Superb German Bisque Art Character Doll,208,by Kestner in Unique Exhibition size

Live Auction

28" (71 cm.) Bisque socket head with very full cheeks and chin,intaglio blue-painted eyes in upper glancing expression,black and incised upper eyeliner,sculpted brows with brown shaded feathering,rounded nose,accented nostrils,closed mouth with very full fretful-posed lips,blonde mohair wig,composition and wooden ball-jointed body,wearing antique blouse,silk striped pinafore dress,undergarments,stockings and shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: L made in Germany 15 208 (head) Germany (red stamp on body). Comments: Kestner,circa 1910,from their art character series; previous research works including Rare Character Dolls by Tarnowska and Kestner,King of Dollmaker by Foulke cite the smaller size 14 as "the largest of the Kestner character children" which indicates that this extraordinary size 15 was created on special commission or as an Exhibition Model. Value Points: the size rarity of the art character is further enhanced by extraordinary sculpting,with deeply-defined character lines especially around the mouth and cheeks,large impressed chin dimple,sculpted brows,very beautiful bisque and painting,original body and body finish,wonderful antique costume including superb woven bonnet with brown velvet ribbons and floral appliques and a lithographed-tin penny toy purse. This example is the only one known or likely to exist in this size. The doll was shown on the cover of Antique Doll Collector,May 2001.