|
We all know the
Effanbee doll Company, which was founded by two very determined young men,
who created what would become one of the largest and most successful doll
manufacturing companies in the history of the American Doll industry.
Those of us who love composition dolls have at least one of these dolls in
our collection. The Patsy Family, adorable babies such as Bubbles and
Lovums, lovely Historical dolls in elaborate authentic costumes, and those
unforgettable American Children Dolls designed by Dewees Cochran to just
mention a very few. Yes, Bernard Fleischaker and Hugo Baum (F & B –
“Effanbee”) were the genius behind the Effanbee name. But what of the doll
makers, designers and mould makers who helped to create these many popular
faces?
Otto Ernst Denivelle is a name that most probably are not familiar
with. If you mention Bernard Lipfert, most composition doll collectors
know that this is the designer of Effanbee's Patsy, Bubbles and Ideal's
Shirley Temple. But Otto Ernst Denivelle and his dolls are somewhat of a
mystery.
Denivelle began his doll-making career about 1910-1912 in Mount
Vernon, New York. Along with his brother, Otto pursued the making and
formulating of the composition doll. Otto used the cold-press method of
doll molding and through much trial and error, formulated just the right
glue-based composition to enable the brothers to begin a successful
business. The Denivelle's began to sell their composition doll heads and
limbs to various companies and in 1915 Effanbee Doll Company would begin
to use Denivelle cold-press methods for their dolls. Sadly, Otto's brother
passed away at a very young age, much too soon to see the success of the
business that he helped create.
Effanbee announced in their 1915 catalog: "Ours (dolls) are made
under the Denivelle method, which is the most expensive method known on
account of the tremendous manufacturing plant required". Denivelle's
cold-press method had many advantages. The moulds used to create the head
and limbs had an interior and exterior. The glue-based formula was poured
and pressed into the mould. Once hardened the interior mould collapsed and
would be removed piece by piece. These type of heads can be recognized by
the flange neck and the many vertical seams inside of the head. This
method would produce very detailed molded hair and facial features. But
the expense is obvious, and eventually the hot-press method would take
over. This method used many moulds joined together, instead of the one
collapsible mould.
Effanbee enjoyed the success of these early dolls. The unusual
thing about these early Effanbee/ Denivelle dolls was their markings. Most
carried the name DECO on the neck, some just mold numbers, and some would
have F&B and a large D with co in the middle and NY after. Most of these
early dolls were made using German molds such as Gebruder Heubach which
produced the ever-popular Grumpy face.
|
This is the early Grumpy face.
There were a few different Grumpy faces used later by Effanbee. This
Grumpy, made in 1915 using the Denivelle method is marked DECO 174 (The
174 is hard to see because of his cloth body).
Coquette doll, made in
1915 is a copy of the German bisque Heubach Coquette. |
My Coquette used for
this article has been VERY well loved and will eventually be restored.
Examples of these dolls are very hard to find. Some other dolls attributed
to Denivelle by Effanbee are: Pouting Bess-Mold #162, Betty Bounce-Marked
DECO, Aunt Dinah -This is a smiling Grumpy face, Marked 106 backwards,
Bright Eyes-Marked DECO//144, and Jumbo Boy-Marked F&B and the large D
with co in the middle and NY. Most of these dolls had cloth bodies stuffed
with cork, molded short hair and painted eyes. Some did have sleep eyes,
wigs and composition bodies, but very few.
The exact time line of Denivelle's career with Effanbee is not
known. Effanbee began using his methods in 1915, and possibly continued
until 1917 or so. Otto's flourishing doll-making career was not just
limited to Effanbee and he did work with many other well-known companies.
He worked with Joseph Kallus for Cameo Doll Company, and Horsman Doll
Company. In 1917 he supervised the making of Louis Amberg & Son's Victory
Dolls and he became Amberg's factory Superintendent. He also was granted a
patent for sleep eyes in 1915, and a design patent for the Sunny Orange
Blossom doll in 1924-25, which was produced by Louis Amberg & Son. In 1926
he obtained a U.S. design patent for a doll. His accomplishments are many
but there is still not enough known about this exceptional man.
Many in the doll industry considered him remarkable. He was
described by PLAYTHINGS magazine as a, "Famous Doll Maker and Pioneer
among Doll Makers". In TOYS AND NOVELTIES he was called, "A Leader in the
American Doll Industry".
My two examples for my article are the only DECO dolls in my
collection. Sadly, years ago, I did own a very nice Bright Eyes, and he
was marked DECO. I sold him not realizing who he was. Someday I hope to
come across another one like him. He had chubby cheeks, side-glancing
intaglio blue eyes and molded blonde hair. A few years back I saw his
picture in Patricia Schoonmaker's, "Effanbee-The Formative Years
1910-1929". Since then, I have been searching for information about these
dolls; for this article, for my knowledge and to share it with other doll
lovers. I will continue my research on Denivelle and his wonderful dolls.
I feel there were many more dolls produced by this remarkable man; they
just haven't been identified yet.
One more very important note: I acquired my Grumpy this past spring
through eBay. The seller told me that he belonged to her friend's mother
who had passed away. She was selling him for her friend because she had a
hard time parting with her Mother's doll. The woman was a long time member
of the UFDC in California, and her daughter would feel honored that her
Mother's doll was pictured in a magazine. I thank her for him and I will
treasure him always. We are just their temporary caregivers for a short
time, then we past them on for someone else to love and enjoy.
©2006, Doll Castle News
& Louise Sleeter |
