How can something so simple in form be so complex in depth?

When you hold a doll by Elisabeth Pongratz in your hands you immediately become aware of its special qualities. The subtle curve in the arms and legs, the slight indentation of the temple as you move your hand over the perfectly finished wood, the warmth of the wood itself... these are some of the tactile qualities unable to be fully appreciated in a photograph. Elisabeth's expressive eye painting captures your heart and your imagination. Sturdy metal-spring jointing allows each doll to pose without the aid of a stand. The seeming simplicity of Elisabeth's dolls belies their true artistic perfection.

Elisabeth hails from a time and culture where children weren't showered with new dolls every year: they had one doll - one precious friend - to play with throughout their childhood and beyond. Guided by this philosophy, Elizabeth creates her dolls to stand the test of time. Pongratz dolls are meant to be held, played with and cherished for a lifetime.
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When an artist creates with wood, the results are phenomenal. We love the way wood feels, the beauty of its grain, the rich finishes and the unique and telling manner in which it ages. Over the years the wood matures and takes on a distinct look as it reveals your gentle, loving touch.

But wood is a demanding medium. In today's world, it is rare to find a fine doll artist working in wood and thus their dolls are held in high esteem. Elisabeth Pongratz has brought us her fine dolls from wood for over thirty years. Her design is so perfect that they are fundamentally unchanged since their inception.

Dolls That Speak From The Heart

Inspired by the Munich Art Doll movement of the early 20th century, Elisabeth's dolls are delicately handcarved and hand-painted in a simplistic fashion - very similar to dolls by Sasha Morgenthaler and Kathe Kruse - with a sweetness that tugs at your heart. The all-wood dolls are fully jointed using a unique spring mechanism specially designed by Elisabeth and her husband, Wolf. Her soft-bodied babies are filled with sand for a sturdy yet cuddly feel. Because of their handcrafted nature, a very small number of dolls are created each year. Elisabeth Pongratz dolls speak from the heart.