$1,400
Sold
sold
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Description
13" (33 cm.) One-piece carved wooden head, torso, legs and upper arms, with well-defined shapely waist, muscular details of legs, jointing at elbow with lower arm, having original painted-over-gesso finish with enamel inset eyes, painted features, slightly-parted lips with two painted upper teeth, painted sandals. Condition: missing lower left arm/hand, overall-original finish except light touch-up on fingers of right hand. Comments: Continental, late 1700s. Value Points: having most expressive and pleasing expression enhanced by original finish, the doll wears original metallic and silk woven gown with homespun lining and lace trim, matching slippers, and beaded cap. The actual doll is shown in an article "The Decline and Fall of the Wooden Doll" by Ruth and R.C. Mathes appearing in the Doll Collector's Manual of 1964, and noted that it was carved "with finesse so that a stylist 18th century gown could be fitted to it. It might well have been adapted to use as a fashion doll".