BUYING A LENCI: PART 3
REAL LENCI OR “WANNABE“?
A Quick Checklist
Below is a brief checklist of Lenci features that characterize most Lenci dolls:
Felt face, arms and legs
Hard-stuffed cloth body (early)
Hollow body (later)
Double-felt applied ears
Side-glancing eyes
Two-tone lips with dot highlights on lower lip
Zig-zag stitching at the back of the neck
Hair sewn on in rows
Middle-fingers joined
Stamped script “Lenci” on bottom of feet
Cloth labels, cardboard tags, or small metal buttons stamped Lenci
3-hole milk glass buttons
Quilted shoe bottoms, scalloped socks
Intricately pieced felt costumes
Organdy costumes trimmed with felt
Hem-stitched “teddy”
At first glance, a “wannabe” Lenci may fool you. But if you take the time to examine a doll very carefully, you will soon learn to eliminate many dolls whose resemblance is really only superficial. A true Lenci will always outshine a “wannabe” by its detailing and artistry and “soul.” A real Lenci is not just a doll. It truly is a one-of-a-kind work of art, with a spirit that can’t be imitated.
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