Welcome to The Lenci Doll Collector

Posted on September 17, 2019September 18, 2019 by theeditor

Determining the Value of your Lenci doll

This post is based on my responses to question I have received from readers. Estimating the value of your Lenci doll When asked about the value of a Lenci or similar doll I do not provide a valuation service. As … Continue reading →

Ars Lenci Sportswear Sketch

Source: Museo Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas Museo Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas Inventario CE14518 Clasificación Genérica Dibujo Objeto/Documento Dibujo Autor Lenci (Lugar de nacimiento: Turín, act. 1918) Materia/Soporte Cartulina gris Técnica Dibujo a lápiz Aguada Dimensiones Altura = 32,70 … Continue reading →

Dec 7, 1920 Lenci Dolls in Printemps Catalog

Dominique Pennegues drew my attention to this wonderful catalog page from Au Printemps showing the range of Lenci dolls offered from sale for Winter 1920/21. A notice on the cover of the Au Printemps toy catalog announces that the toys … Continue reading →

Rare Lenci Josephine Baker Doll on Proxibid

Offered on “I Only Wanted to Wonder”, A Marquis Doll Auction Tuesday, Aug 1, 2017 | 11:00 AM Eastern Description: 18″ (46 cm.) Plumply-cheeked light brown wool felt swivel head with pressed and painted facial features, dark brown side-glancing painted … Continue reading →

Lenci Nursery Decor

Nursery decor from the Lenci company early 1920’s Source: http://www.internetculturale.it This is a rare illustration of a display of children’s room decor by the Lenci company of Turin. The dolls seen in the picture appear similar to those seen in the … Continue reading →

Lenci “Sam” Sold at Auction for $19,000

The Candy Spelling Doll Auction results are online now and Lenci collectors will be interested in the closing prices,especially for the rarely seen Lenci characters. The highest price in the Lenci category went to the later model Lenci character Sam … Continue reading →

Auction Results: The Candy Spelling Collection Lenci Dolls

Below are the auction results of the entire selection of Lenci auction results – the Lenci Sam black boudior doll fetched $19,000 and the Lenci Josephine Baker went for $11,000. Italian Glass-Eyed Googly, “Fobello”, by Lenci 1800/2500 Lot # 23 … Continue reading →

Lenci Felt Wall Hangings

Reader Judy’s shares pictures of rare Lenci felt wall art
– Click Here for the Details in the blog

Candy & Aaron Spelling Collection Lenci Dolls up for Auction

– Click Here for the Details in our new blog

Rare Lenci Spanish Lady

Lenci Restoration: The Lenci Snake Charmer of 1925

Tips for Selling your Lenci Doll– June 2011
(Italiano)If you are considering selling your Lenci doll online here are some handy tips ….
read the article Buying Lenci Dolls at Auction – June 2011 (Italiano)If you are planning to buy a Lenci doll on eBay it helps to familiarize yourself with the going rates for the type of doll you are interested in buying or selling…
read the article Online Resource for Old Lenci Catalogs and Archive Pictures. You can browse some rare Lenci catalog pages and documents from the old Lenci factory Click here to view old Lenci catalog pages and photos at internetculturale.it, the pages are in italian, but the pictures are great, click on the word “Vedi” next to each picture to see the full size view.Video : Lenci’s Turin – La Torino di Lenci by Pier Luigi Bassignana e Elena Romagnolo
A video from storiaindustria.it in italian about the Lenci factory in Turin during the 1920’s-30’s. Since its foundation in 1919 by Elena and her husband Enrico Konig Scavini, until the sale in 1937, the story of a company and its place in art and industry. Rare footage and pictures.
Watch the video (video, 9:57:00 duration)

