Rosebud Baby

Name: Baby Doll

Made by and When: Rosebud, mid-1950s

Material: Hard plastic

Marks: Rosebud Made in England (on neck)

Height: 12 inches

Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Sculpted black hair combed to the doll’s right side, amber sleep eyes with brown specks with attached molded eyelashes and painted lower eyelashes, red closed “rosebud lips.”

Clothes: Rosebud Baby wears a “Made in England Amanda Jane B12” tagged, floral-print cotton dress with matching panties and Cinderella-marked blue vinyl Mary-Jane-style shoes. This version might have been sold as a “dress me” doll, and its original owner dressed it in the Amanda Jane B12 fashion. Amanda Jane Ltd (founded in 1952) was the premier specialist in doll fashions for the British market. Cinderella was a British brand of doll accessories, manufactured by a London-based company called Wilkinson and Gross (sometimes found as “Wilkinson & Grove” on markings). During the 1950s, they were the leading producer of high-quality PVC and vinyl doll shoes in the United Kingdom.

Key Facts About Rosebud Dolls Made in England (sourced from OpenAI)

Characteristics: Many 1950s models featured hard plastic bodies, sleeping eyes, and mohair wigs, while later models (late 50s/60s) incorporated vinyl and rooted hair. Black versions are rare.

Manufacturer: The company was started by Eric Smith in 1947. It was originally the brand name for Nene Plastics Ltd, based in Raunds, Northamptonshire, England.

The Name: Legend has it that the name was inspired by a schoolgirl visiting the factory. When asked what she liked most about a doll, she remarked on its “rosebud lips.” Eric Smith registered the trademark shortly after.

Production Era: Started in 1947 with composition dolls, moving to plastic in the 1950s, with a significant factory expansion in 1960.

Takeover: The company was bought by Mattel in 1967, resulting in “Rosebud, Mattel” branding.

Markings: Most dolls are marked “Rosebud” or “Rosebud Made in England” on the back of the neck or head.

Gallery

See a doll attributed to Rosebud here.

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