They are known by a variety of names such as pincushion dolls, tea-cosy dolls and dresser dolls etc., but the most often used term is half dolls as they are made from the waist up.  Although some were produced earlier, the vast majority were produced between 1900 and the 1920s. 

The most popular were the pretty ladies that were either dressed in high fashion or nothing at all.  They were generally attached to flouncy skirts which covered a variety of objects from powder bowls to tea cosies, pin cushions to clothes brushes. 

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to date the half dolls or to determine the manufacturer.  Many have no marks at all or only the country such as Germany where many were made.  Makers’ marks, if any, will be on the tapered base of the doll or inside the small opening on the lower unglazed section.  The exquisite dolls made by Goebel, Heubach and Dressel, and Kister command some of the highest prices but, at the top of the market are the rare half dolls produced to go on top of a chocolate pot.  The most sought after is a waitress holding a chocolate pot and a cup and saucer on a tray.  Although bids reached £404.78 for one on Ebay in April 2008, the reserve price was not met. 

The half dolls come in a variety of poses.  The easiest dolls for the artist were made in two-piece molds with their arms and hands close to their bodies.  More complicated were the dolls with arms held away from the body with one hand on the hip or touching the hair, with the other hand holding an object close to the body.  Even more difficult were the dolls with the arms held away from the body which called for great skill in the modelling.  One can easily understand why the best quality half dolls in poses with arms held away from the body with tiny separated fingers are in the top bracket as far as prices are concerned.