$1,500
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Description
12" (30 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered demi-lune-shaped platform with braid edging are three bisque shoulderhead dolls depicting two gentlemen of the court and a lady who is tending to an exotic bird. Each has well-painted facial features, mohair wig, padded armature body in expressive body, and bisque hands, and each is costumed in original elaborate silk with hats or coiffe to indicate their aristocratic status. The lady is seated behind her porcelain exotic bird which is perched on a brass tree, one gentleman is seated and the second gentleman appears to lean over his shoulder. A music box is hidden inside the platform which plays a delightful tune when wound. Condition: generally excellent, woman has three broken fingers. Marks: La Bonne Aventure (paper label on the front). Comments: attributed to Mlle. Riera of Paris who created fashionable lady dolls of this genre, c.1908, wearing either historic or stylish costumes; the dolls were exhibited at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, and were featured in a historic costume exhibition at Strawbridge and Clothier in Philadelphia in 1908. Value Points: rare and all-original presentation with three figures and well-functioning music box.