Articulated Götz Dolls

On Gotz Doll Wiki, **ARTICULATION** refers to whether or not a doll *can move one or more of its body parts independently of its body* **and/or** hold that body part in a fixed pose.

## "*ARTICULATION"* Defined

For a doll to be classified as "articulated," it must have one (or more) *moveable*, *poseable* doll body parts. In order for a body part or limb ***to*** articulate, it must contain an ***internal* articulation mechanism** that will allow it to perform this movement. These internal articulation mechanisms are referred to as **articulation joints**, and *where* each articulation joint is located within the body is referred to as an **articulation location**. Sounds complicated, but it's not really. Let's break it down simply:

To summarize: In order for *a* doll body part *to* move, something within that body part ***where*** it makes this movement *must perform it*. ARTICULATION then, deals with ***WHAT* moves; *WHERE* within the doll this movement occurs and it's location, and *HOW* this movement is made possible** *(in a nutshell).*

## Articulation Joints & Locations

QUICK RECAP: Everywhere a doll can move is an **ARTICULATION LOCATION; it is referred to as an ARTICULATION JOINT,** and within each of these locations, you will find an internal **articulation mechanism**.

Below is a list of each **articulation joint** and its possible **articulation location**:

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: NECK/HEAD**

It can be difficult to tell if a neck is truly articulated. Some appear articulated (such as with an *American Girl*-style type neck - see photo, right), but in actuality, the head is only able to "manually rotate" within its cloth doll torso. Also, a neck may appear FIXED (all one, non-jointed piece) but actually be articulated as the internal mechanism is located within the head, etc.

* **Articulation Location: Head**: Neck will be "jointed" vinyl with an internal articulation mechanism located either within the head itself or where the neck *meets* the torso; allows head to move/pose independently from neck or torso.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: SHOULDER**

* **Articulation Location: Arm**: Either entire arm will move/pose independently from body *or* only the upper arm will *slightly* move/pose.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: HIP**

* **Articulation Location: Leg**: Moves/poses the entire leg.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: TORSO**

* **Articulation Location: Waist:** Upper toros and lower torso move independently of each other. Only all-vinyl dolls have an articulated waist. An articulation mechanism located within the doll's waist allows this movement.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: KNEE CAP**

* **Articulation Location: Lower Leg:** Lower leg (below knee) will move/pose independently from thigh.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: WRIST**

* **Articulation Location: Wrist**: Hand will move/pose independently from forearm.

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Some dolls are sculpted (i.e. not "jointed") to have curved wrists. The doll *Gotz Girl* is a good physical example of this.

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#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: ELBOW**

* **Articulation Location: Elbow:** Forearm will move/pose independently from upper arm.

#### **ARTICULATION JOINT: ANKLE**

* **Articulation Location: Ankle:** Foot will move/pose independently from lower leg.

## Examples of Different Articulation Locations

Below are just a few examples of some different articulation locations on vinyl dolls.

This all-vinyl doll has articulated shoulders; hips; elbows; wrists; knees; and neck.This all-vinyl doll has an articulated neck; shoulders; hips; and her torso is also jointed, which means the top and bottom halves of her torso move independently of each other.This all-vinyl doll has an articulated neck; shoulders, and hips.
## Different Articulation Mechanisms

QUICK RECAP: What ***makes*** a doll able to move/pose, is referred to as an ***internal articulation mechanism***.

There are a variety of different *internal articulation mechanism*s:

#### **1. FLANGE AND SOCKET JOINTS:**

This type of articulation mechanism is described as having an "undercut" flange and socket connection. Undercut flanges located within the doll torso "connect" with interlocking undercut flanges located within the doll's limb; when both sockets are connected, the limb is secured and cannot easily be removed from the doll body1. These types of sockets were used for the head, hips, and shoulders of dolls.

It is important to note that these types of joints are direction-limited; these limbs can only "swing" or rotate forwards/backwards, they cannot extend outwards *away* from the body. One type of this articulation mechanism was patented by Ma E. Marr in 1951. Most Götz Dolls with this type of articulation mechanism were made post 1957, which is when the rotational molding machine was introduced. Dolls with these types of joints are typically called STEHPUPPEs in German.

#### **2. BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS:**

    These types of joints are made entirely of vinyl; they almost appear as if a hollow vinyl "balloon" was inserted into the doll's hollow doll body, then inflated, because the ball is larger than the socket. This type of articulation mechanism does not have directional limitations; these dolls limbs can extend in any direction, including outward. This doll (left), which contains rotational molding seams, is one of the oldest vinyl Götz Dolls with this type of articulation mechanism identified to date. It should be noted, Götz Doll Wiki has found this type of articulation joint is nearly identical to those found on "***Gesch"*** dolls.

#### **3. "STRUNG" DOLLS:**

Hard-bodied dolls with "strung" limbs have limbs held together by a tension cord and "cup" with an opposing "cup" located within the hollow doll body. This articulation mechanism does not have directional limitations; limbs can extend in every direction including away from the torso. It was first introduced in the mid 1960s and can be found on early Sasha Dolls, all the way to FANOUCHE, and beyond. Some strung dolls will have crimped cord ends while others feature a metal hook (see photo below). Over time, the bungee cording that holds these doll's limbs to their doll bodies can lose its elasticity, resulting in a doll's limb becoming "loose."

#### **4. BALL-JOINTED SOCKETS:**

As soft-bodied dolls grew in popularity, a modification of the "strung" doll was also needed, thus the introduction of the ball-jointed socket articulation mechanism. These types of joints are made of a tension bungee cord strung between two opposing plastic hollow "cups" (one is located inside the limb), held together by a crimped metal tie. Note the cups mentioned in the STRUNG doll sections resemble those seen in photo left.

