Extremely Rare Model of Chinese Wooden Door of Hope Woman with Painted Teeth

Live Auction

14 1/2" (37 cm.) Carved wooden head with carved and painted hair and tinted facial features, black hair with chignon and painted comb, deeply set eyes, mouth sculpted as though lips are slightly parted showing a row of tiny painted teeth, and with tentative smile, cloth body, wooden hands with individually sculpted fingers. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Chinese, Door of Hope, circa 1910, her rare size and modeling suggest that the doll was a prototype. Value Points: rarity factors on the one-of-a-kind doll include size, painted teeth, parted lips, and superb costume, the undershirt having wrist-length sleeves with elaborate frog closure detail.