The Candy Spelling Doll Auction results are online now and Lenci collectors will be interested in the closing prices,especially for the rarely seen Lenci characters. The highest price in the Lenci category went to the later model Lenci character Sam … Continue reading →
Below are the auction results of the entire selection of Lenci auction results – the Lenci Sam black boudior doll fetched $19,000 and the Lenci Josephine Baker went for $11,000. Italian Glass-Eyed Googly, “Fobello”, by Lenci 1800/2500 Lot # 23 … Continue reading →
Restoring a Lenci doll requires a mixture of art and science and a level of skill and patience beyond the ordinary,
Diane Mardis recently completed a restoration project that would be daunting to even the most experienced doll restorer. ... read the article
If you are planning to buy a Lenci doll on eBay it helps to familiarize yourself with the going rates for the type of doll you are interested in buying or selling...
read the article
Online Resource for Old Lenci Catalogs and Archive Pictures
A video from storiaindustria.it in italian about the Lenci factory in Turin during the 1920's-30's. Since its foundation in 1919 by Elena and her husband Enrico Konig Scavini, until the sale in 1937, the story of a company and its place in art and industry. Rare footage and pictures. Watch the video (video, 9:57:00 duration)
La Torino di Lenci
ideato da Pier Luigi Bassignana e Elena Romagnolo.
Il percorso racconta l'avventura della fabbrica Lenci nella Torino industriale degli anni Venti e Trenta del Nocento. Dalla fondazione nel 1919 ad opera di Elena Konig e del marito Enrico Scavini, fino alla cessione nel 1937, la storia di un'azienda e della sua produzione tra arte e industria.
Per consultare il percorso:
Narrazione multimediale (Video, durata 9:57:00)
Source: storiaindustria.itWatch More Archival Videos at: http://lenci-dolls.net/movie.html
Lenci Balilla from 1940's Italy
June 2011
Mike sent in this picture of this rare Balilla model Lenci boy that has been in his family for 3 generations. Says Mike "The only thing that I know about it was that my great uncle came back from Italy after WW2 and gave the doll to my dad when he was probably two or three. I had read where that factory was bombed during the war , but I can not be sure of that. That’s all we really know about it."
Mike's lenci doll is interesting for its direct provenance to the 1940s when his great uncle acquired it in Italy. The Lenci factory had indeed been bombed during the war. Fortunately the precious molds for pressing the felt faces were preserved however the technique of creating the famous Lenci doll faces was fading. After the war things had changed and the technique of molding the faces was all but lost.
Now after the war a new generation of workers producing the famous Lenci dolls depended upon the remaining pre war stock of pre pressed molded blank faces that remained unused since before the war - until stocks ran out. Lenci Collectors will notice a slight change in the painting style of the faces that can be seen in the post-war Lenci dolls.
The Lenci Balilla above dates to Facist era of pre war Italy so it was very likely made before WW2. The first Lenci Balilla doll appeared in the 1929 catalog as a 300 series doll. This small 10.5 inch model Balila dates to the 1933 catalog when it was recorded a series 70.
For more about the Lenci Balilla see this article on The Lenci Balilla
Original Ars Lenci Childs Coat for Sale
June 2011
Fabio Venturoli of Antichità Barberia company in Italy offers an original Ars Lenci Childs coat for sale. Writes Fabio "I would like to offer this coat in Lenci cloth in excellent condition as you can see from the photo.I think it is a truly rare piece of special interest to collectors.
If you are interested you can contact us with also more photography details."
"for a long time I shared this great homepage and learned a lot from your informative articles and the photos of the Lenci gallery.
Now I want to write this letter about two dolls of mine, and I hope it is a little interesting for you too.
I'm a doll collector , especially a Lenci doll collector, but I'm a German (that' the reason for my terrible English,too) and Germany isn't a Lenci-land.
It is very difficult to get a Lenci at all.
Because of this I was really surprised by an announcement of a Lady, who wanted to sell" two old Lencis ".I was very doubtful, but on the other hand nosy,so I decided to take a look at them.
....Read the article >>
Edward Petersen from State College, PA shares his story of a very unique Lenci doll.
"The doll was sent to my wife by her Uncle when she was a small child during the Second World War.
The doll was found in a villa that belonged to Mussolini during the Second World War. It is 24 inches tall and is dressed as an Italian peasant girl. "
"The doll has all the original face paint and is in fine condition.
She has on a two piece dress brocade dress with flower print.
The dress is partially lined and she has multiple layers of undergarments.
She is wearing a black felt apron over the dress and she has stocking which are probably knit cotton. Her hair feels like it is real and is brown or auburn in color and is put up in a bun. The doll has leather shoes. I have been told that the doll is a Lenci doll dating around the mid 1930's and that the name of the doll is probably GHERDA...
Imagine an ancient and important building of a city in
northern Italy. In the attic of this building there is a chest covered with
dust.
One day, a few years ago, this trunk was found and opened after so many
years ... Between the old toys in the trunk peeps an unusual puppet depicting
an Indian, put there and forgotten for nearly a century ago by a child, who was
too big to play with.
But not everything is taken for granted for this Indian: soon
would left for a new city, welcomed by a new family that, had never seen
anything like it, would be very curious about its origin.
So, that a few days after the discovery of the trunk, came to
our house the “mysterious Indian", as soon nicknamed him for his difficult
identification.
However, I have always believed that Lenci dolls be
recognized first of all for something that they have in the eyes and then,
later, for all the features described in the books. And the look of this Indian
is really unusual, but at the same time attractive enough to remember some
characteristic figures of the company Lenci in the first period.
