Italian Early Model Felt Baby

Live Auction

16" (41 cm.) Felt swivel head with mask face seam-stitched to head in a rare construction system,painted facial features,round eyes with side-glancing large blue irises,white and pale blue eyedot in each eye,painted upper curly brown lashes,accented nostrils of small nose,closed mouth,blonde mohair wig,felt baby body with stitched bent arms and legs,jointing at shoulders and hips. Condition: fair/good,with some moth wear,shelf dusty. Comments: Lenci,circa 1921,the doll was created by Lenci to celebrate the birth of her daughter,Anili,in 1921; the doll used the face of the 159 model and adapted it to a newly-designed baby body; that baby body was discontinued after 1923. Value Points: very rare early Lenci wearing her original peach felt baby dress with felt floral appliques and baby bonnet with wings.