1988 MONICA - Marianne Gotz LE - WEICHGELENKPUPPE 88263

This Gotz Handcrafted, Limited Edition Doll **MONICA** was produced in **1988**; she measures **46cm/18"** tall and has Doll ID # or Catalog Code: **88263**. She has a HUMAN HAIR WIG of **long, straight blonde hair with straight bangs**; her hair is worn in 2 pinned-under side braids under a red polka dotted handkerchief. Her **BROWN** eyes are "FIXED" in position and are *hand-painted*; her eye lashes are also made out of human hair. MONICA is a Limited Edition, "Handcrafted Doll" specifically designed and produced by **Marianne Gotz** for her collection series, "The Marianne Designer Collection." This doll has a total limited edition quantity of **300** dolls ever produced.

## Handcrafted Dolls

*Handcrafted Dolls* are dolls **designed and crafted with the purpose of being passed down from generation to generation**. These dolls are not intended for vigorous child play as *Play Dolls* are but are intended instead, to be a “beginner to mid-level” collector doll (unlike *Artist Dolls*, which are considered to be *true* Collector Dolls).

This doll was created and designed by Marianne Gotz, exclusively for Gotz, for her designer series, *The Marianne Designer Collection Doll Series*. Marianne, who has over 40 years in the doll making industry, received a German patent for the soft body type *and* internal joint articulation mechanism she designed, which is found in each doll. In her series, each doll represents a different *classic* German child, and while many dolls share the same facial mold, each doll is unique as is reflected in both its chosen hairstyle and outfit. In the Certificate of Authenticity, Marianne writes that the dolls with sleepy-eyes actually resemble one of her daughters at the age of three.

*Marianne Designer Collection* doll bodies consist of soft, cloth bodies with full vinyl limbs; their body styles resemble those of an American Girl. Dolls are available in three sizes: 16.5"; 18" and 22". *All dolls have high-quality human hair wigs and human hair eye lashes*. Dolls have either **"FIXED: hand-painted eyes"** or **"SLEEPY-EYES: glass crystal"** (which is the highest-quality material used. Other Gotz Handcrafted Limited Edition Dolls feature sleepy-eyes made from high-quality "plastics"). Finally, outfits are made from very high-quality materials and fibers (ex. each doll's shoes are made from genuine leather) and dolls will have Marianne's full name embroidered somewhere on the outer outfit.

As a Limited Edition, Handcrafted Doll, each doll has a limited quantity of **300** dolls ever produced. Each doll comes with an original, signed, Certificate of Authenticity "booklet" and each doll torso is physically numbered and signed - both are personally signed by Marianne. *Handcrafted Dolls* are more valuable and collectible than *Play Dolls*; in terms of value on the secondary market, Handcrafted Doll Artist Limited Edition Dolls such as this, tend to be worth *more* than Gotz *designed and produced* Handcrafted Limited Edition Dolls.

## **CATALOG INFORMATION**

* Doll Name: **MONICA**
* Year Produced: **1988**
* Doll ID #/Catalog Code: **88263**
* Doll Artist Name: **MARIANNE GOTZ**
* Total Quantity of Limited Edition Dolls Produced: **300**
* Height in cm/inches: **46cm/18"**
* Torso Material: **CLOTH**
* Body Type: **SOFT-BODIED**

* Doll Category: ***Limited Edition, Handcrafted Doll***
* German Classification: ***WEICHGELENKPUPPE***
* German Classification in English: **ARTICULATED SOFT DOLL**
* Neckstamp Markings: **M. Gotz**
* Doll Collection/Series/Line: **MARIANNE DESIGNER COLLECTION**
* Original Cost of Doll: UNKNOWN

## **PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS**

* Hair Color: **BLONDE HAIR**
* Hair Length: **LONG HAIR**
* Hair Style: STRAIGHT HAIR with straight bangs.
* **Hair Description:** Long, straight blonde hair with straight bangs; her hair is worn in 2 side, pinned-under braids under a handkerchief.
* Hair Type: **WIGGED HAIR**
* Hair Material: **HUMAN HAIR**
* Eye Color: **BROWN EYES**
* Eye Type: **FIXED: HAND-PAINTED**
	+ FIXED: PAINTED: Eyes are fixed in position; eyes are hand-painted.

## **ARTICULATION CLASSIFICATION**

* Articulation Locations: **Both shoulders; both hips**
* Articulation Types: **MULTI-ARTICULATED (4-5 JOINTS MOVE/POSE)**: Doll can sit/stand unaided; both shoulders and hips move/pose; head manually rotates only.

## Articulation Explained

Articulation refers to whether or not a doll ***can move one or more of its body parts (neck; arms; legs; waist, etc) independently of its body*** and/or **hold that body part in a pose.** Each **moveable, poseable doll body part** will typically have a ball-jointed socket, referred to as an articulation joint and each *articulation joint* is located on a specific part of the body (known as an articulation location).

## **Articulated Soft Body Dolls**

These dolls are classified by Gotz as **ARTICULATED SOFT BODY DOLLS** or **WEICHGELENKPUPPE** due to their SOFT, padded, cloth torso; ball-jointed shoulders and hips, and for their ability to sit/stand unaided, which means these dolls have:

* **CLOTH TORSOS**: These dolls will typically have a white, soft, padded, cloth torso. Torsos will always be signed and numbered by Marianne Gotz.
* **VINYL HIPS/ARTICULATED**: These dolls have vinyl, jointed hips that articulate their vinyl legs; therefore, the entire leg is moveable/poseable from the rest of their torso. **These dolls are able to sit/stand on their own and do not require help** (such as from a doll stand).
* **VINYL SHOULDERS/ARTICULATED**: These dolls have vinyl, jointed shoulders that articulate their vinyl arms; therefore, the entire arm is to move and hold a pose.
* **VINYL NECK/NON-ARTICULATED**: Necks do not articulate but are capable of manual rotation *within* the cloth doll torso.

## **CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY**

Please see below for an example of this doll's original *Certificate of Authenticity*.

## **ORIGINAL OUTFIT DESCRIPTION**

Per a listing on Worthpoint.com, her original outfit is described as follows: "She is dressed in a traditional German Dirndl dress with puffy polka dot sleeves, dark red buttoned top piece, and blue striped skirt. She is also wearing a blue hearted apron with Marianne Gotz patched on it. Under her dress she is wearing white pantaloons. On her feet are white with red striped knit socks and dark leather strap shoes She has a matching polka dot scarf on her head."

## **ORIGINAL BOX**

Please describe the physical appearance of the original box this doll came in.