#195

German Carved Wooden Artist Mannequin with Fourteen-Point Articulation
Live Auction

$2,500
sold
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Description
20" (51 cm.) All-carved wood doll with solid domed head with both swiveling and nodding at the neck, painted brown hair with feathering around the face, painted and sculpted facial features, deeply set eye sockets with blue painted side-glancing eyes, painted lashes and brows, strong masculine nose, closed mouth with shaded lips, sculpted ears, dowel articulation at shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles, with defined fingers, toes and nails, and with ball-swivel waist. Condition: structurally excellent, some light rubs on painted complexion with possible very minor early touch-up. Comments: Germany, the artist mannequin dolls appeared in wholesale catalogs of the early 1800s, and later served as the inspiration to Leon Casimir Bru for his wooden-bodied Bru poupee, especially concerning the ball-swivel waist. Value Points: compelling early doll with artistic painting, elaborate articulation.