EXPERTbild lilli barbie sindy
AZO Would you consider the Lilli doll to be a good investment? Is their value growing? Which are the most valuable Lillis and is there an active collector market?
IAK Yes, considering the past decade the price for a Lilli increased tremendously. In the early ‘90’s, Lillis cost between $250-500 at doll shows. Compared to the present price level this means it’s value boomed to be 4 to 5 times the value. Screening the 'ebay' sales in the last months, it seems to me, that the price has not yet peaked. But I never looked at Lilli as an investment, I looked at her as a fascinating doll with character and the new type of “self conscious” and independent woman of her times. Yes, there is an active Collector market- there is a high demand for Lilli dolls at doll shows, conventions and auctions (like 'ebay') The most valuable Lilli’s are those in rare outfits, for example the Stewardess is very rare, because she appeared only a short time (the number # 1133 has been used later for a cocktail dress) or the Magic Lilli is unusual- that was a special edition for a well known German magician H.G.Platsch. She came with a magic ring and a special board which gave the appearance of Lilli floating in the air. Another rare outfit is the Lilli Marleen outfit.
AZO What is the current value of a Lilli doll?.
IAK The current value of the small Lilli (nude) is between $600- $1000+ for the large Lilli (nude) $1000 to $2000+, unusual or rare outfits $700-$1200+, normal outfits between $300- $700, newspaper $500, tube with stand $500-$1000.
AZO We are struck by how expensive the doll was!.....are you able to go into more detail aboutwho used to buy them? Did anyone famous own a Lilli doll? Would the dolls have been considered an highly sought after "Collectible" at the time?
IAK Lilli was extremely expensive - more than 20 DM ($12-19 - that's about $120 at today' prices) Lilli was first not for children, but rather a promotional and party gag for grown-ups. Lilli was mostly bought by wealthy people in the great cities . The ability to sell such an expensive luxury item such as the Lilli doll was enabled by new consumer society that followed the devastation of World War II sparked by the introduction of the D-Mark, the Marshall Plan and the “economic miracle” of the Adenaeur years. Famous people who owned Lilli, to my knowledge were the Russian ballet dancer Ludmilla Tschernia who was presented with a Lilli doll in December 1955 and James Perkins of Paramount in 1956.
AZO Do you know how many were made of each doll?...
IAK Only 130.000 Lillis were sold over her ten year life span.
AZO How many dolls are still in existence and how would a you recommend finding the dolls?
IAK Hard to tell, but they are rare - 'e-bay' is a good address and Conventions.
AZO What materials has Lilli been manufactured from?
IAK Hard plastic, spray painted and mohair hair. Lilli’s hair is not rooted, because she is out of hard plastic - she has a wig that was sewn on a band, that was set under a cap which is screwed on the rest of the head. Mr. Hausser told me that the company considered using a rooting system but since the mohair was to fine this idea was given up.
AZO Can you describe any special details in her manufacture or construction that is unique to Lilli?
IAK The patterns, that were developed from Max Weißbrodt are very unique - for example that her legs, because of a special joint cut, would close together in front, when she was sitting (otherwise it would have been "unladylike") and second the way she could turn her head in a realistic way. Another unique thing is, that her head has a plastic cap which is sewed on the head and a band of hair (mohair) was set under the cap and pulled up into a ponytail. The high heels also were special - Lilli has holes in her feet and the stand had one metal wire, where the doll could be attached The poodle is not unique, it was not sold by Hausser - it was just an accessory made by Steiff, that was often put together, because it was also asymbol of the times and the scale was perfect. Tshey are not so rare and easy to find in flea markets.
