Recknagel Googly Clown Doll

Item:     Recknagel Googly Clown Doll 
Origin:  Germany,  c. 1920

Honestly, it would be very hard to find anything more precious than this adorable googly doll. I was really torn as to whether he should stay in Annie’s Attic or go up for sale. You’ll just never find another one like it – I’ve never seen one in all my years.

This is one cool doll . . .

The Recknagel Googly Clown has a bisque socket head incised “R 45 A”. He has molded and painted hair and facial features, irresistible side glancing intaglio eyes and a sweet closed mouth smile. He has an elongated blue cloth body which is stitch jointed at the shoulders and hips. Measuring 14.5 inches in length (37 cm), and with long spindly legs, our little clown still wears his original crochet ruffle with hand-painted bow.

I really get excited about this doll because, as any collector knows, it’s the euphoria of finding something that is so unique and that brings so much pleasure. The more I talk about it, the more I’m thinking he should stay . . . oh my

Googly Clown was made in Germany around 1920 by the Theodor Recknagel porcelain factory located in Alexandrienthal, near Thuringia, Germany. The factory produced dolls from around 1893 until 1930.

Condition:
F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s condition. The bisque is very good and bright. There is one small, faint grey mark on the crown of his head (approx. 3/16 inch (4 mm) and which could perhaps be removed with cleaning? It’s not significant and doesn’t detract – just showing his age. Remarkably, there are no cracks, damage or restoration to the bisque or to any part of his frame. No holes, tears or damage to the cloth body. His crochet ruffle is superb, just a bit wrinkled, and the bow still has most of its hand-painted decoration. His navy blue body, with ecru piping to arms and legs, is faded a bit in places (around outside of arms/legs) but his mid section is fine. Both hands and feet are a bit darkened. Notwithstanding, still one cool doll in excellent condition.