$8,250
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sold
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Description
15" (38 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulderplate, pale blue enamel inset eyes with spiral threading, delicately-painted lashes and brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, open mouth, row of tiny porcelain teeth, outlined lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, firm upper torso with kid cover, metal arms with jointing at shoulders and elbows, individual slightly-cupped fingers, hollow carton skirt forms the lower body and contains clockwork and crying mechanisms, with wooden base and three metal spoked wheels. When wound, the doll moves forward, revolves, and moves arms up and down, while crying Mama. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function well. Comments: Jules Steiner, circa 1867. Value Points: impeccable original state of preservation, the doll is wearing original undergarments including petticoat with demi-train, gown of pale green and black silk with elaborate draping and black silk trim, matching velvet hat with black lace streamers. The doll is preserved in her original box along with an additional paisley print day dress. Samy Odin wrote in Fascinating Dolls of the provenance of the doll which had been brought to the Museum by its original family owners who explained why the 150 year old doll was so fresh: each holiday, he told, the doll would be brought from its cupboard, put on display and demonstrated for all to admire her waltz, and "then the doll would return obediently to its box until the following year".