Outstanding Obergammergau Wooden Doll with Extensive Trousseau and Family Provenance

Live Auction

One-piece wooden head and torso with oval egg-shaped head rounded at the back, high forehead, small pointy chin, strong elongated throat, modeled bosom, shapely waist, sculpted ears, painted blue eyes with deeply-defined eye sockets, aquiline nose, closed mouth, early blonde mohair wig, dowel-jointing at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, elegant fork-shaped hands, shapely calves with tiny ankles and slender feet, painted shoes. Condition: well-preserved original finish with minor age patina. Comments: Obergammergau, circa 1790. Value Points: the rare early doll with gentle presence is endowed with an extensive trousseau of fourteen early gowns in various luxury fabrics with exquisite detail of construction, trim, and embroidery, along with various bonnets, capes, and other accessories, which are all preserved in an early decorated wooden box. Provenance: The doll was originally owned by the Hebblewhite family of England who were haberdashers and silk mercers, specializing in sourcing fine fabrics for couturiers, as seen by the 1804 inventory paper included with the doll. It is likely that the doll was used by the Hebblewhites as a model of these fabrics and their use in fashionable wear, and was likely used over a period of some time, as the style of the costumes suggests the 1810/1830 era. Also included is a small box with engraved lid which contains tiny sample pieces of fabric with old ink script paper attached such as "this piece of brocade was part of a gown belonging to Elizabeth, wife of Harry Gibbs" or "ribbon of wedding bouquet". The doll and the costumes remained in the original family until passing into the hands of only one previous collector several decades ago.