$9,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
20" (51 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head doll with brown glass paperweight inset eyes, lushly painted lashes, brush-stroked brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth in wide smile with full shaded and outlined lips, row of painted teeth, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, wearing original velvet and maroon costume and lace-edged bonnet and with wicker basket attached to torso, filled with silk flowers and berries, and with a hidden feathered bird, flowers held in one hand and berries in the other. Condition: generally excellent, chip at tip of right middle finger. Marks: 203 (doll) (original paper tune label on base "Mireille Chanson"). Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1890, with rare art character head commissioned from Emile Jumeau; the highly characterized head was designed to enhance the automaton action. When wound, the doll turns her head from side to side, with delighted expression, and alternately offers the floral bouquet and then teases the bird with the berries; meanwhie the bird flits from side to side and music plays. Value Points: rare character model with beautiful bisque and delightful surprise activity.