La Torino di Lenciideato da Pier Luigi Bassignana e Elena Romagnolo.
Il percorso racconta l’avventura della fabbrica Lenci nella Torino industriale degli anni Venti e Trenta del Nocento. Dalla fondazione nel 1919 ad opera di Elena Konig e del marito Enrico Scavini, fino alla cessione nel 1937, la storia di un’azienda e della sua produzione tra arte e industria.
Per consultare il percorso:
Narrazione multimediale (Video, durata 9:57:00)
Source: storiaindustria.it

Watch More Archival Videos at: http://lenci-dolls.net/movie.html

Lenci Balilla from 1940’s Italy

Mike sent in this picture of this rare Balilla model Lenci boy that has been in his family for 3 generations. Says Mike “The only thing that I know about it was that my great uncle came back from Italy after WW2 and gave the doll to my dad when he was probably two or three. I had read where that factory was bombed during the war , but I can not be sure of that. That’s all we really know about it.”Mike’s lenci doll is interesting for its direct provenance to the 1940s when his great uncle acquired it in Italy. The Lenci factory had indeed been bombed during the war. Fortunately the precious molds for pressing the felt faces were preserved however the technique of creating the famous Lenci doll faces was fading. After the war things had changed and the technique of molding the faces was all but lost.
Now after the war a new generation of workers producing the famous Lenci dolls depended upon the remaining pre war stock of pre pressed molded blank faces that remained unused since before the war – until stocks ran out. Lenci Collectors will notice a slight change in the painting style of the faces that can be seen in the post-war Lenci dolls.The Lenci Balilla above dates to Facist era of pre war Italy so it was very likely made before WW2. The first Lenci Balilla doll appeared in the 1929 catalog as a 300 series doll. This small 10.5 inch model Balila dates to the 1933 catalog when it was recorded a series 70.For more about the Lenci Balilla see this article on The Lenci Balilla

Credit: Fabio Venturoli of Antichità Barberia : original Ars Lenci Childs coat

Video: Interviste a Giovanna Demeglio (antiquaria e restauratrice di bambole) e Ivana Calvetto (modellista della Lenci).Per l’evento del 07/03 2010 nell’ambito della rassegna Le Domeniche dell’Ecomuseo, dedicato alle bambole Lenci.
A Reader’s Story: Early Lenci Spanish Lady and Pierrot Rare early Lenci character dolls.
.Stefanie writes….”for a long time I shared this great homepage and learned a lot from your informative articles and the photos of the Lenci gallery.
Now I want to write this letter about two dolls of mine, and I hope it is a little interesting for you too.
I’m a doll collector , especially a Lenci doll collector, but I’m a German (that’ the reason for my terrible English,too) and Germany isn’t a Lenci-land.
It is very difficult to get a Lenci at all.Because of this I was really surprised by an announcement of a Lady, who wanted to sell” two old Lencis “.I was very doubtful, but on the other hand nosy,so I decided to take a look at them.

