The Sister English Poured Wax Doll in Aqua Silk Gown

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16" (41 cm.) Poured wax shoulder head,blue glass enamel inset eyes,painted features,light brown insert hair wig,closed mouth with gentle smile,softly stuffed muslin body,poured wax lower limbs,bare feet. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: English,in the Montanari manner,circa 1876,a sister doll to #102,the doll's provenance is described above. Value Points: beautiful gentle-featured doll with brilliant blue eyes is wearing her original aqua silk gown under sheer muslin,layered undergarments,kid slippers hand-stitched bonnet with rose silk ribbons,and carrying an early woven-bead sewing basket. The Story of the Wax Sisters Dolls is a Curious and Delightful Serendipity: About 1875,a doting English grandfather had chosen five wax dolls,all identical except the color and small details of their gown,to gift to his five granddaughters. Time passed,the girls grew up,the dolls passed down in their own families,generation after generation,and eventually all became separated. Angela Prader acquired the doll in rose gown,knowing nothing of her story,and displayed her in the Museum. One day a visitor arrived to tour the Museum and,upon reaching the wax doll in rose,exclaimed "I have the same doll,but in a different color of gown". Querying the visitor on her family history and learning of the generous great-great-great grandfather's gifts,it became obvious that these dolls were two of the five original sister dolls. The doll in aqua silk soon joined her sister at the Museum,and,just as happily,the two far-flung real-people relatives,who had never known of the other's existence,became acquainted and re-united the actual family. The only question remains "where are the remaining three dolls?"