The artist's views

"I wish to express moods and feelings through my dolls,
to create a colourful world of warmth and harmony
and to bring back dreams of the childhood."

It is the diversity of doll-making which I find particularly fascinating: modelling well-proportioned heads and limbs of various types, transferring models into porcelain and painting them with pale Chinese colors, combining various textiles and designing detailed clothing, including hand-knitted silk socks.

I would like to define the "doll" theme in a new way. When working with dolls for me the art of creation is the describtion of the childlike character and not the depiction or portrayal of a child. Children are truthful. They show their feelings immediately in their facial expression and bearing. This expressiveness of the children fascinates me and gives me an inexhaustible host of impressions for creation. And just to the same extent as the alert eye looks into the expression and character of a doll, the art in it will be revealed to him. 

Or, in the words of Antoine de St. Exupéry: "You can only see well with your heart, the essential things are invisible for your eyes."   


Personal data of the artist
1946 Born in Lindau (Bodensee).
1952-1958 School in Lindenberg (Allgäu).
1959-1962 School in Valenciennes (Saulzoir) France. First attempts at creative designs (clay, textiles, painting and modelling), picture books and dolls.
1983-1984 Several own exhibitions.
1985 Exhibition in France, first order from UNESCO for doll Miriam. Special exhibition in the Corn House Kempten (Börsensaal).
1986 Special exhibition in Paris at "Pierre Cardin", Espace Avenue Gabriel Champs Elysées. Second order from UNESCO for doll Princesse Grace. Special exhibition in the Corn House Kempten (Börsensaal). Touring exhibition in Brussels, Luxembourg and Metz. Great special exhibition in the Corn House (museum) in Weiler (Allgäu). Medals of gold, silver, and bronze at national and international competitions of the Global-Doll-Society and The Doll-Artisan-Guild.
1987 Ruth Treffeisen becomes a member in the "Bavarian Association for Arts and Crafts" (Bayerischer Kunstgewerbeverein). (Bundesverband für Kunsthandwerk).
1989 First doll design for internationally recognised doll companies.Doll exposition „Künstlerpuppen – Versuch einer Definition“ (Artist dolls – Attempt of a definition) in the Museum of the German Toy Industry in Neustadt / Coburg, Germany.
1991 Jubilee exhibition in the Corn House (museum) in Weiler (Allgäu) 1992 Production of a vinyl doll line.
1992 Production of a vinyl doll line.
1994 The Atelier Ruth Treffeisen celebrates its 10th anniversary. The anniversary dolls are named Ruth and Susa. Foundation of the "Puppenkreis Ruth Treffeisen". Great doll exposition with Ruth Treffeisen in the “Bayerische Vertretung” in Bonn, Germany
1997 “Les plus belles poupée du Monde“(The most beautiful dolls of the world) - Exposition together with the Musée Grevin, Paris, in the Library of Solvay, Parc Léopold, Brussels, Belgium. Grand special exposition in Château de la Ferté, in La Ferté Saint Aubin, near Orléans, France. On request of Walt Disney, Orlando, USA – Ruth Treffeisen produces a yearly special Ruth Treffeisen edition.
1998 Museum’s sales in Andorra, Japan and USA
1999 The Atelier Ruth Treffeisen celebrates its 15th anniversary with a big doll festival from July 2nd – July 4th in Wiggensbach.
2000 Anniversary exhibition "Puppenkunst: Die Zehnte - Zahlenspiele" in the Museum of the Germany Toy Industry in Neustadt/Coburg.
2001 "Princesses and the Last Unicorn", exposition from 8th till 16th December in Kornhaus Kempten, Germany - Dolls of Ruth Treffeisen placed in scenarios by Ruth Treffeisen and landscapes of Susanne Praetorius.
2002 Permanent exposition with yearly new themes and scenarios in the Château de la Ferté, in La Ferté Saint Aubin, near Orléans, France.
Dolls exhibition "Maskenball der Puppenkünste" (Masked ball of the dolls).
Great special exposition "Poupées populaires d'aujourd'hui" (Nowadays popular dolls) in Espace Ste. Croix, Loudun, France.
Doll exposition "Poupées d'Artiste, Poupées de Rêve" (Artist dolls, dream dolls) in Colmar, France.
2003 "Images - Artist Dolls in Porcelain" in the German Porcelain Museum in Hohenberg/Eger from November 2003 to February 2004. Five objects of Ruth Treffeisen are exhibited, such as Alice with Mad Hatter and March Hare.
2004 Ruth Treffeisen celebrates its 20th anniversary.
30 years in dolls
20 years Atelier Ruth Treffeisen
10 years Puppenkreis Ruth Treffeisen