His face seems carved in stone, but his bright eyes and
sharp, as if they would pierce the eyes of his interlocutor. The large mouth
has a lower lip slightly pink than the upper lip and is portrayed in a mocking
smile.
Are not common even his height: is 49 cm high (19 in) and body fat but at the same time imposing, with a black sun painted on his chest.
Her hair are raven blacks and gathered in two long braids, has earrings and a
necklace made with glass beads. The hands, according to the first tradition of
the production Lenci, are all united in the blade.
According to some publications, the Lenci company had manufactured
in the '20s, than the early dolls also very rudimentary, figures such as cowboy
ethnic, oriental and even among these Native Americans, as we see from the
photo catalog of the Firm in 1923 (with number 105), inspired by fashion of the
time and from the period lived from Madame Lenci in a international circus
Lenci Catalog of 1923
The picture of the old catalog shows an Indian with bow and
arrows and a colorful headgear, but the endless stories that he lived justify today
the absence of these, and finally a well deserved rest in our living room.
A Forum member recently posted a question in the identification section asking the common question "Is my doll a Lenci?" It turns out to be a rare early Lenci Anili baby model 164 A.
We are saddened by the loss of esteemed doll expert & friend Dr. Rosita Siccardi on Dec 21. 2009 Rosita has always been a great help to doll collectors, always ready to share her unique knowledge and expertise on antique dolls especially Lenci dolls. Her passing is a great loss to the doll collecting world.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Domenico and family.
Siamo addolorati per la perdita di esperti bambola e amico stimato Dr. Rosita Siccardi il 21 Dicembre 2009. Rosita è sempre stato un grande aiuto per i collezionisti bambola, sempre pronta a condividere la sua conoscenza e competenza sulle bambole antiche soprattutto bambole Lenci. La sua scomparsa è una grande perdita per i raccoglitori di bambole.
I nostri pensieri e preghiere sono con il marito Domenico e famiglia Rosita Siccardi Website http://rositasiccardi.italia-dot.com
NEI PANNI DI UNA BAMBOLA
Le lenci della collezione di Grazia Caiani 1919 - 1940
In programma dal 13 dicembre 2007 fino al 15 febbraio 2008 alla Sala Santa Rita di Roma la mostra "Nei panni di una bambola", una selezione di circa 60 esemplari di bambole riunite sotto il marchio Lenci - provenienti da una più ampia collezione privata che raccoglie oltre 200 pezzi dal 1874 agli anni Sessanta.[Vedi: Grazia Caiani collection 1919-1940
Production photos of R. John Wright's Edith, The Lonely Doll® as she gets ready to depart on the big journey to her new homes. ...Click here to see the pictures
Shipping from Apr 7th 2008
Seen on eBay
A preparatory sketch for a Lenci ceramic piece "La Moglie del Soldato" ( the soldiers wife), by Elena Scavini, ref “Le ceramiche di Lenci” di Alfonso Panzetta pag. 221 “Lenci ceramiche da collezione”, Luciano Proverbio pag. 272
:
Old article “La fucina della gioa infantile. Una visita alla fabbrica delle bambole Lenci.”
Old article in Italian from the publication Patria, describing a visit to the Lenci factory with pictures of the dolls and the Lenci shop. The dolls shown in the pictures are from the the 1926 catalog so this article probably dates to 1926; Patria.
C.F.A. “La fucina della gioa infantile. Una visita alla fabbrica delle bambole
Lenci.”
The original Lenci 1921 patent in the US patent archives - the link takes you to the search results page for Patent No. 1,389,905, Issue Date September 6, 1921, filed by E Scavini in 1919. On results page, click on the "Images" button to see the images of the original patent application filed by Enrico Scavini, the husband of Elena Scavini known as "Madame Lenci", the creator of the Lenci dolls.
Detail: An original B/W picture of Madame Lenci from the book Lenci Dolls, by Nancy Lazenby, colorized by Patricia.
The genius of R. John Wright, in homage to Lenci tradition, brings us a fitting tribute to the legacy of Dare Wright for this, the 50th anniversary year of the publication of The Lonely Doll ®. ..read the interview
The wait is over !
R. John Wright's latest creation Edith, The Lonely Doll ® is unveiled in magnificent detail on the official web site at : http://www.rjohnwright.com/edith.html
Nancy's fabulous book Lenci: The History and the Dolls arrived in the mail yesterday. Once I opened it I couldn't put it down till the last page. Our congratulations to Nancy on her accomplishment! It is a major milestone for doll collectors.
This is everything Nancy promised in her recent interview and more! The research into early company history is fascinating, with never before seen early photos, the young Elena Scavini (Madame Lenci) looking every bit as pretty as a boudoir doll herself. Gorgeous photos, such fine examples ! - dolls I had only seen in catalogs and had been wondering about for ages, a definitive guide for Lenci collectors - a book to treasure!! - Patricia Hayes
June 2007
'ZIZI'by HELEN KÖNIG SCAVINI. polychrome pottery with
black enamel marks Lenci MADE IN ITALY TORINO,
15in. (38cm.) high
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Reader Judy's shares pictures of rare Lenci felt wall art 
A video from storiaindustria.it in italian about the Lenci factory in Turin during the 1920's-30's. Since its foundation in 1919 by Elena and her husband Enrico Konig Scavini, until the sale in 1937, the story of a company and its place in art and industry. Rare footage and pictures.
is now shipping
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