#36

Two Carved Wooden Whistling Dolls, Gifts to Shirley Temple from Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
Live Auction

$7,000
sold
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Description
15" (38 cm.) Each is of chip-carved wood with well-defined details of facial features and costume, with painted enhancement of features and costumes, each depicting a black-complexioned man posed nonchalantly. A keywind bellows mechanism is hidden inside the torso of each, which when wound, causes the man to whistle, one to turn his head side to side. The Whistlers were made by Griesbaum of Germany, early 20th century. Both were presented to young Shirley Temple by her dear friend and tap dancing mentor, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. One has a silver medallion reading "From Uncle Billy to Shirley" and other has a carved inscription "Bill Robinson to Shirley Temple". A vintage photograph showing Shirley along with Bojangles and one of the carved figures is included.