Starting 1908, some German doll manufacturers began to consider the idea of giving the dolls a more naturalistic expression.
"Living dolls" - dolls with expression.
Starting in 1908, some German doll manufacturers began to think about giving the dolls a naturalistic expression. The doll was supposed to convey an emotional expression, a mood; defiance, joy, sorrow,...
In 1909 the company "Kämmer & Reinhardt" created the first character baby with the serial number 100. Called "Kaiserbaby" - because of the unequal arm position. (Kaiser Wilhelm was born with a slightly shorter left arm.)
Other manufacturers followed this fashion. The expressive new faces were not very popular with the children however, and so the later dolls had "cuter" features again. Nowadays character dolls are sought after collector objects.