$11,000
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sold
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Description
20" (51 cm) overall. Standing upon a wooden
platform with velvet covered base trimmed in
ball fringe is a bisque-headed doll with
character face portraying a sad crying child;
the doll has narrow blue glass eyes, heavily
modeled eyelids, painted lashes,
brushstroked brows, accented nostrils, closed
mouth modeled as though open with shaded
lips, tongue, row of painted teeth, pierced
ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate,
pierced ears, carton moule torso, wire upper
arms, bisque forearms. She holds a
head-less Polichinelle with silk costume in
her left hand, and the Polichinelle head in her
right hand. When wound the doll turns her
head from side and alternately lifts the body
and head as though imploring someone to fix
her toy; all the while music plays. Condition:
generally excellent. Marks: LB (key) Depose
Tete Jumeau 4 (red stamp on head) 211
(incised on head). Comments: Leopold
Lambert, the doll appeared in that firm's
catalog as #47 "Bebe au Polichinelle", circa
1890. Value Points: rare automaton with
wonderful character face created by Jumeau
for Lambert, in superbly preserved original
condition with original prestige boutique label
"Magasin des Enfants" appearing three times:
metal plate on base, paper label on base, and
paper label on the lid of the original wooden
box in which it has been preserved.