Kämmer & Reinhardtin nukke "Mein Liebling" valittiin aikoinaan maailman kauneimmaksi nukeksi.  Alkuperäinen nukke esiteltiin Benita Suomen TV-ohjelmassa "Nukketohtori".  Alkuperäinen (mikä on alkuperäinen???) nukke on nykyään äärimmäisen arvokas.  Nukkeja on kahta eri tyyppiä, toisella tyypillä on avoin suu ja flirtti silmät.

KUVA  POISTETAAN, KUN ON KATSOTTU! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mein Liebling

Reproduction closed mouth, socket head (circumference 11 inches), using a mould from Wanke.
Reproduced as a German child doll. Dressed in a blue patterned lawn dress and embroidered apron; socks knitted in cotton, with black leather shoes and cotton underwear. See below for further construction details.
Original doll by Kämmer and Reinhardt who made dolls in Walterhausen from 1886-1933, and marketed KR117 under the name of "Mein Liebling". She is one of the best known K*R's and was patented in 1902, pre-dating Kämmer and Reinhardt's first introduction of bisque character dolls in 1909, which started a trend of creating more realistic dolls. [Antique Dolls of China and Bisque Marjorie Fainges Page 105.]

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With her serene face the KR117 was one of the most popular types of doll ever made and was produced over a very long period of time. She was made and developed into different types and even produced in celluloid later in life (KR717). The follow-on model, KR117n (n for "neue" or new) had an open mouth with teeth and "flirty" eyes meaning they not only sleep but also move from side to side. There seem to be two different types of Mein Liebling - this type is my preference, with a slightly narrower face and sharper features. Most of the moulds available are a doll with a flatter rounder face.
I made this head shortly before I took a few years break from doll making, and I decided in the summer before I resumed classes that I would finish her (body, dress, wig, shoes). The dress fabric is made of Liberty Tana Lawn in a blue pattern; it's a very simple gathered waist design with puffed long sleeves gathered at the wrist. There is lace trim only at the wrists. Over this is a fine cotton apron made of vintage fabric with a dot pattern woven in; I invented the design of the apron, copying a picture, and embroidered some flowers (toning with the dress) in satin stitch at the waist. The underwear is in a heavy cream cotton, with 3 tucks horizontally around the skirt; there is no lace on the underwear. Most of the sewing was done by hand for this doll. The socks are hand knitted in Coats Crochet cotton No. 20 using a pattern leaflet by Joan Nerini, and the shoes are a simple slipper-style in black gloving leather.
Sadly the wig lets this doll down. I had forgotten about all the problems inherent in making wigs with processed rope mohair; basically it is very hard to make a straight wig style using it - all over curly and then don't ever touch it again is more the thing. The straight part has instantly matted together in an unappealing lump and her curled ringlets are gradually becoming like rats tails (poor thing) - but she smiles serenely on. One day I shall make her a replacement wefted wig using the wig loom, (from the Gildebrief online shop), perhaps even making the wefts using strands of mohair from her current wig.
Other reference materials for this doll are easy to find.