated on head 1948
, with the same configuration of marks: purple KK sig, red number with space
).
CONDITION:
Overall good vintage condition. Some dust and discoloration that comes from time and storage.
Under his clothes the kapok-filled body looks quite new (though there is at least one light water spot on the lower left leg).
There are a few moth munches in the wool felt costume, but the colors are still quite bright.
The feather on the cap is much the worse for wear. One could replace it if desired with an antique feather in better shape.
There is a painting flaw at one ear, which doesn't show normally, given the length of the wig.
There's some 'craquelee' of the paint on the head. There was a missing flake on his cheek, which I sealed, filled and touched up so it wouldn't detract. No other repainting or restoration has been done.
Dark smudges inside hands from holding his metal flute long ago.
The magazine shows a black felt bag dangling from the belt, but this doll doesn't have his. I think it'd be easy enough to make something similar of black wool felt.
MEASUREMENTS:
Kathe Kruse dolls VIII were advertised as being 52cm tall, or about 20 inches, give or take.
It would be fun to assemble an "off-season" outfit for him, with his longer hair "he" could even be a girl who's just playing the role of The Pied Piper.
As The Pied Piper of Hamelin, he'd be wonderful to display with smaller dolls in a tableau.
And of course at Christmas, he makes a great elf!
SHIPPING INFO: No In-Person Transactions/Pick-ups, sorry.
Will be shipped USPS
with tracking, your choice of Ground or Priority.
Note ground shipping times are SLOWER
than they used to be!**
I refund any shipping difference of $2 or more.
I ship Monday through Friday. From non-smoking, pet and perfume-free home. **I have added a Priority shipping option, $50. If you need USPS Express, it would be $120. Ebay only lets me add two shipping options, so if you need "Express" shipping, please let me know before purchase and I'll upgrade it for you.
Thank you for looking!
Returns Accepted for this item if it's within 14 Days
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