Rare Signed French Wax Poupee from Madame Rohmer with Bisque Lower Arms and Legs

Live Auction

19" (48 cm.) Poured wax shoulder head,cobalt blue glass enamel inset eyes,painted lashes and brows,accented nostrils,closed mouth with accent line between the lips,blonde fleece curled wig,original kid body with horsehair filling,kid-over-wooden upper arms,bisque hands and arms to above the elbows,pull-string "mama" crier in torso,wood-ball articulated knees,bisque lower legs and feet. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (Rohmer stamp on torso). Comments: Leontine Rohmer,one of the earliest dolls from her small studio firm; in her 1858 depose she noted that her dolls could have heads of various materials,and it is clear from her various depose registrations that her concern was with the design of the doll body and its various possible articulations. Value Points: extremely rare variation of the sought-after Rohmer poupee,with original poured wax head having French class cobalt eyes,superbly modeled bisque hands and feet,signed body,and wearing outstanding early silk costume,undergarments,and traditional Alencon lace coiffe from the region of Bourgogne (see French Dolls in Folklore Costumes by Theriault,pages 133-137).