Biography of Gotz Doll Artist SABINE ESCHE

*Sabine Esche* is a German-born doll artist who primarily prefers to work in porcelain as well as vinyl; Sabine strives to create her child-like masterpieces from portrait photos and snapshots.1 Her dolls, purposefully designed with dreamy and meaningful facial expressions (in contrast to laughing and smiling facial expressions) allows *the doll lover* to determine the emotions behind the doll's state1.

Sabine's Götz dolls feature human hair wigs and have either handpainted eyes or stationary, glass crystal doll eyes. Each doll's facial features, such as eyebrows and eyelashes, are also handpainted. Each soft-bodied doll, whether porcelain or vinyl, is designed with "bent" knees and gusseted, cloth hips specially for sitting. Vinyl breastplate dolls feature 1/4 cloth upper arms that contain internal wire armature which allows limitless range of movement; vinyl necks fully articulate while non-articulated legs consist of a combination of 3/4 vinyl (lower) and 1/4 padded cloth (upper).

Götz dolls are made from the highest quality vinyl and porcelain possible; outfits are also designed and crafted from the finest fabrics and material.

In 1992, with her first Götz series, Sabine won with a Doll of the Year ***EURODOLL*** award. Her partnership with Götz as a doll artist most likely began in 1991 (in *design* for her upcoming 1992 collection) through 1997 *(note: this statement requires confirmation).* In the early 1990s, Sabine designed several series for doll manufacturer *SIGIKID.*

Sabine is also an author; her book, *Porzellan-Puppen* contains excellent information about her creative process and methods, along with photos of her beautiful doll children.

## *The Inspiration Behind Sabine's Dolls*

The inspiration behind Sabine's dolls comes primarily from portrait photographs and snapshots, for example, of her grandmother and other family members, etc.1 Within each doll she creates, she inspires to convey her muse's likeness.1

## Artist Quotes

The following quotes come directly from Sabine Esche:

* "This engaging doll was lovingly designed with doll collectors in mind."3
* "Since the manufacturing process of my original dolls is both complicated and costly, I am please to make my porcelain and vinyl dolls more accessible to collectors."2

## Index of Götz Series

The following doll series were designed by *Sabine Esche* for Götz; simply click on the doll's name (which contains a hyperlink) in the tables below to be redirected to that doll's specific article, or to learn more on that specific subject.

1992 - 60463 - MONA (left) and 60061 - LISA I (right)1992 - LISA II1992 - ROSA I1992 - ROSA II

1993 DREAMING NELE1993 HAPPY NELE1993 ROMANTIC LISA1993 DELIGHTFUL LISA1993 PRETTY MONA1993 BRIGHT HANNA1993 TENDER HANNA1993 SWEET STELLA1993 CHARMING STELLA1993 BEAUTIFUL SOPHIE1993 LOVING SOPHIE1993 ENCHANTING ANNA

*\* indicates this doll appears in multiple years of production with the same outfit.*

1994 NELE1994 LUZIE I1994 LUZIE II1994 FELICE I1994 FELICE II1994 FRANZI I1994 FRANZI II1994 HANNA1994 STELLA1994 LISA1994 SUSANNE I1994 SUSANNE II1994 HEIDEROSE

*\* indicates this doll appears in multiple years of production with the same outfit.*

1995 PAULINE1995 LARA1995 DOROTHEE1995 LUZIE I1995 LUZIE II1995 FELICE II1995 SUSANNE I1995 SUSANNE II

*\* indicates this doll appears in multiple years of production with the same outfit.*

1996 LARA1996 PAULINE1996 DOROTHEE1996 LUZIE I1996 LUZIE II1996 FELICE II

In 1997, Sabine Esche took a self-described, one year "working break" from designing in order to self-rejuvenate.4 The following statements, found in the 1997 Götz catalog,4 describes the journey Sabine experienced during this year of rest:

> **The doll child is called Nanja**
>
>
> Since creativity is as sensitive as a tranquil flower, it requires special care. Therefore, I had a working break of about one year in order to rejuvenate myself.
>
>
> However, I did continue to make sketches, and I passed my free time learning to play a new instrument. While studying composition and music literature, I found the inspiration for my "doll children." I discovered a clarinet piece, the "Merry Doll," and the composition of a Russian composer called "With the Doll." In the generally "elated and pulsating" rhythm of the music I again was able to envision children with indescribable expressions on their faces.
>
>
>
> You can still find these little ones growing up amongst unpoetical poverty in small mountain villages of Eastern Europe. These children have special charm and personality: a mixture of merriness, holy seriousness and boundless wonder. Using a romantic approach to my work this time, I found the nuances of the expressions in my dolls to be slightly finer and more self-contained in their whole nature. It was not easy to do, and often I was displeased when my hands did not understand the already finished picture in my head. A mixture of expectation of the final result and my efforts to bring the formless and shapeless clay to a complete union with that expectation was the challenge that kept me going.
>
>

The 1997 Götz catalog also states that Sabine's 1997 collection would appear in a separate catalog.4 Currently, this collection remains unindexed on this wiki.

## Find a Doll by Neckstamp Marking

The 1992 Götz catalog specifically states that the porcelain doll *ROSA,* and vinyl dolls *MONA* and *LISA* were produced "under the copyright of the artist;"2 this is why you will oftentimes see a copyright "©" symbol appear on the back of Sabine Esche's dolls' necks.

To search for a doll by a specific neckstamp marking, simply click on a photo below to be redirected to an index of all dolls that share it. *Please note: only dolls with identified, matching neckstamps will be indexed below and in categories.*

301-18 Götz SE Sabine EscheGötz '94 249/20 Sabine Esche.SE © GÖTZ '92 228 Sabine EscheSE © Götz 1992 202/18-8 Sabine EscheSE Götz 1992 © 203/18-8 Sabine EscheNo neckstamp photo: SE © Götz 1993 206/20-8 Sabine EscheThis neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.© GÖTZ 1993 205/18/8 Sabine EscheThis neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This facial mold has an UNKNOWN neckstamp marking.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.This neckstamp marking is currently UNKNOWN.
## References

1. Esche, S. (1988). *Porzellan-Puppen*. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Einhorn-Presse-Verl.

2. This information comes directly from the *1992 Götz Catalog*.

3. This information comes directly from the *1995 Götz Catalog*.

4. This quote and/or information comes directly from the *1997 Götz Art Collection Catalog.*