Rare 19th Century Wax Fashionable Lady with Wax Coiffure and Original Costume

Live Auction

18" (46 cm.) Wax-over-gesso shoulderhead of lady with very slender face and elongated throat, sculpted wax black hair in very elaborate coiffure, pierced ears, dark glass inset eyes, painted features, closed mouth, wooden block torso and upper legs, wax-over-gesso lower limbs, painted boots. Condition: very good, fingers worn. Comments: Circa 1870, maker and country of origin is unknown; another example is shown in Gerken's Wonderful Dolls of Wax, page 112 with an early notation "Example of the finest French wax" although that seems unlikely; others have suggested Spain or Mexico. Value Points: rare, curious and appealing fashionable lady wearing her original costume and with exceptional detail of sculpted hair including looped curls and braids at the back of her head.