….Read the article >> Is this Mussolini’s Lenci Doll?
A Lenci doll with a unique history.
Edward Petersen from State College, PA shares his story of a very unique Lenci doll.“The doll was sent to my wife by her Uncle when she was a small child during the Second World War.
The doll was found in a villa that belonged to Mussolini during the Second World War. It is 24 inches tall and is dressed as an Italian peasant girl. ”
“The doll has all the original face paint and is in fine condition.
She has on a two piece dress brocade dress with flower print.
The dress is partially lined and she has multiple layers of undergarments.
She is wearing a black felt apron over the dress and she has stocking which are probably knit cotton. Her hair feels like it is real and is brown or auburn in color and is put up in a bun. The doll has leather shoes. I have been told that the doll is a Lenci doll dating around the mid 1930’s and that the name of the doll is probably GHERDA…
“There is documentation that indicates the doll was recovered from Benito Mussolini’s villa or castle near Gargnano Italy in May of 1945 by my wife’s Uncle, a member of Company “K” of the 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment. This coincides with military history that Company “K” of the 85th Mountain Infantry seized a Mussolini’s villa in that area and on April 30, 1945 its Headquarters and members of company K were housed in that villa until the end of the war. That villa the was the Villa Feltrinelli which was Mussolini family residence for the last two years of the Second World War.”Credit: Article photos and text © Edward Petersen, email: iasilverdale @ comcast.net
A
Mysterious “Indian” Lenci
A brief
history of an unusual discoveryImagine an ancient and important building of a city in
northern Italy. In the attic of this building there is a chest covered with
dust.
One day, a few years ago, this trunk was found and opened after so many
years … Between the old toys in the trunk peeps an unusual puppet depicting
an Indian, put there and forgotten for nearly a century ago by a child, who was
too big to play with.But not everything is taken for granted for this Indian: soon
would left for a new city, welcomed by a new family that, had never seen
anything like it, would be very curious about its origin.So, that a few days after the discovery of the trunk, came to
our house the “mysterious Indian”, as soon nicknamed him for his difficult
identification.However, I have always believed that Lenci dolls be
recognized first of all for something that they have in the eyes and then,
later, for all the features described in the books. And the look of this Indian
is really unusual, but at the same time attractive enough to remember some
characteristic figures of the company Lenci in the first period.His face seems carved in stone, but his bright eyes and
sharp, as if they would pierce the eyes of his interlocutor. The large mouth
has a lower lip slightly pink than the upper lip and is portrayed in a mocking
smile.Are not common even his height: is 49 cm high (19 in) and body fat but at the same time imposing, with a black sun painted on his chest.
Her hair are raven blacks and gathered in two long braids, has earrings and a
necklace made with glass beads. The hands, according to the first tradition of
the production Lenci, are all united in the blade.According to some publications, the Lenci company had manufactured
in the ’20s, than the early dolls also very rudimentary, figures such as cowboy
ethnic, oriental and even among these Native Americans, as we see from the
photo catalog of the Firm in 1923 (with number 105), inspired by fashion of the
time and from the period lived from Madame Lenci in a international circus
Lenci Catalog of 1923The picture of the old catalog shows an Indian with bow and
arrows and a colorful headgear, but the endless stories that he lived justify today
the absence of these, and finally a well deserved rest in our living room.Clizia Turchi
Reference:Lenci Dolls by Dorothy
S.Coleman Hobby House Press 1977Lenci The History and the Dolls
by Nancy Lazenby – Reverie Publishing Company 2007The Native Americian “Indian” doll comes from a private collection Photos:
© Clizia Turchi All rights reserved Lenci Auctions

A Rare Lenci Baby of 1924A member recently posted a question in the identification section asking the common question “Is my doll a Lenci?” It turns out to be a rare early Lenci Anili baby model 164 A.

…Read the story and see more pictures including rare catalog pictures.
Rosita SiccardiWe are saddened by the loss of esteemed doll expert & friend Dr. Rosita Siccardi on Dec 21. 2009 Rosita has always been a great help to doll collectors, always ready to share her unique knowledge and expertise on antique dolls especially Lenci dolls. Her passing is a great loss to the doll collecting world.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Domenico and family.

Siamo addolorati per la perdita di esperti bambola e amico stimato >Dr. Rosita Siccardi il 21 Dicembre 2009. Rosita è sempre stato un grande aiuto per i collezionisti bambola, sempre pronta a condividere la sua conoscenza e competenza sulle bambole antiche soprattutto bambole Lenci. La sua scomparsa è una grande perdita per i raccoglitori di bambole.
I nostri pensieri e preghiere sono con il marito Domenico e famiglia
Two Early Lenci Dolls (Italiano: Due antiche bambole Lenci)

Author: Clizia Turchi

The story of two old dolls manufactured by the Lenci company nearly 100 years ago.…Read Article
Italiano: Due antiche bambole Lenci

Door from the Lenci Company in Turin

Edith gets ready for her big adventure!Production photos of R. John Wright’s Edith, The Lonely Doll® as she gets ready to depart on the big journey to her new homes.
…Click here to see the pictures
Shipping from Apr 7th 2008

