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$1,000
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Description
16" (41 cm.) A bisque head doll with blue glass eyes, painted features, closed mouth, blonde mohair wig, cork torso enclosing mechanism, tin loosely jointed limbs with painted finish, and wearing factory-original blue cotton swim suit with lace trim is designed to "swim" when key-wound. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism functions well. Marks: 1079 Simon & Halbig S&H Germany 2. Comments: designed by Elie Martin, the toy was displayed at the 1878 Paris Exposition where it won a Medaille d'Or. The toy was discussed in an 1882 book "Les Jouets d'Enfants" by Demoulin: "The Ondine was invented by a highly talented and well educated individual who acquired a serious aversion to water as a young boy. He was wise enough not to try to conquer his instinctive revulsion to water by violent means, but instead had the idea of a swimming doll that would familiarize children with swimming...". Value Points: rare large size of the amusing doll, with original wig, swimsuit, and wonderfully functioning mechanism; when wound, she vigorously moves her hands, arms and legs in a brisk swimming motion.