$5,000
Sold
sold
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Description
31" (79 cm.) Solid domed carton head to waist with plump face, well-defined bosom and tiny waist, painted complexion with blushed details and two beauty marks, well-defined facial features especially eye sockets, eyelids and chin, painted brown eyes, fringed lower lashes, brows, accented nostrils, closed moth dimpled chin, pierced ears, tacked-on kid upper arms, metal-hinging at elbows, wooden lower arms and separately-sculpted fingers, dowel-jointed legs, metal hinged knees. Condition: structurally excellent, probable very early retouch of painted finish. Comments: French, late 1700s; although the silk tape measure on the lady's chatelaine has hand-lettered "inch" designations (rather than centimeters), it is important to note that the metric system did not flower in France until 1799. Value Points: the very rare early doll has fine original costume including chemise and linen half slip that are monogrammed C.J.T., superb hand-stitched bone and silk stays, needlepoint shoes that are monogrammed T and have leather heels, trapunto quilted petticoat, silk gown, hand-woven shawl and apron with featherstitch embroidery, pearl stockings, pearls, woven headpiece, and an early sewing chatelaine. A particular favorites of Estelle Johnston, she featured the doll in several articles, noting that the doll "reflected a rather confident, self-assured maturity with double chins definitely suggesting prosperity", and is cited in the book, Rare and Lovely Dolls of Two Centuries by John Darcy Noble (Hobby House 2000) as "exceedingly rare...only the second example known".