Seen on eBay
A preparatory sketch for a Lenci ceramic piece “La Moglie del Soldato” ( the soldiers wife), by Elena Scavini, ref “Le ceramiche di Lenci” di Alfonso Panzetta pag. 221 “Lenci ceramiche da collezione”, Luciano Proverbio pag. 272
:

Old article “La fucina della gioa infantile. Una visita alla fabbrica delle bambole Lenci.”Old article in Italian from the publication Patria, describing a visit to the Lenci factory with pictures of the dolls and the Lenci shop. The dolls shown in the pictures are from the the 1926 catalog so this article probably dates to 1926; Patria.
C.F.A. “La fucina della gioa infantile. Una visita alla fabbrica delle bambole
Lenci.”

Click here to view >>Search page may be accessed at: http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/dl_crosscollex/
Enter the word “Lenci” ( or “Patria” to see
other old pages in Italian )

The original Lenci PatentThe original Lenci 1921 patent in the US patent archives
– the link takes you to the search results page for Patent No. 1,389,905, Issue Date September 6, 1921, filed by E Scavini in 1919.
On results page, click on the “Images” button to see the images of the original patent application filed by Enrico Scavini, the husband of Elena Scavini known as “Madame Lenci”, the creator of the Lenci dolls.
Detail: An original B/W picture of Madame Lenci from the book Lenci Dolls, by Nancy Lazenby, colorized by Patricia.
…Click here to access the patent page >>
Lenci Characters : The Circus

The Destiny of “Una bambola e altre creazioni”A Brief Lenci History by Rosita Siccardi
(Italiano: Destino di “Una bambola e altre creazioni”)Sept 16th 2007
Feature Interview: R. John Wright talks about his latest creation, Edith, The Lonely Doll®
The genius of R. John Wright, in homage to Lenci tradition, brings us a fitting tribute to the legacy of Dare Wright for this, the 50th anniversary year of the publication of The Lonely Doll ®. ..read the interview Sept 15th 2007NEWS FLASH:The wait is over !
R. John Wright’s latest creation Edith, The Lonely Doll ® is unveiled in magnificent detail on the official web site at :
http://www.rjohnwright.com/edith.htmlAug/Sept, 2007Edith inspired Knitting Pattern for 22″ Lenci doll More details…Aug, 2007

Photoshop, Forensics and Fairytales

Historical Context: Part 1, The Lenci Balilla

Jul 1, 2007

Lenci: The History and the Dolls

is now shipping

Nancy’s fabulous book Lenci: The History and the Dolls arrived in the mail yesterday. Once I opened it I couldn’t put it down till the last page. Our congratulations to Nancy on her accomplishment! It is a major milestone for doll collectors.

This is everything Nancy promised in her recent interview and more! The research into early company history is fascinating, with never before seen early photos, the young Elena Scavini (Madame Lenci) looking every bit as pretty as a boudoir doll herself. Gorgeous photos, such fine examples ! – dolls I had only seen in catalogs and had been wondering about for ages, a definitive guide for Lenci collectors – a book to treasure!! – Patricia Hayes

June 2007

ZIZI by HELEN KÖNIG SCAVINI

‘ZIZI’by HELEN KÖNIG SCAVINI. polychrome pottery with
black enamel marks Lenci MADE IN ITALY TORINO,
15in. (38cm.) high

Lenci Portraits: Louise Brooks

April 2007

Lenci Portraits: Mistinguett

Lenci Ceramics

Auction Report: François Theimer Auctions, 3-24-07

Mar 2007

Celebrity Favorites: Josephine Baker

Feb 2007

Reader’s Story: A Rare Find

Reader Sharon shares the story of her rare Lenci Cupid dolls.

Jan 16, 2007

Special Feature: Nancy Lazenby Interview

Nancy talks about her forthcoming book on Lenci Dolls.