Marianne Götz patented her own ball-jointed socket in the mid-1980s; older dolls feature a metal "crimp" while newer dolls have plastic. Over time, ball-jointed socket dolls can lose their ability to maintain a pose, resulting in loose limbs, which means the tension cord in one/more limbs needs to be tightened.

#### **5. SOFT FASTENER CONNECTOR: (*unofficial name*)**

This type of articulation mechanism is found on soft-bodied dolls with ***connected*** "soft" limbs. These dolls have SOFT doll torsos that are sewn separately from their soft limbs; the soft limbs are then "connected" to the soft padded cloth torsos and secured via SOFT FASTENER CONNECTOR. These dolls are able to sit on their own but cannot stand (since their limbs are "soft"). Baby dolls such as the one shown on the right were produced post 1990 and are soft-bodied, multi-articulated baby dolls.

#### **6. ARMATURE SKELETON:**

This type of articulation mechanism is found on soft-bodied dolls; the doll torso and limbs are *ALL ONE PIECE* (vs. the doll shown in SOFT FASTENER CONNECTOR example, which has a torso made separately from its limbs). The doll is able to move via an inner wire skeleton that runs not only through the main body but through each articulation location also. The result: the range of motion of each limb is unlimited and dolls can maintain any pose with this type of articulation mechanism. These dolls are considered fully articulated dolls.

## The Different Articulation Types

QUICK RECAP: Dolls can have a variety of **articulation joints** and **locations** that move/hold a pose. *Where* each doll articulates can be added up to help determine its **articulation type**.

Götz dolls are classified on this Wiki by both ***body type*** and ***articulation type***. Additionally, some dolls share the same facial mold but have different doll body types with different articulation joints *and* locations. *How* articulated a doll is can be is determined by examining its specific body characteristics. This method of determining how articulated a doll *is* allows one to place it within a specific articulation category, known as an **articulation type**, and within its specific Götz classification.

Based upon similar articulation characteristics, dolls can be classified within one of the following articulation types:

## 1. NON-Articulated Dolls

1. **NONE/NON-ARTICULATED: (0 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll cannot sit/stand unaided; no body part can independently articulate. Body parts may be sculpted bent (as with baby dolls' legs) vs. articulate (i.e. move/hold a pose). Shoulders and upper thighs are FIXED. Head may be FIXED or manually rotate only.

* Ex. Most soft-bodied dolls/baby dolls fit into this category type.

For more information on Non-Articulated Dolls, please click this link.

## 2. Articulated Dolls

1. **PARTIAL ARTICULATION (2-3 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: **Either shoulders or hips will articulate** = if only hips articulate, doll will sit/stand without help; if only shoulders articulate, doll cannot sit/stand unaided. Head may articulate; be fixed; or rotate only. Ex. Most **breastplate dolls** will fit within this category.
2. **MULTI-ARTICULATED (4-5 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll can sit/stand unaided; **both** shoulders and hips will move/pose; head may articulate or rotate only. Ex. Most AG-style body types will fit within this category.
3. **FULLY ARTICULATED (6+ JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll can sit/stand unaided; both shoulders and hips articulate; neck articulates. Additional body parts will articulate: waist; both elbows; both wrists; both knees; both ankles will move/pose if articulated. Dolls within this category are mostly vinyl however, a few types of cloth dolls will fully articulate. Ex. Happy Kidz and Nane Roskothen dolls (fully-articulated cloth doll) will fit within this *type*.

## How to Determine Articulation Type

QUICK RECAP: You can add up the total number of locations where each limb moves/holds a pose to determine the *articulation type* of a doll.

To determine its articulation type, each articulation joint is assigned a value of +1.

Let's look at some examples.

* **Example #1**: This doll has 2 cloth shoulders and 2 cloth hips. Since these are not articulated, they cannot be assigned a value. Her neck appears articulated but will only rotate within her cloth torso; as it is non-articulated, it also then cannot be assigned a value. Since "0" or "no body part articulates" (has the ability to move/pose independently), she is a **NON-ARTICULATED** doll.

* **Example #2**: This doll has 2 "jointed" shoulders that articulate each arm; each shoulder is assigned a +1 value giving her a +2 shoulder value. Each hip is also "jointed" which articulates each leg; each leg is assigned a +1 value giving her a +2 hip value. As with Example #1 above: her neck is non-articulated (non-jointed) so it is not assigned a neck value. If you add up her articulation values, she has "4" articulated joints, which classifies her as a **FULLY ARTICULATED** doll.

* **Example #3**: The doll below has both shoulders that articulate each arm; each shoulder is assigned a +1 value giving her a +2 shoulder value. Each hip articulates each leg; each hip is assigned a +1 value giving her a +2 hip value. Her torso is also "jointed" and is assigned for a +1 torso value. She has an articulated neck which moves/poses the head and is assigned a +1 neck value. If you add up her articulation values (+2 +2 +1 +1), she has "6" articulated joints, which classifies her as a **MULTI-ARTICULATED** doll.

Götz dolls have manufactured dolls for decades. This article is not meant to be comprehensive in scope but to act as a starting point for understanding the topic of ***understanding*** *and* ***identifying*** **articulation**. As new information is catalogued, please know these definitions and information *may* be updated from time to time. If you have any additional information that is not listed here, please let me know!

References:

1. Source for this information comes from Google patents.
2. Götz Doll Wiki would like to thank Kathy Farnham-Sampson for her help in arriving at a determination and definition of the articulation types mentioned above.