Antique Cameo Doll Company Collectibles

Founded in 1922, the Cameo Doll Company primarily produced wooden dolls, but they also created dolls made from bisque, vinyl, hard plastic, and celluloid. Most of the designs were done by Joseph Kallus, who also designed for other doll manufacturers, such as the Effanbee Corporation and the Ideal Nowty and Toy Company. Cameo was also the manufacturer of the Kewpie dolls made in the USA. The Cameo company was acquired by the Strombecker Corporation in the 1970s and the operation was moved to Chicago.

Early batches of cameo dolls bore none of their labels, but dolls made later were marked “cameo” on their heads, backs, or feet. In 1971, the S71 label also added on their label. Some Cameo collectible dolls are the following:

The baby doll was designed by Rose O’Neill and was initially produced in Ohrdruf, Germany. Kewpie dolls made by Cameo range from 2 ½ to 12 inches and carry a red heart paper tag on their chest with their patent mark. Some also had O’Neill’s signature on the foot. The character of the doll was characterized by her sideways eyes, molded and painted hair, puckered smiling mouth, legs molded together while the shoulders are attached.

2) Baby Bundie (1921 to 1925)

The first Baby Bundie dolls were first made by the Rex Doll Company in 1918 and then by the Mutual Doll Company from 1919 to 1921. But in 1921 Cameo began producing these dolls and they were still designed by Joseph Kallus.

3) Wooden dolls from 1929 to 1940 (Bandy, Pete the Pup, Superman, Ginger, Feliz the Cat, Popeye)

The wooden segmented dolls became one of Cameo’s popular creations and their height usually ranges from 9 to 16 inches. It consists of a hardwood body and head with a paper label on the chest.

4) affectionately peanut (1958)

Measuring 18.5 inches, Peanut is an all-in-one doll came with a Kewpie playmate with features like sleepy eyes, drinks and real eyelashes. The doll also converts when squeezed and cries when her legs are pinched. Este modelo también fue una reedición del Peanut original de 1930, pero su cabeza está inspirada en la muñeca de 1956 llamada Dyp-A-Babe.

5) Ho Ho (1965)

Probably one of the most sought after collections, this 7-inch tall doll was last designed by Rose O’Neill in the 1940’s. The doll is made of soft vinyl with a squeaker feature and looks like a smiling Buddha.

Anyone who is interested in collecting antiques will find a wide selection of series of cameo characters. There were several other dolls created by the company, such as Walt Disney cartoon characters. People who are intersted in collecting Them Should Also Scour The Internet for Doll Manufactured by The Company from 1922 to the 1970’s.