Early Carved Wooden Doll with Rare Sculpted Coiffure and Shapely Torso

Live Auction

22" (56 cm.) Carved wooden swivel head with flat-cut neck socket, heart-shaped face and elongated throat, sculpted hair drawn away from face (behind sculpted ears) into ringlet curls at each side of her nape, falling from a tightly-coiled chignon, sculpted and painted facial features, blue outlined eyes in defined eye sockets, tinted features, closed mouth, very shapely torso with bosom and tiny waist, sculpted bodice and stomacher, dowel-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, especially shapely lower legs, painted red heels over gesso on carved wooden feet, one heel missing. Condition: generally excellent, old re-touch on painted finish of face and hair. Comments: Continental, 17th century. Value Points: rarity factors include coiffure, shapely torso with defined bodice and stomacher, and entrancing expression. Included with the doll is an early engraving titled "'Tis My doll" depicting two young girls fighting over a similar doll.