Dresden doll

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This article is about the nineteenth century German-made doll. For the American alternative band, see The Dresden Dolls. For the song by The Fall, see Live at the Witch Trials.

A dresden doll, also known as a parian doll, was a type of doll manufactured in Dresden, Germany, from around 1850 to 1870. A parian doll, like a china doll, has a body made from fabrics and a head created from porcelain. Unlike the china doll however, the parian doll's head is not dipped in glaze before firing and as such has a markedly different appearance.

Usually the parians were elaborately decorated with colored feathers, flowers, scarves, ribbons, combs, jewels, and luster ruffs (single, double, occasionally triple) about the bottom of the yoke. The hair, blonde for the most part but occasionally brunette, was arranged in interesting and elaborate ways. The eyes were painted or of blown glass, oval with high centers; the "paperweight" type. The glass-eyed dolls are preferred by collectors.^[1]

For reasons unknown, the dresden dolls were considered poor workmanship by Dresden potters, and were largely sold as holiday novelties.^[1]