Zwergnase – Dolls with Major Attitude

by Pam North

     It's those faces. From quirky to droll, pensive to saucy, they capture the heart every time. Definitely a departure from more conventional dolls, Zwergnase dolls have their own special charm. There is a slightly caricatured humanity about them that reflects the awkward stages in childhood. Their lopsided grins show the uneven emerging adult teeth typical to six and seven-year-olds, and mischief lights eyes crinkled in fun. Hairstyles are the careless ones common to active kids, with wisps escaping scrunchy-bound ponytails, and tangled curls framing the lively faces. These are not portrayals of pristine, perfect children; these look more like real-life kids out at play, the kind with disheveled clothes and skinned-up knees. These are dolls that human children can relate to and feel comfortable with, and adults can regard with appreciation as reminders of their own experiences of growing up. Zwergnase dolls (or Z dolls as collectors often call them) resonate with their owners and make them smile.
     The artist behind these delightful dolls is Nicole Marschollek-Menzner, and she breathes her own brand of impish magic into her creations.Born in Rauenstein in East Germany, Nicole loved art even as a child, expressing herself in original, splashy jewelry designs. She eventually enrolled in the College of Design and Mechanical Engineering in Sonneborg, earning a bachelor's degree in toymaking and mechanical design. The fall of the Iron Curtain allowed her more freedom to pursue her dreams. After working for Goetz, a local doll manufacturing firm, she formed her own company, Zwergnase. The name references a German storybook character (a dwarf with a big nose) who, despite his small size, battled giants and achieved great feats. It also has a nice symbolism for a small company with high aspirations.
     Nicole lives with her husband, Bernd, and her two children, Mees and Greta, just outside Schalkau, Germany, close to their factory in the mountainous region of Thuringia, an area steeped in a long tradition of doll manufacturing (prestigious dollmakers such as J.D. Kestner, Kammer & Reinhardt and Armand Marseilles had factories there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries).  Bernd manages their business, and Mees likes to hang around watching everything run. Nicole has a small staff of assistants, usually numbering about ten or fewer. Zwergnase is a small, hands-on operation.The entire manufacturing process of Zwergnase dolls takes place under one roof under Nicole's watchful eye. She is personally involved in every step of production.
     Nicole's sculpting is her joy; she loves the process of translating her observations of children into the clay. When the sculpt meets her satisfaction, a mold of it is created first in wax, then from the wax
to silicone, which then evolves into the form for producing the final vinyl versions. 
     Eyes for the dolls are of fine, mouth-blown glass, very similar to those made as replacement eyes for humans. She often sets them in a side-glancing position, which adds extra panache to a doll's character.  Wigs are of human hair or mohair, in a variety of natural and attractive shades and textures, lending realism and styling possibilities. Hairstyles are designed to complement each doll's personality, and range from simple, soft curls or waves to imaginatively ornamented braids or topknots. An extra touch for the faces - freckles - are painstakingly hand-applied by Katrin (a long-time Zwergnase employee), one by one, using the head of a straight pin. Such attention to detail is inherent to Zwergnase dolls.
     Costuming is also an important part of the Zwergnase dolls' appeal. Nicole designs all the clothing.  She visits fabric trade shows twice yearly, selecting from natural fabrics in complementing small-scale
patterns and colorful hues. She combines these cottons and silks into stylishly-funky layered outfits that perfectly suit the personalities of her dolls. Her 2006 costume collection features marvelous trims of
peacock and other feathers, net flounces, faux fur, velvet ribbons and felt flowers as highlights.
     Turning back the pages of past Zwergnase catalogs reveals a surprising gamut of facial expressions.  One can almost imagine the dolls having lively interaction among themselves, with Heloise and Benedetta laughing noisily; Colet and Zwaantje winking conspiritorially at each other’ Alberta and Line wrinkling their noses in dismay; Kicky and Zwanelde smirking. A profusion of emotions flitters across the faces in the collections. Zwergnase dolls don't just sit in their places; they live there. They have a presence all their own, and simply cannot be ignored.  hey clamor for attention, each in a degree that
its own personality dictates.
     Seventy-three sculpts have been created from 1995 through 2005; 2006 has generated eight new ones, all as exciting as their predecessors. Micheline and Camille-Christine flash unabashed, whole-hearted grins revealing upper and lower teeth; Kajsa looks somewhat chagrined; Amalia's face mirrors concern; Alexa tentatively shows off her cute puppy; Tora and Lovisa appear serenely meditative; Margharetha, Dianne and Pierre-Nicolas radiate delight; Ylva and Svea, with their bears, are images of pensive innocence; Vivianne seems happily anticipatory; Elise looks wide-eyed into a world that must seem very big to her. Nicole has done it again.
     Nicole takes great pride in her work. She refuses ("I absolutely will NOT do it," she states emphatically) to compromise her creations by having them mass-produced. Outsourcing could save 50% in labor costs, but Nicole will not sell out to cheaper materials and larger editions. "My work is aimed toward the individual, not the mass market" she explains.  Environmental concerns also figure into her viewpoint; she likes to use natural materials as much as possible, rather than synthetics. Limited editions (even smaller this year, so as to be more interesting and collectable) allow her to maintain her high ideals of quality, and to infuse her creations with the artistry and originality so dear to her heart.
     Addressing her goals, Nicole says,"In the future I want to continue to work in my own personal style.  I'm not interested in following market trends, only in expressing myself." As to what motivates her, she confides, "My inspiration is children.  I observe them closely, and often take photos. I look for unique expressions, and sculpt my dolls to portray them."
     As if her marvelous maverick dolls were not enough, Nicole also designs an appealing line of simpler play dolls for children and beginning collectors, and a yearly group of whimsical mohair bears
that are hot items in their own right. Her bears are an outlet for her sense of humor, and are an endeavor of real fun for her.
     Perhaps that is the real essence of what Zwergnase is all about --- FUN!

Contact Information for Zwerganse:
Zwergnase America, Inc.
451 Vick Keith Road
Sanford, NC 27332
Telephone: (888) 859-7755
Fax: (919) 498-2617
E-mail:  info@zwergnase.com