Buy it on Amazon.com

Jan 1, 2007

Lenci Characters: Commedia Dell’ Arte

Dec 2006

Reader’s Story: A Beautiful Lady Returns Home, by Mike Jordan

Special Feature: R. John Wright Interview

R. John Wright

Restoring a Lenci doll requires a mixture of art and science and a level of skill and patience beyond the ordinary,
Diane Mardis recently completed a restoration project that would be daunting to even the most experienced doll restorer. … read the article

Watch Video:

The Lenci dolls of the Grazia Caiani collection 1919-1940

NEI PANNI DI UNA BAMBOLA
Le lenci della collezione di Grazia Caiani 1919 – 1940

In programma dal 13 dicembre 2007 fino al 15 febbraio 2008 alla Sala Santa Rita di Roma la mostra “Nei panni di una bambola”, una selezione di circa 60 esemplari di bambole riunite sotto il marchio Lenci – provenienti da una più ampia collezione privata che raccoglie oltre 200 pezzi dal 1874 agli anni Sessanta.

Historical Context Part 1: The Lenci Balilla

Posted on July 1, 2007September 18, 2019 by theeditor

Italian Mother and Child — 1. Italian mother and child (Archive press photo, source unknown

Certainly no story of early Lenci doll production is complete without taking into account the social and political factors at play in the world at large, from the Great War, when in 1918, Madame Lenci experimented with her first dolls in her kitchen while her husband Enrico was at war, to the impact of Fascist movement in Italy, through the dynamics of the” Roaring 20’s” and the Great Depression which almost closed down the factory, and later on when the factory was bombed during WW2, destroying much of the building, including irreplaceable archive items.

According to Wikipedia, the name Balilla originates in the story of an Italian historical character, a brave Genoese youth called Giovan Battista Perasso, and his part in a local revolt of 1746 against the Habsburg forces that occupied the city of Genoa in the War of Succession. For his youth and revolutionary activity, Perasso became a symbol of the struggle of Italians for independence and unification. Italy‘s Fascists named after him the Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB), a youth organization functioning between 1926 and 1937. If you have been following Lenci auctions on eBay, you may occasionally come across a Lenci child doll referred to as the Balilla.

Lenci 300 Series Balilla Boy Doll — 3. 300 Series Balilla 1920’s (Picture found on eBay)

This doll is dressed in the uniform of the fascist youth movement, which was a reality in the lives of Italian school children

of the day. School books at the time, promoted fascist ideals and both boys and girls had a special uniform.

Child’s book “Per Le Vacanze ” printed in 1930 (Private Collection)

A child’s school book printed in 1930 (Image2) shows a picture of a school boy on the cover dressed in the Balilla outfit, in the center pages of the book are color pictures of Lenci dolls. The appearance of Lenci dolls in the book no doubt a reflection of the national pride in Italian culture and heritage that was being promoted by the government in the educational system, together with the ideals and propaganda of the Fascist movement.

Some Lenci models are found wearing the typical uniform of the youth organization. A 300 series boy doll appears dressed in the uniform of the Balilla in the 1929 Lenci catalog with a detailed outfit including insignia and wearing the dark jacket and blue gray pants, and on his head, the typical Fez with a tassel and pin.
Following are some examples of Lenci dolls and related items. For further reading on Lenci specific history you can read a well researched account of Lenci History from the earliest beginnings up to the present day in Nancy Lazenby’s new book.

A while back I received an email from a reader with an interesting story with links to wartime Italy, which I will share with you next time in Part II of this series.

4. Balilla ID card (Picture found on eBay)

5. Balilla rally(Archive press photo, source unknown)

Balilla Badge — 7. Picture of an actual vintage badge

Balilla doll hat

Lenci Balilla in 1929 Catalog — 9. 300 series dolls in 1929 catalog, Balilla on the right.(Source: Lenci, Torino, Catalog of 1929)

Lenci pair in Fascist youth outfits

References/Credits:

eBay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balilla
Lenci, Torino, 1929 Catalog
Per Le Vacanze, Edizione Guasco,ASTI 1930 (VIII)

P. Hayes, 2007
For The Lenci Doll Collector

Special Feature : Nancy Lazenby Interview

Posted on January 16, 2007September 18, 2019 by theeditor

Patricia Hayes: I am very much looking forward to your new book
Lenci: The History and the Dolls.

