Early Italian Felt Portrait

Live Auction

23" (58 cm.) Felt swivel head with pressed and painted facial features,oval-shaped face,very narrow side-angled painted brows eyes with very thick eyeliner and fringed lower lashes,high arched brows,angular nose,mouth designed to hold the stem of pipe,black mohair wig with widow's peak at the center forehead and extended-length black mohair queue,stitch-jointing at shoulders,hips and knees,and her arms arranged folded at the elbows with her fingers gracefully holding a long-stemmed wooden opium pipe. Her long slender legs designed to sit cross-legged. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Lenci,Made in Italy 251... (paper label). Comments: the early model,"Hu Sun,251" was shown seated cross-legged alongside Fukuruko in the firm's 1924 catalog. Value Points: very rare early model with long queue is beautifully preserved,wearing vibrant original felt costume,comprising sienna felt tunic with embroidered detail and borders,black trousers,felt slippers with exquisite applique and embroidery,and holding a wooden opium pipe with hand-painted decorations.