KPM Berlin aka Royal Porcelain Manufacture Berlin was founded in 1761 by the Merchant, Johann Ernst Gotzowski at the request of Friedrichs the Great. It became one of the leading and best manufacturers in Europe and doll heads were one of the items manufactured between 1840 and 1860.
Desirable German KPM China Young Man Doll. China shoulder head with pink flesh tint, molded dark brown hair (some paint wear on front and back) with side part and waves, molded eye sockets with blue painted eyes, red eyelid line, dark eyebrows (one worn), rounded nose (paint rub), closed mouth, rosy chin and cheeks. Cloth body appears original (soil, wear), china lower arms with faint pink tint. Original linen suit, very nice brown leather shoes. Size: 14″ T. Condition: (Very Good). Sold For $1,700 at Dan Morphy Auctions
KPM China Gentleman. A wonderful early china head doll in worn condition with molded brown hair and painted features, original cloth body with original clothes, 19.5″ t. Sold For: $1,100 at Pook & Pook, Inc. with Noel Barrett
Milliner’s doll, kid body, carved and painted wooden arms and legs, china head marked “KPM” detached, body and legs probably 19th century, head probably later, 12″. Sold For$1,100
Brunk Auctions
KPM China Doll Head, Germany, c. 1850, flesh-toned glazed porcelain shoulder head, blue eagle in a circle trademark under shoulder plate, head turned to the right, deeply modeled shoulder plate, painted and molded features with blue eyes, well painted and molded dark brown side-part short hair with exposed molded ears, finely brush stroked bangs and nape of neck, ht. 3.5 in., (excellent). Sold For: $10,000 at Skinner
PORCELAIN DOLL FROM K.P.M. 22″ (56 cm). Of creamy thick paste porcelain with delicately tinted complexion, the doll portrays an adult gentleman, with very dark brown side- parted hair combed into short sideburns in front of the sculpted ears. The face is slightly rounded at the cheeks, with pale blue eyes in sculpted eye sockets, red eyeliner, dark brown painted brows, circle accents at eye corners and nostrils, closed mouth with center accent line and slightly upturned lip corners suggesting a smile. The doll has a later muslin stitch-jointed body with brown leather arms, and wears brown woolen suit with white shirt, leather shoes. The doll is marked K.P.M. in two places on inside of shoulderplate (see detail photographs). Konigliche Porzellan Manufaktur, circa 1840. From the Collection of Mildred Seeley. Sold for $9,000 at Theriaults
