Very Early and Rare Italian Felt Asian Boy Riding a Turtle by Lenci

Live Auction

6" (15 cm.) l. 5"h. A felt turtle with felt applique "shell" design and black bead eyes serves as the cushion for an Asian boy with sienna-tinted complexion,painted facial features,closed eyes,accented nostrils,closed mouth,black mohair wig pulled sharply away from face and forming a narrow queue that extends beneath an attached straw hat. The seated boy wears original yellow and red felt costume with woven straw slippers to match his hat. Condition: fair/good,typical rough-textured complexion of early models,costume and complexion dusty. Comments: Lenci,early 1920s,the very early model has stylistic resemblance to the opium smoker by Lenci of the same era. Value Points: very rare model,other models are not known to exist,with charming concept and portrayal.