Rare American Wooden Bye-Lo by Schoenhut with Rare Body Signature

Live Auction

13" (33 cm.) Solid domed hollow wooden head with extended trapezoid-shaped neck, shaded brown hair, blue glass sleep eyes, painted lashes, short-stroke brows, closed mouth, plump face, muslin body in classic Bye-Lo shape, celluloid hands, wearing antique white baby gown and bonnet. Condition: original finish except touch-up on nose, craquelure of painting on face. Marks: Bye-Lo Baby Patent applied For Copyright Grace Storey Putnam (block letter stamp on torso). Comments: Schoenhut, circa 1923, the complete story of the Schoenhut Bye-Lo remains a mystery, although its extreme rarity substantiates that the doll was never put into production. Value Points: very rare and important American doll, of which few are known to exist.