Very Rare and All-Original "The Waltzing Couple" by Johannes Franz

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10" (25 cm.) dolls. 16"h. x 14"w. dome. A pair of bisque head dolls is posed in elegant waltzing manner, she with blonde sculpted hair arranged in braided coronet, and having blue glass eyes and closed mouth, and he with black painted hair and having painted brown eyes, closed mouth and moustache. Each is wearing its entirely original costume, she with long ivory silk gown with demi-train and ruffled lace trim, and he in formal gentleman's wear and top hat. Hidden beneath the woman's skirt is both a mechanism and a music box (which wind separately), playing lovely-quality waltzes while the couple twirl about in a waltz. The pair are preserved under a glass dome with accessories. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Johannes Franz, who registered the model in 1892. The firm was celebrated for "dressed dolls" of luxury quality and this appears to be a singular side work, although the quality of the costuming is emblematic of the Franz workmanship. Value Points: perfectly-preserved and extremely rare, only one other example is known to exist. This "Waltzing Couple" is featured in an article in German Doll Studies, pp 75 and 75 by Marianne and Jurgen Cieslik. Private Collection of Marianne Cieslik.