Company

Liesbet initially concentrated her efforts on managing the day-to-day operations of the factory. Over time, Liesbet's love of design has seen her working closely with Pauline in the development of both doll and non-doll product lines. She is presently overseeing the re-launch of the classic Pauline cloth dolls with yarn hair, as well as continuiing the development of the award-winning line of miniautre Paulinettes.

Pauline's eldest son, Mikkel, joined the business in 1980. Mikkel closely followed in his mother's footsteps when his initial interest in drawing developed into a passion for sculpting. Mikkel uses his extraordinary skill and unwavering attention sculpting the beautiful heads, arms and legs for our vinyl and porcelain.

Pauline's youngest, Ernst, joined the business in 1986. Initially, Ernst lived in Hong Kong and travelled throughout the region sourcing quality porcelain, wigs and hand-made items. He moved to the U.S. in the early 1990's and fostered the relationship with U.S. dstributors and t.v. shopping retailers QVC U.S., QVC Germany and QVC U.K. Currrently, Ernst communicates the family's vision for creating beautiful, heartfelt designs.

October 7, 2006 - Internationally recognized for more than thirty years of creating award-winning collectible dolls, Pauline Bjonness-Jacobsen, 71, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Saturday morning near her home in West Vancouver, Canada. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003 and until very recently was able to continue working on her passions of illustration and doll design.

Pauline will be deeply missed by her surviving family including brothers Karel and Ernst; her sister, Trude; three children, Mikkel, Liesbet and Ernst; their father, Mick; six grandchildren, Alexander, Katrina, Paulina, Steven, Isabelle and Annalise; nineteen nieces and nephews, as well as extended family and friends from many countries. People who knew Pauline grew to love her timeless elegance, warmth, generosity and wonderful sense of humor.

Born in Makassar, Indonesia to Paulina and Josef Hoen, Pauline survived being interned in a Japanese concentration camp in Indonesia during World War II before her family re-settled in their native Holland. She studied in Switzerland, then moved to Hong Kong where she met and married Mick Bjonness-Jacobsen. They raised their children in Borneo, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines before she finally settled in West Vancouver, Canada.

A true artist at heart and a creative force, Pauline first harnessed her talents building a retail business with her husband consisting of five elegant stores in Hong Kong selling beautiful rattan furniture from the Philippines, plush animals from Italy and fine crystal from Norway. Her love of drawing and sculpting led to Dolls by Pauline in the 1970's and, during the next three decades, her doll-making art was the subject of countless magazine articles, more than ten years of personal appearances on the television shopping channel QVC in the US and Europe, and over thirty prestigious doll awards nominated from industry insiders as well as collectors themselves.

Her business became a family treasure she shared with thousands of collectors around the world. Her children, who have worked with her for over 20 years, intend to continue Pauline's tradition of excellence.

The late Pauline Bjonness-Jacobsen is the inspiration behind some of the most beautiful dolls available today. As a child, Pauline gave her much loved Emma to her long lost sister, Trudy, and experienced the joy that comes from sharing love. More than 50 years later, what was once a hobby has grown into a much loved family business that continues with her daughter, Liesbet, and her two sons, Mikkel and Ernst. The fundamentals have never changed and there is something of Pauline's family heritage in each and every doll.