Early French Carved Wooden Doll with Extraordinary Historic Costume and Chair

Live Auction

21" (53 cm.) All carved wooden doll with one-piece head and torso,angular face with strong features,elongated throat,shaped waist,defined sculpting of facial features with painted details,brown eyes,firm mouth,dowel-jointing at shoulders,elbows,hips and knees,separately-sculpted fingers. Condition: very good/excellent,some fraility to silk underskirt. Comments: late 18th century,Continental,the portrait-like qualities and lavish dress suggest the doll may depict a particular historical figure who is unidentified at this time. Value Points: extraordinarily-rare doll with totally-original costume of richly-embroidered silks,velvet,metallic threads,with beaded purse,hand-sewn leather slippers,and remarkable coiffe with beaded pearls and jewels over padded loops and fitted cap,matching necklace. The doll is seated in her original wooden framed throne- chair with attached floor base,covered with embroidered silk. Ex- Collection Margaret Woodbury Strong.