Biography of Gotz Doll Artist ALMUT AUGUSTIN

According to "KAPITEL III: PUPPEN AUS HOLZ - STOFF - LEDER," ***Almut Augustin*** was born in Windsbach in 1939. After attending elementary school, Almut attended a housekeeping school, then started his training as a kindergarten teacher and also learned to become a nanny. Later, while in Munich, Germany, he would take part in a workshop for craftsman. From 1976 to 1983, Almut began to teach carving courses himself. Soon thereafter, in 1985 in Munich, Germany, Almut would go on to win a first place award for his dolls at the Puppenbörse. According to the chapter, Almut regularly participated in national and international exhibitions of his work.2

In 1992, doll artist ***ALMUT AUGUSTIN*** collaborated with Gotz for his collection of wooden infants, which he called, "ADMIRED CHILDREN." His sister, ERIKA IMMERTREU, designed these soft-bodied dolls' outfits, mostly from natural fibers, for his collection.1

## Catalog Description

The 1992 Gotz Catalog provides a description of this collection:

> *These charming doll infants of the artist Almut Augustin are soft bodied and articulated, **head and arms are made of wood.** Their amazing realistic faces are due to hand painting. Each doll has a fine mohair wig. The outfits of these delightful doll children are designed by the sister of the artist, Mrs. Erika Immertreu, using mostly natural fibers. All dolls are marked with the special "A.A." insignia.* (bold, mine)
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## Inspirations

Per "KAPITEL III: PUPPEN AUS HOLZ - STOFF - LEDER," Almut Augustin states (in text translated from German into English), "In my kindergarten teacher training, carving a doll's head was also part of the curriculum in the senior course. I couldn't wait and tried before. Since then, I have been fascinated by designing a face."2

## Artist Quotes

*Please provide direct artist quotes, here.*

## The Process and Method of Making His ***Original*** Dolls

As discussed in "KAPITEL III: PUPPEN AUS HOLZ - STOFF - LEDER," Almut primarily uses limewood for his original doll's head, arms, and legs; he also works in Erie, Maple, and/or Teak as well. Once the head shape is drawn onto wood, facial features are then finely carved. Once complete, the head is then roughly, then finely, sanded in a process which involves water between stages. Once the facial features have been handpainted, the color is "fixed" with varnish to completion.

To make the doll bodies, Almut would first draw body parts onto "processed nettle" fabric which he would then cut (with seam allowance); once these pieces were sewn together, "the soles of the feet are stiffened with cardboard and the whole body is then stuffed with full wadding." Finally, the doll's head and body parts are connected to the doll's torso by buttons.2

## Index of Gotz Collection

The following tables contain an index of Almut Augustin's Gotz collection *by catalog year*. Simply click on the doll's name to be redirected to that doll's individual article, which contains more information about that specific doll.

*\*These doll names have been assigned for indexing purposes, by GotzDollJunkie, as my 1992 catalog does not provide their original name.*

1992 doll 31061 (BOY)1992 doll 30061 (GIRL)1992 doll 30063 (BABY)
## References

1. This information can be found in the 1992 Gotz doll catalog.
2. This Information comes from a page excerpt titled, "KAPITEL III: PUPPEN AUS HOLZ - STOFF - LEDER." This page excerpt was provided within a German Ebay listing.