What was your motivation in taking on this subject ?

Nancy Lazenby : I’ve loved and collected Lenci and other felt dolls for almost 30 years. I bought my first Lenci doll (still have it) for $8.00 in a thrift shop in 1968. I was hooked from that time on, and tried to learn as much as I could about the dolls over the years. I have a collection of Lenci’s that numbers just over 80 dolls and accessories. I have always had the desire to write a book on Lenci but until Reverie Publishing approached me I didn’t think that this book would be a reality.

PH: Can you share with me some details about the contents ?

NL: I’ve really made an effort to make this a comprehensive book on Lenci, covering all aspects of the company’s history. Much of the book is devoted to the years between 1919 and 1936 when Elena and Enrico Scavini started and ran the company, and then the Garella years are covered, when Pilade and Flavio Garella bought the company, passing it on to two more generations of the Garella Family until the doors closed in 2001. I covered the Anili Company (Elena Scavini’s daughter) which Elena sculpted the doll faces used for the Anili dolls. I included photographs of many of the known Lenci Types to help collectors tell the difference between a true Lenci and the types. Each chapter has a list of Identity Factors for that particular type or size of Lenci. Lastly, there is an entire chapter on identifying Lenci dolls, complete with photographs showing the various construction methods used by the company. The book is intended to be an easy to use guide for the novice collector, as well as being a comprehensive book for the most sophisticated Lenci collector. I submitted over 500 photographs, some of which had to be eliminated simply because of room, but the final book has close to 400 photographs, almost all of them in color. This is the first American Book published on Lenci in almost 30 years. It is my hope that I have been able to expand on the wonderful research done by Dorothy Coleman… …(continued below)

“Lenci became a passion with me. I have learned never to say ‘never’ when it comes to Lenci as it always surprises me to find something unusual with each new doll I am able to examine.”- Nancy Lazenby

New book on Lenci Dolls from Nancy Lazenby

2. Lenci: The History and the Dolls
“The book is intended to be an easy to use guide for the novice collector, as well as being a comprehensive book for the most sophisticated Lenci collector.” – Nancy Lazenby

Continued …” and to add to what Sabine Reinelt was able to impart in her book, written in both German and English. I had access to Dorothy Coleman’s research papers. Poma Caso’s wonderful family photographs and records…(Poma is the daughter of Anili, and the Granddaughter of Elena Scavini). Bibija Garella was extremely helpful in providing information and family photographs on the Garella years of the company both under her father, and during the time she was heading up Lenci. I had access to the records of Tide-Rider, the company that represented Lenci in the United States in the 1980’s during the rebirth of the Lenci Company when Beppe brought back the reproduction dolls made from the old molds. This in addition to the wonderful people who opened up their homes so I could photographs some of the best Lenci Collections in the United States. I was so fortunate to gain the trust and cooperation of many people who helped to make this book a reality. I am so grateful to each one that helped me.

PH: What were the some of the challenges you overcame in taking on this project?

NL: There were challenges, but people were so wonderful when I asked for help. I have made friends with people from all over the world through Lenci. Patrizia Nicotra Martini in Italy was invaluable helping me with questions I had. I found one of the most difficult things was the dolls were known by different names in Italy than they were in America. Especially after 1933. Lenci had a habit of changing the way they identified their dolls over the years. In the book I try to stick with what the dolls were called initially, i.e. Series 300, Series 110, Miniatures, etc. After 1933 when catalogues were no longer available to us, the company began calling a Series of dolls by names such as Rita, Lucia, Henriette, etc. With each name identifying a size and face of dolls that came in several different costumes. Many dolls are known in the US by one name but in Italy by another name. This was the most difficult part to resolve.

