#466

Early French Wooden Lady with Original Costume and Unusual Articulation
4 Watching
Live Auction

Onsite
$4,750
sold
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Estimate
$6,000 / $8,000
Description
26" (66 cm.) One-piece carved wooden head and torso, painted complexion and facial features, defined eye sockets with large painted blue eyes, fringed lashes, single stroke brows with fringe detail, strong nose, closed mouth, sculpted ears, brunette wig originally tacked on head, cloth upper arms, carved wooden lower arms with slightly-cupped individually-sculpted fingers, wooden lower legs with unusual metal pin jointing able to be locked in position or free to allow easy articulation. Condition: structurally excellent, finish is rubbed and worn, possible early retouch on lashes. Comments: French, early 1800s. Value Points: the intriguing doll is wearing original transfer-patterned linen dress with unusual design, and features tiny waist and very full mid-sleeves, apron with pocket and handkerchief, simple undergarments, fitted leather shoes with wooden heels, and lace cap with faintly penciled provenance on inside "Jules Jacquet/Empleye au Mines de/Blutzy [sic.Blanzy]." The doll is featured in the book, The Heart of the Tree, by Rosalie Whyel and Jill Gorman, page 99.