Six Things You Might Not Have Known about Götz Dolls

World renowned with collectors and beloved by children, the Götz doll continues to impress and entertain nearly 65 years after the first papier-mâché models came out of Roedental, Germany.

HABA is urging families to Take Time to Play with board games and toys, including dolls. Interaction with dolls sparks imagination and even allows young children to explore different emotions.

Durable and beautiful, Götz (pronounced “goots”) creates “playmates for life.” Collectors have long sought the figures as well. Here are six facts you might not have known about these famous dolls:

1) Founded in 1950, the company really took off about a decade later when the company enlisted the artistic touch of famed Sasha Morgenthaler, who designed the dolls into the early 2000s. Several other artists have shaped the face of Götz over the decades as well.

2) Today, the second-generation family company produces the dolls in what is regarded as one of the largest doll factories in the world.

3) In 1989, Götz enlisted renowned doll designers Sylvia Natterer and Carin Lossnitzer to design a new artist collection, the first of many to come.

4) The Götz reputation for producing high-quality playthings was recognized with the Play Well award in the early 1990s by the Committee for Children’s Play and Toys. The German society is dedicated to toys that are safe, educational and have high play value.

5) The dolls have earned numerous awards and places in the hearts of children everywhere over the years. Prestigious recognition includes the Oppenheim Platinum Award, Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Children’s Products,” a NAPPA Honors Award and five highly regarded “Doll of the Year” (DOTY) awards presented at the premier international doll industry event.

6) Götz even has the distinction of inspiring the iconic American Girl collection, a demonstration of the dolls’ international appeal. The first dolls in that series were based on the Götz face mold and body style.

Dolls develop emotional and cognitive skills in children while bringing back treasured memories for adults. Just one more way to Take Time to Play this season.