PH: How long did the project take and how did you find the time in your busy schedule?

NL: I didn’t keep a daily schedule. My life was too busy to try and say I would write for 4 hours each day. I cut out pieces of the year and devoted them to the book. I am also the National Event Coordinator for the United Federation of Doll Clubs, overseeing the meal events at their national convention yearly and working with the Director of Convention Services in planning the national convention. I took two months off to do the actual writing of the book, but it took me two years to get all the research material together, and to photograph doll collections all over the United States. When I began writing I had amassed all of my research materials and just needed to get it into a book format.

PH: How did you become interested in Lenci dolls?

NL: I have collected dolls my entire life. I put them away when I was about 13 but unpacked them and began calling myself a doll collector when I was 27. In 1968 the best resources to find dolls were Flea Markets and Thrift Shops. I bought the initial Lenci from a thrift store for $8.00 as I have told you, but the 2nd one has a much more interesting story to it. I found a little floppy leg miniature girl in a Thrift Store in Redwood City, CA, and bought her for $13 in 1968. The thrift store manager told me that the doll had been donated by a woman who was a twin. She told the store manager that she and her twin sister had both been given twin Lenci dolls when they were young. One dressed in a pink ruffled organdy dress, the other in green. She told the shop owner that the dolls “looked at one another”, with one doll looking left and the other looking right. She was donating her doll because she had no girls to give it to. I always remembered that story………22 years later I was walking through a Southern California doll show and found the same little floppy leg doll, dressed in a green ruffled organdy dress. The hats on the dolls were identical. Of course the story came back to me, but I didn’t know if my doll looked to the left or the right. When I called home to find out, my husband thought I was crazy, but dutifully went to look at the doll. Sure enough…….the girl in pink was glancing to the right and the one in green was looking to the left. I bought the little girl in green, and although I have no way of knowing if the dolls were once the childhood dolls of the twin girls…….I like to think that they were reunited. Beppe Garella once told me that in the early years when they shipped dolls such as the Series 300 pairs, they tried to select dolls that would look at one another. Over the years, I have found that when a pair of dolls is found, they often do look at one another.

PH: What advice would you offer a beginning collector ?

NL: Two things: First, Buy dolls that talk to your heart. If you love the doll at first sight chances are you will always love it, and it will continue to make you happy. The cost of the doll will long be forgotten with the joy it brings when you look at her/him. Second: From an investment stand point, buy the best example of a doll that you can afford. Lenci’s are unique in that a prime example that is clean, and all original, will always hold it’s value. It’s very hard for the novice to clean a Lenci properly, and finding original clothing can prove to be a real challenge. There are people who do a beautiful job of cleaning and restoring Lenci dolls, but the cost is high for their expertise, learned over many years of trial and error. In the beginning this may mean buying a perfect miniature when your heart is set on a Series 300 doll. But work up to that Series 300 doll, and buy the best examples you can afford. When you find a better example, sell the first one and buy a better one.

I might add one last item. Many new doll collectors think they must have a focused doll collection…..that they must collect just one type of doll. This is something that isn’t necessarily for everyone. I have tended to focus on cloth and felt dolls, but that was after many years of collecting and finding that I was always drawn to the Lenci dolls. If, as a new collector, you want to buy all types of dolls, and you are building a varied collection, don’t ever think this is the wrong approach. It is much more normal than my collection that has a narrow focus. It is not necessary to find one type of doll that you love and to focus your whole collection towards that end. However……by buying many types of dolls, you will learn a lot from the collection you build, and if at some point you decide to start a collection of one particular type or one manufacturer, you will have had the experience and knowledge gained in owning many different dolls. This will help you to know that giving a certain focus to your collection is the right thing for you personally to do.

PH: Can you share some details of your own collection of dolls?

