By Stephanie Finnegan
Zwergnase is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Founded in 1994, the German firm has forged a reputation as a brand that both idealizes children and humorously captures them. The dolls that designer Nicole Marschollek Menzner conjures up are a loving hybrid of realism and whimsy.
“Yes, we definitely imagine our dolls as real-life kids,” Marschollek Menzner said. “If they were real children, they would all be confident and a bit cheeky!”
Those two adjectives perfectly describe Zwergnase’s collectible characters. The dolls are beautifully turned out in contemporary chic clothing, and their expressions convey children who are comfortable in their own skin and their environment.
“I believe that the individuality of my dolls has appealed to my collectors for 30 years now! I have my own style, and it runs like a common thread throughout the collections,” the artist said. “The recognition factor should always be there — there is definite value to that — but it should always be linked to something new.”
The mantra “something new” is a mindset that consistently accompanies Marschollek Menzner. She is a woman who embraces challenges and untried prospects. Her pioneering spirit is especially evident in her connection with the Thuringia section of Germany, where her company has flourished and grown.
The region’s towns — Lauscha, Rauenstein, and Sonneberg — are synonymous with the district’s history of culture. The area was a bastion of creativity, where arts, crafts, and industry were well-regarded professions. Many years ago, after completing her studies in her home region, Marschollek Menzner knew she would build upon the district’s reputation, but she would do so with her own twists and turns. She said, “So many things began here. Now, though, almost everything seemed to have disappeared. This had an effect on me. I thought, ‘Why shouldn’t I try to start something anew here?’”
Two years after Zwergnase’s founding, the town of Schalkau (near Sonneberg) was chosen as the company’s operation base. Since January 1996, this is where the Zwergnase team has assembled to dream and design.
Looking back on her 30 years of productivity and ingenuity, Marschollek Menzner is impressed and humbled by her outpouring of work. She said, “I have designed so many dresses over the years that our company would actually be too small to exhibit them all! However, we have an exhibition room where our current collection can be seen.”
Collectors worldwide are constantly intrigued by the new collections Zwergnase unveils. The clothing colors, textile prints, flowing hairstyles, and heart-grabbing expressions are a cause for celebration among the dedicated fan base. “We have always had a very good exchange with our collectors,” Marschollek Menzner said. “Most of you have a lot of dolls, but you are always curious about the new collections. For several years now, we have been producing our ball-jointed dolls in sizes from around 2 feet (65 cm) to about 3 feet (90 cm). Each of my new creations carries within it the seeds of the next.”
Some of the staples of the Zwergnase name are the lush textile materials used for the wardrobe; leather shoes from a company located in the Erzgebirge region (Ore Mountains, in English); and glass eyes from Lauscha. Collectors have come to anticipate that the dolls will be distinguished by these luxurious details. But for the doll artist herself, she aims to have her dolls be recognized by not only the physical traits but also an intangible spark of personality. She imbues her dolls with a “je ne sais quoi” charisma and life force.
“The special quality of their lifelike appearances is drawn from the attitude of their artist,” Marschollek Menzner said. “I realize that the never-ending search for innovation — as the sole key to success — is by nature superficial. It inevitably leads to the ‘same old, pretty, photograph smiles,’ even if they are dressed up in exotic clothes.”
To that end, Marschollek Menzner and her team concentrate on the elusive characteristics that dwell beneath the togs and the wigs. They collaborate to unleash the child within the doll. By adding a special glint in the doll’s eye, a dip of its chin, or a blush on its cheek, they make the impossible happen. The dolls do appear to be alive and enjoying their time on earth.
The NM collections, which focus on both artistic dolls and bear companions, are a glorious joining of realistic child and anthropomorphic Teddy friend. The lovely lasses and their ursine pals are just what you’d imagine a Zwergnase pairing would be: fashionable yet fun, pretty and perky, elegant yet eccentric. They are a beloved part of the NM signature line.
Zwergnase dolls and bears embody artistry and fantasy, combining modern sensibilities with desires that are as old as time. In Marschollek Menzner’s world, Goldilocks and three bears can meet, grow to know and like one another, and become an inseparable, socializing circle. Her fairy tales truly do come true. “If I were one of the dolls, I could easily see myself at Halloween, wearing the tailcoat with the cat fabric and the pumpkin skirt! That could be me!” And her collectors immediately sense that is true for their favorite artist and for themselves as well.
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