$39,000
Sold
sold
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Description
22" (56 cm.) Bisque socket head with cafe-au-lait brown complexion,large brown glass
paperweight inset eyes with spiral threading,black painted lashes with "dot" highlights,black
brush stroked and feathered brows,accented nostrils,closed mouth with coral-shaded
lips,pierced ears,French brown composition fully-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent.
Marks: J. Steiner Bte SGDG Paris Fre A 15. Comments: Jules Steiner,circa 1880,the doll wears
her original couturier costume from the luxury Paris doll store of Au Nain Bleu (original label
in costume) depicting La Perichole,the stage name of the celebrated 18th century Mestiza
actress Micaela Villegas of Peru whose life was the inspiration for
painters,writers,and,notably,the French opera composer Offenbach for his opera "La
Perichole". It is likely the costume was prepared in expectation of foreign royal visitors to the
1889 Exposition Universelle of Paris with cross-over attraction for opera lovers. Value Points:
extraordinary beauty of the doll with glowing cafe-aulait complexion enhanced by luminous
patina,original body and body finish,wearing her perfectly-preserved original costume of
cream silk satin decorated with feathers and gold passamenterie. The costume comprises
dress,leggings,lined cape,feathered coronet and "diamond" ear studs and necklace,and has
original Au Nain Bleu label.