Passed
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Description
22" (55 cm.) Bisque socket head with elongated slender face portraying an older child,painted brown eyes that are slightly side glancing,thick black upper eyeliner,one-stroke tapered brows,strong nose with accented nostrils,closed mouth with very full lips in solemn expression,sculpted ears,brunette mohair wig,composition and wooden ball-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: K*R 107 55. Comments: Kammer and Reinhardt,circa 1910,from their art reform character series. The model was sculpted by the renowned German artist,Arthur Lewin-Funcke,based upon his original bronze sculpture "Portrait of a Boy"; the identity of this famous sculptor was not known until 1991 when research in German archives by Jurgen and Marianne Cieslik made the important discovery. The doll firm and the sculptor had deliberately kept their alliance private as the doll enterprise was considered a commercial endeavor and,as Cieslik noted,"Lewin-Funcke had taken his secret of being the father of the character doll movement to his grave in 1937" (German Doll Studies,page 227). The doll was marketed under the name "Karl",although few examples of this larger size were ever made. Value Points: sought after and extremely rare doll,this example with exemplary and flawless bisque,sculpting,and painting,original wig,body and body finish,and wearing superb antique gentleman's black formal wear suit including jacket with tails,matching vest,shirt with stickpin and boutonnniere,top hat,socks and shoes.