Rare Early Pewter Doll with Cast Hair and Bodice

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15" (38 cm.) Cast pewter shoulderhead of lady with slender face, elongated throat and sculpted hair and bodice, black hair in very elaborate coiffure drawn behind her ears, black glass enamel inset eyes, heavy lidded eyes, single stroke brows, aquiline nose, closed mouth, defined chin, sculpted detail of bodice includes large bow at neckline, wooden torso and legs jointed at hips, painted boots, cloth upper arms, pewter hands, antique black velvet gown. Condition: generally excellent, finish scuffed on hands. Comments: mid-1800s, maker unknown, patents were granted in France to Rene Poulin in 1861 and Lucien Velvelle in 1876 for pewter head dolls, and later to German firms. Value Points: very rare doll with distinctive portrayal. The doll is shown in Coleman's Encyclopedia, Vol. I, page 442, and is featured in the book, The Rose Unfolds, by Rosalie Whyel and Susan Hedrick, page 63. Ex-collection Gladys Hilsdorf.