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Lenci dolls

Type of pressed wool felt doll

Lenci dolls are wool felt dolls that feature heat-pressed wool faces with painted features. They typically have intricately made wool and organdy clothing, adorned with elaborate felt flowers, hats, and/or accoutrements. They are at the top end of the luxury goods market.2 It ceased to exist in 2002.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1919Founded1
  • Founded inTurin1

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Lenci dolls are wool felt dolls that feature heat-pressed wool faces with painted features. They typically have intricately made wool and organdy clothing, adorned with elaborate felt flowers, hats, and/or accoutrements. They are at the top end of the luxury goods market. Today they are considered highly prized collectibles.2

The story

Elena König was born in Turin in 1885. She moved to Germany, where she acquired the pet name of Lenchen which mutated into Lenci when back in Italy. During the chaos of the Great War where Italy fought against Germany, she experimented with felt and its many properties. She married Enrico Scavini in 1915, and he included felt doll manufacture in the Lenci business - one that was primarily concerned with ceramics.

In 1937, the firm employed 300 workers and the family relinquished control.

The factory was bombed during an air-raid in 1944. The company liquidated in 2002.

From Wikipedia’s article on Lenci doll, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 2002Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1919Founded Founded in Turin1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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