Onsite
Highest Bidder
Passed
Click image to enlarge
- Estimate
- $24,000 / $29,000
Description
23" (58 cm.) One-piece wooden head and torso having shaped definition of facial lines including cheekbones, full lower cheeks, aquiline nose, little pointy chin, strong well-defined throat, painted pale complexion with blush spots on cheeks, fringed painted lashes encircling the black enamel inset eyes, dot-fringed brows, closed mouth with center accent line, brunette human hair, modeled bosom and tapered waist, block torso below the waist, dowel-jointed wooden legs with knee and hip jointing, shapely lower legs with defined calves, wooden arms jointed at shoulders and elbows, separately carved spatula-like fingers, wearing early silk gown, undergarments, stockings. Condition: generally excellent, nose rub. Comments: English, early 18th century. Value Points: elegant larger size and gentle presence are enhanced by well-preserved original condition.
Stuart's Take
Early English wood dolls are finally having their long due moment. Of course they should, and with more moments yet to come. They stand as the some of the earliest commercial dolls ever produced with costumes that are often the last remaining examples of 17th-18th century fashion, which many will argue was the pinnacle of couture. With upcoming exhibits at the Barry Art Museum, and the focus on the recent Rosalie auction, these dolls are finally, after years, being appreciated as what many will argue are the most important within our field of hobby.