Gebruder Heubach (Germany) dolls

Gebruder Heubach was a German porcelain doll manufacturer that was established in 1840 by Georg Christoph and Phillipp Jakob Heubach in Lichte, Thuringia, Germany. Initially, the company produced household ceramics, but in 1863 they began manufacturing dolls.

The company's first dolls were made of bisque porcelain, which was a new material at the time. They quickly gained a reputation for their high-quality dolls, which were known for their realistic features and lifelike expressions. Gebruder Heubach's dolls were especially popular in the United States and were exported in large quantities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Gebruder Heubach's most famous doll is the "Laughing" or "Giggling" baby, which was introduced in 1912. The doll's open-mouthed expression and gurgling noise made it an instant hit, and it became one of the most popular dolls of the early 20th century.

During World War I, Gebruder more... Heubach's factory was converted to produce military goods, and after the war, the company struggled to regain its position in the market. In the 1920s, the company introduced a new line of dolls made of composition material, which helped to revive its fortunes.

Gebruder Heubach continued to produce dolls throughout the 20th century, but the company's output declined in the post-World War II era and in 1990 the factory closed. less...