American Signature Infant Doll by Grace Story Putnam in Very Rare Wax Variation

Live Auction

18" (46 cm.) h. 14" head circumference. Poured wax socket head in rich honey tones depicting an infant baby, eyes modeled nearly closed with painted outlined pupils, closed mouth, softly-stuffed muslin body, sateen mitten hands. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: the premiere model of the landmark Bye-lo Baby was created as a prototype in wax by its designer Grace Storey Putnam. This wax doll traveled with Putnam from her California home to New York where she struggled to find a manufacturer who would produce the doll for the commercial market. Writing of this later in The Fascinating Story of Dolls by Janet Johl, she said "In the summer of 1920 I landed in New York City...I gave myself six months time to put over my idea. I carried my big thick plaster mould with me and the wax-head model of the "Bye-Lo" doll, only it was not named as yet. I began to take the doll about to the manufacturers. They shook their heads over it - it was too realistic...It was all taking so long and was so hard on me". She went on, relating that after some time she finally contracted with the Borgfeldt firm, but "It was two years after I signed the contract before the dolls made their entrance into the world. I thought I would actually starve before." Value Points: very rare and important historic model of the iconic American doll, one of only few that were ever produced in wax, in wonderful state of preservation and with superb antique costume.