Very Rare and Early Italian Felt Character by Lenci

Live Auction

18" (46 cm.) Felt head with firmly-pressed and painted facial features depicting a plump- faced smiling man with well-defined double chin,small brown side-glancing eyes,brown eye shadow,extended painted eye liner,dot brows,broad nose,painted teeth,wide beaming smile,the body form is a padded armature designed for use as tea cozy,and has shaped arms and hands at the front. Condition: very good,some fading and a few tiny holes. Comments: the doll appeared as model 307 in one of the earliest known Lenci catalogs,early 1920s,a delightful caricature portrait of French aristocrat,perhaps an actual person who is unidentified at this time. Value Points: the very rare and early Lenci figure wears his original red felt caped- collar great coat with an orange center panel,felt ruffled jabot,brown shoulder bag,black tri- corn hat with French medallion,and carries a brown and tan whip; few examples of this model are known to exist.