NL: I began by collecting mostly composition and hard plastic. These are the dolls I grew up with and played with as a child. They were the dolls I was familiar with. I had a collection of 500 to 800 dolls, and in the late 1980’s I began to sell them so I could buy Lenci’s and other cloth dolls. My initial investment of a few dollars here and there at Flea Markets proved to be a good one, as doll collecting grew tremendously in the 1980’s. The dolls I sold enabled me to buy some beautiful Lenci’s and other felt and cloth dolls. Today my collection of Lenci’s is just over 80 dolls, but my entire doll collection numbers about 500 dolls, this includes a lot of beautiful Lenci Types, some special composition dolls, hard plastic, a group of Pinocchio dolls, a collection of R. John Wright dolls and with my involvement in UFDC many souvenir dolls from conventions and meal events.

PH: When / where will the reader be able to buy a copy of your new book?

NL: Those that are interested can write to me directly at doll-lady@juno.com and I will keep a list of people interested in the book when it is published, which I am expecting will be May or June of 2007. I will send out cards when the book is available. There is no obligation to buy the book, I will just be keeping a list of people who may be interested. The other source is Reverie Publishing www.reveriepublishing.com. They will have the cover of the book up on the website shortly and they too will be taking orders for the book.

PH: Anything else I should ask, or you would like to share of interest to doll collectors ?

What a fabulous year we have seen for Lenci. Although none of the long time Lenci collectors like to see price surges on Lenci dolls, it is a good sign for everyone. The Lenci dolls from the 1920’s and 1930’s are still a good investment, and are very strong in the market place. Doll collecting has gone through some soft years recently and I believe we are now seeing a healthy recovery. We all want our dolls to gain in value, or at best to maintain the prices we have paid for them. I foresee great popularity for the Lenci and Lenci Type dolls in the next few years. It is a good time to invest in these dolls, as the price increases are just beginning. We are all seeing it with the Series 300 dolls, but this will also go across the board to all Lenci dolls. Right now it seems to be the boys that are the most popular, and girls with intricately pieced felt outfits, or those who have accessories. The girls in organdy dresses are following closely behind. I would not be afraid to purchase any Lenci dolls right now. It is just the beginning of a new popularity for these charming children from Italy. Undervalued right now are the very earliest dolls from the Lenci Company. They aren’t as pretty or as cute as the children that are so popular, but they represent the earliest years of the company. Many of them were painted by Elena Scavini herself, in the kitchen of her home. Don’t pass up a unique early doll that may be found with just a tiny metal button in the clothing that says Lenci, very much like the Steiff buttons.

PH: Nancy, thanks so much for your time and patience in responding to my questions, I wish you every success with your new book. I am very much looking forward to seeing the result of all your hard work and dedication.

Biographical Note:

Nancy Lazenby has owned and loved dolls her entire life. She became a doll collector officially in 1968, and began by collecting composition and hard plastic dolls. As her knowledge grew she found herself drawn to the Italian Lenci dolls. Having purchased the first two dolls in 1968, over the years the collection has grown to approximately 80 dolls. Nancy began to study and research Lenci in the mid 1990’s when she obtained her first vintage Lenci Catalogue. She began writing articles for various doll publications at the same time and gained a reputation of being knowledgeable on Lenci and other cloth dolls of the same era. Nancy resides in the small, vintage, California Gold Rush town of Grass Valley with her husband Wyatt. The United Federation of Doll Clubs takes up a lot of her time, where she helps plan and oversee the meal events for UFDC’s national convention yearly. She is also a National Judge with expertise in cloth dolls. Nancy states “Lenci became a passion with me. I have learned never to say “never’ when it comes to Lenci as it always surprises me to find something unusual with each new doll I am able to examine.”

Nancy is always happy to answer questions on Lenci dolls or help with identification. Collectors can write to Nancy at: Nancy Lazenby, 11021 Norager Way, Grass Valley, CA 95949, USA,
530 274 2899, or email doll-lady@juno.com

References/Credits:

Photos, Nancy Lazenby.