Very Fine Mid-18th Century English Wooden Doll in Original Costume

Live Auction

17" (43 cm.) All-carved wooden doll with one-piece head and torso, well-defined chin and throat, carved detail of ears, inset black enamel eyes, all-around dot painted lashes, single-stroke brows with dot highlight edging, strong nose, closed mouth with kindly-set lips, original facial complexion with cheek blush spots, original wig with rolled curls at the side and captured back hair in black ribbon, cloth upper arms, wooden lower arms with fork-shaped fingers, simply-carved wooden legs with dowel-jointing at hips and knees. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: English, mid-1700s, the doll closely resembles the famous wooden doll known as Letitia Penn, and may have originated from that same English work shop. Value Points: very fine original condition of the early doll with excellent detail of painting, wearing original aristocratic costume highlighted by an ivory silk jacket with very fine gold and purple embroidery, silk covered buttons, and even tiny embroidered flowers on the background fabric, and with yellow silk vest, ruffled jabot, pants, woven stockings and tapestry woven slippers with leather soles. The doll is preserved in original wooden box with an additional tricorn hat, black hair ribbons, tiny lacquer snuff box, and several family papers including an early hand-lettered invoice from Wm. Tayler "Clothier, Tailor & Breeches Maker" at Cavendish Square from which the gentleman's costume may have been commissioned.