Among doll collectors the name Gebrüder Kühnlenz names the maker of the imitation of the famous French Bru Jne doll. They call it the Kuhnlenz Bru doll. Little information is known about the Kuhnlenz brothers but from the French imitations one can assume the brothers tried to compete with the French market.
Kuno, Julius, and Bruno Kühnlenz announced their operation of a doll factory in 1884 under the name “Gebrüder Kühnlenz.” One can see the announcement in the Bavarian trade newspaper Bayerische Handelszeitung. (The Kühnlenz porcelain factory in Kronach, Germany now stands as a tourist attaction and huge multi use location known as Kühnlenzpassage.)
In 1893 they announced their factory in Kronach suffered unfavorable conditions due to many political trade tariffs, oversaturation of factories in Germany, and competition with France leading to the need to lay off workers.
The Kuhnlenz gratefully acknowledged in 1895 that the state-subsidized steamship lines, especially the German-French-African line, increased their ability to compete with foreign countries through their cheap freight barrels for the mass-produced items of the porcelain industry.
In 1897 Bruno died on March 30, 1897. His brothers Julius and Kuno Kuhnlenz in Kronach continued the porcelain factory as the sole heirs after his death. The announcement spells Kuno’s name with a K.
The Address Book for the Ceramic Industry (Adressbuch der Keramischen Industrie) in 1906 lists the factory in Kronach. It describes the factory employed 200 workers, established since 1884. They offered bisque doll heads, bathing children, swimming dolls, and animals. Cuno (spelled with a C) is listed as the owner.
In 1929 Gebrüder Kühnlenz AG joined with Hentschel L Müller in Meuselwitz in a joint venture.
The factory shut down in June of 1930 with a dismissal of 190 workers.
See other German doll marks here.