Porcelain Doll Clothes

In the beginning of the 19th century, porcelain, which is produced by firing clays in a kiln set at over 2,373° F, became a popular material for making dolls. The word “porcelain” is often used in reference to both china and bisque dolls. The heads of china dolls are made of glazed porcelain and the bisque doll heads are unglazed.

China dolls are recognizable by their hair styles. In the 1840s, the covered wagon hair style was popular. The hair on the top of the head was flat, while a garland of curls surrounded the face. The 1850s featured two popular hairstyles for porcelain dolls. The Alice in Wonderland hair style was characterized by straight hair and a hair band, whereas the Dolly Madison hair style had curls all over and a ribbon. The more elaborate the hair style, the higher the value of the doll.

From the 1840s until after World War I, French and German bisque dolls gained popularity. The majority of these dolls were considered fashion dolls. They represented the ladies of high society. Girls from affluent families would learn to sew by creating elaborate wardrobes for their dolls. As they designed their doll’s clothing, they learned the importance of fashion in the 19th century. The girls would purchase magazines that explained the current fashion trends, and provided them with the latest patterns for making their doll’s clothes.

Today, Vee’s Victorians carries out the tradition of creating beautiful handmade doll’s clothes. The mother-daughter team behind Vee’s Victorians not only sews the clothes, but drafts the patterns so that each item fits perfectly. Keep this beautiful part of history alive. Check out our 150 styles of doll clothing today!

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