Early Wooden Lady Doll of Directoire Era with Unique Stockings

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25" (64 cm.) All-carved wood with one-piece head and torso, heart-shaped face with solid dome and sculpted ears, black painted hair in center part with delicate stippling around the face, defined sculpting of eye sockets with painted brown eyes, single stroke brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth, softly blushed cheeks, defined chin, elongated throat, modeled bosom with carved detail of bodice edging, dowel-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, slender well shaped limbs with shapely carving of fingers and lower legs, painted blue and white striped stockings to above knees, black flat shoes with defined buckles. Condition: generally excellent, nose tip rubbed, original finish with appealing aged patina. Marks: (old pencil script letters back torso). Comments: late 1700s, uncertain if German or French, the doll was designed to wear the characteristic high-waisted Directoire costumes. Value Points: very fine shaping of face with artistic painting, rare body style, painted stockings, and including an original white cotton undergarment with bodice that is shaped like carving at bosom. The doll is shown in the book, The Rose Unfolds, by Rosalie Whyel and Susan Hedrick, page 9.