Throwback Thursday: Lissi Batz Dolls - Part 1

During the 1990s as an unfocused doll collector, baby dolls and toddlers were included in my multitude of doll purchases.  If their medium was vinyl, that was a plus; and of course, if their complexions were deep and their aesthetics pleasing, they interested me enough to purchase. 

German-made Lissi Batz dolls usually fell into this category.  Several Lissi Batz dolls were sold through the Home Shopping Network (HSN) during the 1990s with Tina Berry most frequently hosting the shows.  As an avid HSN doll show viewer, Tina did not have to convince me to dial their 800 number to order Lissi dolls.  All I needed was the item number. 

After discovering that none of my books or other published works thoroughly document Lissi Batz dolls, I decided to create a two-part blog post series about them.  This post, the first of the two, will focus on the Lissi Batz dolls that use molds made in West Germany and Germany (after West and East became one country in 1990).

About the Lissi Batz dolls in my collection:

With the exception of the all-vinyl “unknown toddler,” all West Germany and German-made dolls have vinyl heads, ¾ vinyl arms and legs; brown cloth bodies that are signed “Lissi Batz” by Anneliese “Lissi” Schirdewahn-Batz.  Each doll has a hang tag which bears its name and a group image of Lissi dolls.  The West Germany and German-made dolls also have a certificate of authenticity (COA), the back of which illustrates four generations of doll makers from an 1851 fixed-limb doll through a 1958 plastic doll.  A full-length picture of each doll is also included with the historical development of dolls on the back.  On the nape of the neck of Lissi dolls are her initials "LB" enclosed within a triangle. 

The West Germany-made dolls’ Certificate of Authenticity (front) and back of COA (click to enlarge any photo)

Close-up of Unknown Toddler, described above.

Unknown Toddler

Height:  26 inches with bent baby legs

Hair:  Short, black rooted

Facial Characteristics:  Brown sleep eyes with closed, smiling mouth

Head and body:  Head and arms are soft vinyl, body and extremities are rigid plastic.

Clothing:  Redressed in infant’s size 3-6 months mint green and light blue check romper and white high-top baby shoes

Other:  This doll was purchased from another collector during the mid-1990s and probably dates back to the 1980s.  She bears the LB initials within a triangle on the nape of her neck below which are the numbers 70/20

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Scan from BD Book II

Rhea (whose location cannot be determined, which is the reason I used a scan from Black Dolls an Identification and Value Guide, Book II by Myla Perkins):

Height:   19-3/4 inches with straight legs

Hair:  Black rooted hair styled in two side ponytails with bangs; ribbons that match dress accent hair.

Facial Characteristics:  Brown sleep eyes, closed mouth. 

Clothing:   Pink polka dot dress with lavender polka dot overdress, white pantaloons, white socks, black vinyl Mary-Jane style shoes. 

Marked:  Made in West Germany (prior to the reunification of Germany), released in April 1992 sold through the HSN 

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Sheerah

Sheerah

Height:  21 inches with bent baby legs

Hair:  Black rooted hair styled in two side ponytails with bangs; has pink and lavender ponytail holders

Facial Characteristics:  Brown sleep eyes; open mouth with two upper molded/painted teeth.  

Clothing:  Lavender dress with blue floral-print mock overdress, white pantaloons, white socks, black vinyl shoes

Extra:  Has white wooden doll

Sheerah came with a doll stand and was made in Germany in the Lissi Doll Factory in April 1992.  Purchased through HSN’s outlet after having sold out through the HSN shopping channel, I went through great lengths with multiple phone calls to have the outlet locate and sell this doll to me. 

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Lanie

Lanie

Height:  21-1/2 inches with straight legs

Hair:  Light auburn hair styled in one top ponytail with the rest hanging loose

Facial Characteristics:  brown sleep eyes, closed mouth

Clothing:  Peach floral-print dress trimmed in white ruffled fabric, white pantaloons, white socks, black Mary Jane shoes

Extra:  Has white wooden doll and doll stand

Made in Germany in June 1992 in a limited edition of 1000 pieces; this is doll #48; sold through HSN.

  

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Aletha

Aletha

Height:  22 inches with bent baby legs

Hair:  Black rooted hair styled in two side ponytails and one top ponytail with bangs; white satin ribbons accent ponytails.

Facial Characteristics:  Brown sleep eyes; pouty mouth

Clothing:  White lace dress, gold hoop earrings, white socks with ribbons tied at ankles (no shoes)

Extra:  Came with a blue ribbon that bears a headshot of Lissi Batz and a doll stand.

Made in November 1994 as a limited edition of 500 pieces in Germany; sold through HSN, the last HSN Lissi doll made in Germany that I purchased. 

Part 2 will be published, Thursday, October 24, 2013.
 
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