#216

Rare German Porcelain Doll in Sanitary Commission Fair Costume
Live Auction

$500
sold
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Description
13" (33 cm.) Porcelain shoulderhead, black sculpted hair in short curls, painted blue eyes, red and black upper eyeliner, closed mouth, muslin stitch-jointed body, red leather arms. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Germany, circa 1860, the doll was presented at a Sanitary Commission Fair in the early 1860s, designed to raise funds in order to supply much needed goods for soldiers; in some instances the dolls were raffled, such as at an 1861 Sanitary Commission fair in Baltimore whose records stated "shares for a wax doll sold for $1". Value Points: the rare doll wears her original (very frail) silk costume symbolizing the stars and stripes.