Antique Armand Marseille “My Dream Baby” Doll Head – 351/1K – Germ

A wonderfully unusual and highly characterful antique Armand Marseille “My Dream Baby” doll head, dating from the early 20th century.

The head is impressed to the reverse with the unmistakable “A.M. GERMANY 351/1K” mark, identifying it as an Armand Marseille 351 Dream Baby mould. Armand Marseille was one of Germany’s most important doll manufacturers, and the 351 Dream Baby is one of the company’s instantly recognisable baby moulds.

This little fellow has an especially striking expression, with his beautifully painted brows, delicate painted lips, moulded ears, rounded baby cheeks and original glass sleeping eyes, which are still fully operational. The eyes close when the head is tilted, adding an impressive little bit of mechanical magic to this already wonderfully eerie antique.

The head measures approximately 9 cm high, 6.5 cm across from ear to ear and 9 cm from nose to the back of the head.

Condition is good for its considerable age, with the expected signs of a long life including surface marks, wear and some loss to the original finish. There is also a small chip around the lower neck/socket opening, as shown in the photographs. Please study all photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

A fascinating piece of early doll-making history and a fantastic example of the wonderfully strange things that turn up when you start looking into antique dolls!

A genuine Armand Marseille 351/1K — small in size, big on character and guaranteed to make visitors stop and take a second look. 

Dr Oddities rating: 10/10 on the creepy-cute scale.