By Jan Foulke
Q: I bought this cloth doll and was told it might be a Lenci doll, but there are no marks or tags on it. Can you tell me whether or not this is a real Lenci or a lookalike?
A: Actually, yes, your lovely doll is indeed a Lenci! Fortunately there have been enough information and photographs published of Lenci dolls that verification is almost always possible, even if the doll is not signed or has lost its labels.
Lencis are cloth art dolls made by Elena Scavini in Turin (Torino), Italy. Her nickname was Lenci, so when she started making dolls, they were referred to as Lenci’s dolls, and the name stuck. Turin was a cloth manufacturing town, so materials were easily available.
She began to make dolls to combat her loneliness after her only child died while her husband was away in World War I. She had previously made dolls as a hobby, but during this period she also needed a source of income. When the war was over, her husband joined in the business, selling her dolls. In 1920, Lenci showed 50 different designs. The Scavinis patented their doll process and registered their trademark in 1921.
Lenci dolls were primarily for the carriage trade, as a 19-inch doll could sell for as much as $20 in 1925, but there was also a wide range of smaller dolls selling for under $10. Still, $10 was a lot of money at that time.
Lenci dolls first came to notice in the doll collecting community in the 1970s. Ever since, they have been very popular. “Playthings,” the toy trade magazine, described Lenci dolls in the early 1920s as being real works of art created by Italian artists and having true-to-life expressions. A collection showing a variety of Lenci faces can run almost the whole gamut of emotions: pouty, winsome, coy, serene, startled, grinning, laughing, playful, mischievous, shy, forlorn and surprised. Faces are very important to doll collectors, evoking an emotional response that is nearly universal in all human beings.
Elena Scavini claimed her trade secret was, “You must always use supremely good taste.” And this taste is shown not only in the construction of the doll itself, but also in the costuming, which was fanciful, charming, and often elaborate. The detail of the costuming is an artistic feat in itself. Most Lenci dolls are outfitted in bright costumes made with workmanship of the highest order.
Dresses, coats, and hats have piping and trim in contrasting colors, with felt flowers or appliqued ornaments of intricate design. Squares or strips of fabric of varying colors are sewn together in pleasing designs and color combinations. Felt and organdy are favorite fabrics, the organdy being very adaptable to rows and rows of ruffles on dresses and puffy sleeves on bodices. Many costumes are completed with some sort of accessory, such as a parasol, animal, flower pot, or walking stick.
Lots of Lenci dolls were stamped with the name Lenci in script on the bottom of one foot. A cloth or cardboard label (often both) was attached to the dolls, but these are sometimes now missing. If you have an unmarked felt doll that you are trying to identify, here are some characteristics of Lenci dolls, which might help you. These are often, though not always, consistent:
- On the painted faces, eyes are side-glancing with highlight dots; upper eyelashes are painted, and there’s usually eye shadow on the lower lid of child dolls. The lower lip is a lighter shade than the upper, and it is usually accented with two highlight dots.
- There is a zigzag seam down the back of the neck.
- Hair is usually applied in long strips of mohair sewn in concentric circles, although some models have hair inserted directly in the scalp, particularly if the hairdo has a visible hairline.
Actually, looking at a variety of Lenci dolls is the best way to become knowledgeable. Compare your doll’s face to photos of known Lencis published in a reliable source. Two good references for further study are “Lenci Dolls” by Dorothy S. Coleman and “Lenci: The History and the Dolls” by Nancy Lazenby.
Jan Foulke (retired) is an authority on antique and vintage dolls, with over 40 years of experience in the field. She’s the author of the full-color reference book “Jan Foulke’s Guide to Dolls.”
