Half Doll Boudoir Novelties Catalog Page

Here is a wonderful page from a 1926 catalog showing interesting half doll novelties in a variety of types. These feature the "Colonial Dame" brand or style composition heads. Most of these that we have seen were made in France. The half dolls were mounted on strong wire frames, have wavy wigs in colors of white, blonde, auburn and black. They are dressed in high quality materials and fabrics made up of rayon and silk taffeta with ornamental passementerie trimmings, some metallic. The fabric colors were chosen to work best in the boudoir in shades of "old rose", "copen" which is a soft blue, "orchid" and "tan". I suspect the entire ensemble was made and imported from France.

Terre de Retz Powder Boxes c1920s

"Terre de Retz" was a line of face powder sold by the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, The face powder was housed inside papier mache or composition powder boxes molded in various forms from historical figures to sailing ships. Richly painted in dreamy pastels or bold primary colors, these fanciful boxes adorned boudoirs during the 1920s.

c1927 ad

Half Doll Lamps with Mirrors c1920s

While browsing half dolls on the internet, I came across some very interesting examples. I enjoy half dolls that have a little more going for them than just being the handle to a brush or topping a pincushion or perfume bottle. These are gorgeous and may be dubbed the Spanish Dancer type.


Half Doll #1:
Amazing Half doll most likely of German origin. She is of the highest quality. She has her original silk dress that has some minor damage. Her wire frame served once a light bulb and was electrified to be a lamp. She no longer has her electrical components. The doll stands almost 11" tall. The original beveled mirror measures 6.5 x 4.5". Handmade French ribbonwork and metallic passementerie decorate the mirror. This doll has had one of her arms broken, and is not in her original pose.

all photos shown above are from ebay seller gypsy 5961.

Half Doll #2:

Lovely vintage 1920s half doll with original wire frame, clothing and mirror. Figure looks exactly the one shown in the previous photos.

all photos from icollector

Here is the same doll without a costume, wire lamp frame or mirror. She has finely detailed facial features and piano fingers. She is depicted in a very graceful pose with both arms modeled away from her body, 

wearing a light puce bodice, beaded necklace, dangling earrings and bangle bracelets on each arm . She has glossy black hair pulled to the back in a low chignon, her  large brown eyes are delicately outlined in black. 

She is a of a large size measuring 5 1/4" high (13 cm) and 6 1/" (16.5 cm) across. 

Marked on the back with impressed model number 6359. 

photos from ebay seller olwright1