Fine Early Family Of Neopolitan Dolls in Original Costumes

Live Auction

13" (33 cm.) -14", 5" baby. Each has sculpted earthenware head with superb detailed facial features and hair, painted facial features, hemp wrapped body, sculpted fingers in expressive poses, sculpted lower legs with attached or painted footwear. Condition: generally excellent, original finishes well preserved, some light dustiness of costumes, one finger tip chipped. Comments: Neopolitan, early 1800s, the dolls were designed as village people for the elaborately-fitted holiday scenes created by aristocratic Italian families at the time. Value Points: each doll is wearing its very luxe original silk costume embellished with embroidery and metallic trim, including woman with orange head band, woman with red hair scarf, baby in taufling costume, and man with bag pipe.