Lotte Pritzel and Her Wax Figurines

At the beginning of the 20^th century the German woman artist Lotte Pritzel creates very special objects: Dolls for the Vitrine. They are made of wax, have an height of about 10,5 to 25,5 inches and portrait different characters: ladies and gentlemen dressed like people of the 18^th century, dancers, exotic and androgynous figures.

Charlotte Pritzel (1887-1952) is born in Breslau. There is neither information about the artist’s family and her education nor an indication that she attends an art school. She herself even denies any kind of art education. At the age of 18 she moves to Munich and becomes a famous member of the so-called bohemia in the quarter named Schwabing. Among her friends are artists, actors, writers and poets such as Franziska zu Reventlow, Erich Muehsam, Jakob van Hoddis, Carl Zuckmayer or Rainer Maria Rilke. The latter is the author of a poem and of a text about the Pritzel-Dolls and he is a prominent example for the adoration of both: Lotte Pritzel herself and the wax figurines.

First opportunities to present the dolls take place in exhibitions such as the ones titled Artist Dolls in the department stores of Hermann Tietz in Munich, Berlin and Hamburg since 1908. The Pritzel-Dolls rapidly become successful. Between 1911 and 1923 the periodical German Art and Decoration publishes several articles about Pritzel and her work, and galleries in Munich and Berlin arrange exhibitions.

In the first decade of her opus she creates figures which are moveable. The body is made out of cloth, stuffed with cotton, and the head, armes and legs are modelled with wax. Around 1912 the German manufacturer Hermann Bahlsen orders wax dolls to use them for advertise. Since 1916 the Hohenzollern Kunstgewerbehaus Friedmann & Weber becomes the offical dealer of the Dolls for the Vitrine. Then Pritzel changes her technique. The entireley doll is formed out of wax and positioned on little pedestals. They are then fixed in their gestures. Ernst Friedmann becomes a close friend and supporter of the artist. The dolls have titles such as Madonna, Angel or Dancer and are sold to well off people. A fascinating relation exists between these art objects and the media dance and film. For example dancers like Niddy Impekoven and Anita Berber create performaces with living Pritzel-Dolls and in 1921 the German Universal Film shoots a film about Pritzel. On the peak of her career she has even customers in the United States.

In 1921 the artist marries the doctor Gerhard Pagel (1886-1954), her daughter Irmelin is born and the family moves to Berlin. For some years Pritzel is also successful as a costume designer and works for several theatres in Munich and Berlin.

They are creations of myself – that is what Lotte Pritzel herself says about her wax dolls. She creates more than 200 different figures. About 40 still exist in private and public collections in Germany, Great Britain and the US. In 1987, on the occasion of her 100^th birthday, the Stadtmuseum in Munich dedicates an exhibition to Lotte Pritzel and her famous wax dolls. This is the beginning of a new perception to the Pritzel-Dolls which are fascinating and exceptionell until today.

Dr. Barbara Borek
Art Historian (Berlin, Germany)
Research on Women Artists, Artist's Archives, Author

Please contact: BBorek@gmx.de