Antique Armand Marseille Dolls

Armand Marseille Background

Armand Marseille came to Germany from Russia according to Cieslik’s German Doll Encyclopedia. He founded his doll manufacturing company in Germany in 1885 (according to a 1906 listing in the Adressbuch der Kermischen Industrie – see below). Ciesliks’ German Doll encyclopedia claims he bought the Lambert & Samhammer toy factory in Sonneberg founded in 1872 and had 40 employees in 1874.

In 1906 the German publication known as the Address Book of the Ceramic Industry (Adressbuch der keramischen industrie) included a listing for Armand Marseille. The listing in German read, “Marseille, Armand. Porzellanfabrik und Dampfmassemühle in Köppelsdorf (P. T. u. E.), Sachsen-Meiningen, Fabrikat: Feine Biskuit-Puppenköpfe, Porzellanartikel für elektrotechnischen Bedarf, Stanzartikel. – Malerei.  – 500 Arbeiter. – Besteht seit 1885.” Click the link above to see the page.

Translated the listing reads, “Marseille, Armand, Porcelain factory and steam mass mill in Köppelsdorf (P. T. and E.), Saxony-Meiningen. Products: Fine bisque doll heads, porcelain items for electrical engineering needs, punched items. – Painting. – 500 workers. – Exists since 1885.”

Yet The Book of Pottery Marks by W. Percival Jervis from 1897 mentions Armand Marseille of Köppelsdorf as established in 1865 (page 50-51). The trademark displayed show the AM initials with an anchor between them.

The World Fair in St. Louis in 1904

Armand Marseille studied in America to improve his business practices and even displayed a doll in at the world fair in St. Louis in 1904 according to Coleman’s Collector’s Encyclopedia of Dolls

1907 Inflation in the Doll Industry

The German newspaper, Coburger Zeitung, reported in 1907 a 10 percent inflation surcharge to previous prices in the doll industry. The report explains it began October 1 due to an inflammatory rash on products in the local area. Increases related to all raw materials, especially coal. The report included a list of doll manufacturers impacted beginning with Armand Marseille of Koppelsdofrt along with Ernst Heubach of Koppelsdorf; Julius Hering and Sons of Koppelsdorf; Gebruder Knoch of Neustadt near Coburg; Christian Eichhorn and Sons of Steinach; Rauenstein Porcelain Factory; Schonau & Hoffmeister Porcelain Factory of Burggrub; Gebruder Kuhnlenz (brothers) of Kronoch; and Theodor Recknagel of Alexandrinenthal near Oeslau.

1909 Armand Marseille Inventions

One can read about Marseill inventions in the same German newspaper mentioned above, the Coburger Zeitung. In 1909 the publication announces his patent regarding a vertical groove and/or hole-making groove at the bottom on a doll head and a reinforcement adapted to the shape of the doll’s fingernail. Not all inventions relate to the design of dolls but some related to machinery needed in the factories. One such invention described a two-part light bulb made of insulation material.

In the German publication for announced patents, Patentblatt, one sees a Marseille invention for a bottle with extension in the neck (30g 394 665). Another describes a two-part socket for electrib light bulbs. This had screws on one part engaged in the saw attached to the other part made of porcelain (21f. 396 788).

Patent 80a 396 661 related to doll making. The patent described arranging in a mold the casting molds for doll heads in which inwardly projecting cones. These represent only some of the Marseille patents.

1910 Trademark

In 1910 Sprechsaal announced a new Marseille trademark of an anchor with the A and M connecting in form to the opposite ends of the anchor. The listing describes the factory in Köppelsdorf near Sonneberg, Thuringia making porcelain goods, namely: doll heads and porcelain goods for technical and electrical purposes.

The Marseille anchor varied over the years. One particular design had a W in the middle reserved for Louis Wolf & Co.

1911 Expansion

In 1911 the company announces a decision to expand the factory in Köppelsdorf in order to build new kilns. The listing names Paul Naumann of Coburg as master builder. Mr. Baurat Carl Dihlmann, Grunewald, and Mr. Kaufmann Theodor Kahle of Charlottenburg, acted as managing directors of the company with a share capital of 400,000 M. Armand Marseille Jr. of Köppelsdorf served as the authorized representative with power of attorney.

Later in 1911 Sprechsaal describes the expansions being carried out at the branch factory in Neuhaus, Sonneberg by Paul Naumann.

1913 Siemens-Schuckertwerke

The German publication Sprechsaal announced in 1913 that the company Siemens-Schuckertwerke purchased the porcelain factory in Sonnebery formerly known as Armand Marseille G. m. b. H. The publications refer to this particular factory as one designated for technical porcelain.

1919 Armand Marseille, Jr.

The publication Keramisch Rundschau brings attention to an “Armand Marseille, Jr.” In 1919 it announces the deletion his power of attorney for the porcelain factory in Sonneberg.

That same year the public learns of the merger between Marseille and Ernst Heubach Jr. The listing refers to Armand Marseille, Jr. as “Hermann.” The two had operated under the company name United Köppelsdorfer Porcelain Factory. Then naturally it announces that the companies formerly known as Armand Marseille and the one of Ernst Heubach were no longer individual businesses. Ernst Heubach Jr. had entitlement to represent the company alone.

1920 Wedding

In 1920 Armand (Hermann) Marseille Jr. married Marianne Heumann.

Identifying Armand Marseille Dolls

Many commonly found German antique dolls found in the US have Armand Marseille markings. Easiest to identify will literally say “ARMAND MARSEILLE” on the back of the head or shoulder plate. Others will have the initials AM. Some may have the initials AM with the anchor. Others may only have a mold number. Many times a size number will sit between the A & M such as A5M or similar.

Rare Valuable AM Dolls

Some rare or hard to find AM dolls popular with collectors include:

• Fany 230 or 231 – might bear a mark such as “231 Fany D.R.M.R. 248/1 A.5M” or “FANY 230. // A. 3. M. // D.R.M.R. 21-8/1” or “231 FANY d.r.g.m. 248 1 a2m”
• Flirty Eyed Toddlers 323, 240, 241
• Flirty Eyed Toddler 252 or Nobbikid
• Flirty painted eyed 350 with painted hair
• Flirty painted eyed 254 with molded hair
• Flirty painted eyed 270 with molded hair – Campbell Soup character type doll
• Flirty painted eyed 252 Kewpie style doll – might be marked ” 252, Germany A 3/0 M” or similar
• Flirty eyed KEWPIE type character 240 – might only bear the number 240 with a size below it
• JUST ME #310 – might bear a mark such as “JUST ME Registered Germany A 310/11/0 M” or similar
• Lady Doll #401 – usually dressed in 1920s flapper style
• Painted eyed character dolls – marked with only “Made in Germany A2M” or similar
• Doll #400 with a closed mouth
• Asian or Oriental faced doll – might bear a mark such as “Germany AM 0” – the AM is scripted
• Oriental 353 baby
• Kiddiejoy 372 with molded hair – might bear a mark such as “Germany Kiddiejoy 372 A6M”
• Baby Peggy (sold by Louis Amberg & Son) with the head made by Armand Marseille circa 1924

Armand Marseille Dolls with Names