Traditional Soft Doll Maker Kaethe Kruse 

Traditional Soft Doll Maker Kaethe Kruse

We are always intrigued by inspirational people especially inspirational women. A lot of inspirational women where game changers in their times. Traditional Soft Doll Maker Kaethe Kruse was one of them.

Kaethe Kruse (Katharina Simon) was born on the 17^th September 1883 in Breslau Germany. Like  Margarete Steiff, who brought the first ever Teddy Bear to the market in 1902, Kaethe Kruse came from a very poor family. Her mum worked as a seamstress. We find similarities with Margarete Steiff also in that both women were very courageous. Both of them seem to have a way to dare and do at a time when women were not taken seriously.

How did Kaethe Kruse become a Doll Maker?

At just 17 years of age Kaethe Kruse moved to Berlin to become an actress. There she met Max Kruse who was an artist and sculptor 30 years older and in 1902 they had a daughter together. By 1909 they had 3 daughters and they got married. More children followed in total they had 3 daughters in 5 sons.

It was when she was pregnant with her second child, her older daughter ask for a doll. Kaethe Kruse asked Max to bring one home from his journeys. The story goes that Max Kruse was appalled about the cold and sterile look of dolls at that time and sad:” I’m not going to buy a doll. They are awful. Just make one yourself!” This was the start of Kaethe Kruse becoming a doll maker.

First of all she made dolls for her daughters. They were also modelled on her daughters looks. Her dolls were natural looking, soft and bendable and in 1910 her dolls were first shown in Berlin’s Department Store Herman Tietz.

In 1910 Kaethe Kruse’s dolls were first shown in Berlin’s Department Store Hermann Tietz.
In Berlin’s Newspapers her dolls were known as the Egg of Kolumbus.

Again we see a similarity to Margarete Steiff and her Teddy Bear Factory.  Like for the first teddy bear for Kaethe Kruse’s first dolls head a license was drawn up. Both women started to work from home and became renowned seamstresses. They both were perfectionists regarding their work and the quality use of material.

How did her hobby developed into a business?

Traditional Soft Doll Maker Kaethe Kruse soon received international orders from America and in 1912 the family moved to Bad Kösen. She was able to employ more people and the handmade doll production started. A hobby had developed into an international business.

During the war business was difficult. Kaethe Kruse refused to dismiss Half-Jewish employees and Hitler closed her factory. Kaethe Kruse had lost two of her sons in the war. Her husband died in 1942.

Doll production became impossible  in the Soviet occupation zone. Her company became a Volkseigener Betrieb (“Publicly Owned Corporation”) in 1952. In 1954 Kaethe Kruse moved to West Germany.

Two of her sons started workshops in Bad Pyrmont and Donauwörth and even managed to establish themselves in the Federal Republic. Kaethe Kruse was still involved in the design of her dolls but due to ill health she spent the last years with her eldest daughter, Maria in Munich. She died on 19. Juli 1968 in Murnau.

Her factory still exist and has been taken over by Kösen Manufacture  who creates wonderful plush animals and Teddy Bears .

How did Kaethe Kruse became the brand she is known for today?

Like 100 years ago the Kaethe Kruse Manufakture in Donauwörth still handcrafts classic dolls. The company has been handed down generation after generation, but Kaethe Kruse’s brand philosophy has stand the test of time.

• High quality of material
• Traditional manufactured
• Love to detail
• Handcrafted
• Uniqueness of every doll
• Special Technique of cloth doll making
• Dolls appeal to children & adults alike
• Collectible Dolls

Most dolls of the Doll Maker Kaethe Kruse have a pamphlet attached with her philosophy stating:

“We give all our love and experience in the elaborate production of our dolls and toys. A large part is still handmade and with lovely details they get the typical Kruse style”

“With over 100 years of experience, we still manufacture handmade dolls and toys. The safety of our toys is granted”

“Our baby toys are soft and cuddly and provide a feeling of security. From birth on, only the best for your child”

“Our new Kaethe Kruse friends carry love in their hearts. The four friends represent unconditional love and care; the perfect gift for baby and kids.”

“With role play children learn how to deal with each other and with their environment.  With the neutral expression of our dolls children can transfer their emotions easier on the doll and learn social behaviour “