Penny Wood Dolls History

Dolls are often a reflection of the societies and cultures that they come from. In the 18th century, jointed wooden dolls known as penny wood dolls emerged and became popular.

Beginnings

The origin of penny wood dolls can be traced to the Grodnertal area of Germany in 1810, where they were first developed and produced. Once they gained in popularity, they became available in many countries.

Names

Penny wood dolls were known by a variety of names, including peg wooden dolls, penny woodens and wooden poppets. These dolls typically resembled wooden clothespins with simple peg joints.

Sizes

Penny wood dolls came in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2 to 11 inches in height. The smaller dolls were more affordable, allowing many people to own large families of dolls.

Costumes

There were also a variety of costumes and outfits made to dress penny wood dolls, ranging from simple dresses to more elaborate outfits.

Availability

Penny wood dolls were usually available in dime stores, cent shops and stores that carried a variety of inexpensive toys, candies and other sundries for children.

References

• Historical Folk Toys: Penny Wooden Doll Kit
• Conneticut Doll Artists: Doll FAQs
• Museum of Childhood: Toys from the Past
• LOTZ Doll Pages: Penny Wooden Dolls