Italian Industrial Doll Head Moulds

A collection of six original Italian metal rotational moulds once used in the production of doll heads, dating from the second half of the 20th century.

Each mould preserves a different infant or child’s face, together with the traces of its working life: oxidation, residues, repairs, surface deposits and naturally developed patina. What began as industrial tooling has acquired an unexpectedly sculptural quality, with each head now appearing almost as an individual character.

The markings make the group particularly interesting. Two moulds carry marks associated with Zanini & Zambelli, while two others are marked FURGA ITALY, connecting them with the historic Italian doll manufacturer Furga. A fifth carries an unidentified TC monogram, while no mark has yet been identified on the sixth.

Rather than restoring or polishing the moulds, we have left their surfaces untouched and mounted each one individually on a simple black wooden display base. The bases are contemporary additions and can be removed.

Displayed individually they work as unusual pieces of industrial sculpture; together, the six form a striking document of Italian doll production and its largely unseen manufacturing process.

Available individually or as the complete collection of six.