Sonia Ottolini. A Mid Century Modern Fashion Doll Documentary from Milan, Italy 

Sonia Ottolini. A Mid Century Modern Fashion Doll Documentary from Milan, Italy
Sonia Ottolini’s figure is shapely, with elegant limbs and hands. The doll has high heels that are molded in the manner of Bild Lilli, with holes in the soles of her feet to allow for a stand. The original stand is off-white, circular plastic with a central prong to insert into one of the feet. She is an unusual doll from the late 1950s and early 60s, made at the Ottolini factory in Milan, Italy. She was created using mache-plastic, which consists of a light coating of plastic over a papier-mache or cardboard base. This material can resemble celluloid, but it is not so brittle or thin.
Mache-plastic was never used in the USA, but it was a popular material in Europe from the late 1940s to early 60s. The medium was used for a wide range of dolls from high quality to very cheap looking. The Ottolini dolls are at the top end of the scale.
If you are looking to buy these vintage dolls today, they are easier to find in their home market of Italy. But as some were sold internationally, featuring in Toy Trader of 1962, they may occasionally be sourced in Europe and the USA.
These are big dolls! Sonia is 25” tall, and has a passing (though probably not accidental) resemblance to Jacquie Kennedy - except for the striking blue, flirty eyes.
This doll is eminently displayable. The costuming was an important feature - there were tailored sheath dresses, cotton prints, and elegant flowered chiffons, all with an emphasis on chic daywear; shoes were painted in a color to coordinate with the doll’s ensemble. A trademark single row of pearls is a often featured. The dolls were sold wearing a small rectangular gold pin bearing the name ‘Sonia’.
Luckily, for identification purposes, the dolls are marked Ottolini C&D / Mod.Dep / Made in Italy. Human hair wigs were used, usually in shades of blonde or brunette. They were mainly cut in the side-parted, short, sleek style of the 1960s. An exception is the longer-haired black doll, which is a more rare item. This doll is a black-painted version of the white doll, with blue eyes, and a long black wig. She is dressed in a multi-colored skirt of felt strips, a white necklace, matching earrings, and a red vest.
Sonia was sold boxed, as a dressed doll only. Each one was styled with care as a standalone item, with great thought put into the overall look and color scheme. There was no separate wardrobe of clothes available. For the collector this means a representative selection involves amassing a number of these gargantuan beauties. Good luck with finding enough space to display them all.