| The Lenci Company was founded in 1919 in | | | | light fabric covered with cellulose and made |
| Turin, Italy by Enrico and Elana Konig | | | | with japanned hollow body and limbs, with |
| Scavini. It is reported that the company | | | | several paint layers on a very light fabric |
| continued making dolls into the 21st century, | | | | structure (this makes the doll unique). The |
| however, there is conflicting information | | | | washable dolls mark a passage between the |
| about the year company was founded and | | | | first and the second period in the Lenci |
| exactly how long they continued making dolls. | | | | Company's history. |
| | | | |
| The dolls made at Lenci during the 1920s and | | | | More of Madame Scavini's collection of |
| 1930s are particularly desired by collectors | | | | characters that mark milestones of her |
| because of their superb craftsmanship, and | | | | artistic career includes: |
| also because they are so irresistibly | | | | |
| adorable. | | | | - The 1923 Pierrot doll by Dudovich that sold |
| | | | in a box designed by Gigi Chessa |
| The most notable among the Lenci's 83 years | | | | |
| of history was the period between the two | | | | - The Veneziana doll |
| World Wars. These are said to be the most | | | | |
| valuable and best well made of their | | | | - A lady doll that appeared in the 1924 |
| creations. | | | | Novelties catalogue |
| | | | |
| The early highly sought after Lenci dolls | | | | - The 1925 Fukuruco |
| have the pressed felt and oil-painted faces. | | | | |
| They also had double felt ears that were sewn | | | | - The chinese god of fertility, longevity and |
| on individually. Their heads swiveled on | | | | wisdom |
| their bodies. They had jointed shoulders and | | | | |
| hips and some dolls had rooted hair on mohair | | | | - The 1926 Mimy doll by Dudovich better known |
| wigs. They often had side glancing eyes and | | | | as Dietrich |
| were dressed in elaborate costumes made from | | | | |
| either felt or organdy. | | | | Lenci also crafted dolls from wood with |
| | | | composition heads and made some porcelain |
| Some of these early Lenci dolls can be found | | | | dolls and figures. Porcelain figures of |
| today carrying things such as a carved wooden | | | | Disney characters like Bambi, Dumbo, Mickey |
| animal or a broom. The later Lenci dolls are | | | | Mouse and Donald Duck were made by the Lenci |
| reported as being somewhat less well made and | | | | Company in the 1950s. You will find these |
| many have fabric covered cardboard torsos | | | | figures marked just "Lenci" and not a Disney |
| with felt faces that are hard and have been | | | | copyright. |
| compared to cloth covered cardboard. The | | | | |
| later dolls might be found dressed in | | | | Even though the ceramics and other items |
| clothing made from cotton, rayon, and | | | | Lenci produced were a huge success, some of |
| taffeta. They are also usually less well | | | | the artists began to leave the Lenci Company |
| accessorized than the earlier better made | | | | to establish their own workshops. At this |
| dolls. | | | | time, the Lenci Company had more than 600 |
| | | | workers (during the 1930s) and was deep in |
| The Lenci dolls apparently were also imitated | | | | debt. A partnership became necessary. The |
| everywhere since the year of 1927, from Turin | | | | new partners became sole owners after 1937. |
| to Florence, and then in Germany, France, and | | | | Madame Lenci worked as the artistic director |
| England. The imitation dolls were also said | | | | until December of 1940 when she left the |
| to be cheaper and this competition caused | | | | company she did not own any more; this was |
| serious problems for the Lenci Company. | | | | now a company that marketed her dolls in |
| | | | reduced format using a new name, "Ars Lenci." |
| A series of Oriental dolls were produced from | | | | |
| 1925 to 1927, the first appeared in 1923 as | | | | The dolls that can be traced back to the |
| the "Fumatore d'oppio" doll. | | | | 1920s and 1930s are worth much more money. |
| | | | The 149 Lenci face is also valuable. If the |
| Some of their dolls include: | | | | Lenci doll is 13 inches tall, its estimated |
| | | | value is around $750 to $1,000. The 17 inch |
| - The 1929 Kigan doll, the laughing samurai | | | | doll would double in price, and if the height |
| | | | is more than 19 inches, the value is |
| - A 1929 tennis player doll wearing a blouse | | | | approximately between $1,700 and $2,500. |
| with an embroidered monogram, LS (Lenci | | | | |
| Scavini) | | | | The value of the dolls is also based on the |
| | | | amount of soiling being at top dollar with |
| - A 1930 cowboy wearing a felt and leather | | | | very light and not serious soiling. A dirty |
| costume and a cartridge belt but no weapons | | | | Lenci doll, or a doll with badly rubbed color |
| | | | on their faces are said to be significantly |
| - The 1931 little gentleman who carries a | | | | worth much, much less. |
| walking stick but has no silk hat | | | | |
| | | | Source: Una bambola e altre creazioni by |
| - Madame Lenci's last creation, the 1939 | | | | Elena Scavini (book from Italy) and general |
| Gioia doll, a washable baby made of felt and | | | | knowledge of the Lenci dolls and company. |