$1,200
Sold
sold
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Description
20" (51 cm.) Bisque socket head with very plump cheeks, brown glass inset eyes, thick dark eyeliner, painted lashes, rose-blushed eyeshadow, brushstroked brows, closed mouth modeled as though open with row of painted teeth, outlined lips, pierced ears, auburn hand-tied human hair wig, Sonneberg composition and wooden fully-jointed body with straight wrists. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 12 (head) E.G. (on torso). Comments: Ernst Grossman, the Sonneberg sculptor and doll maker, registered the first German design for "ball joints moving in every direction" (GM 82) and "doll able to make several movements by means of rubber strings" (GM88) in 1880. The body was inspired by the newly popular French bebe, as was this facial model, resembling Bru's "circle/dot" bebe. Value Points: rare and beautiful doll, the first known German design for composition jointed body, with wonderful antique mariner costume, leather shoes.