Onsite
Highest Bidder
Passed
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- Estimate
- $24,000 / $28,000
Gold Horse ListingDescription
24" (61 cm.) Bisque socket head with elongated and very full facial modeling, very wide brown glass enamel inset eyes known as "wrap-around", pronounced dark eyeliner, painted lashes, mauve blushed eye shadow, arched feathered brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with defined space between the shaded lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, French composition and wooden eight-loose-ball-jointed body with straight wrists, antique velvet mariner costume and matching bonnet, white kidskin boots impressed with full figure of doll by Alart. Condition: generally excellent, original body with original finish except early light touch-up on arms. Marks: 4 (head) Jumeau Medaille d'Or Paris (body). Comments: Emile Jumeau, circa 1878, the luxury model known as Portrait of which few examples were made as indicated by great rarity today. Value Points: outstanding example of the highly-sought portrait doll with exemplary modeling and bisque.
Stuart's Take
Few "Wrap-Around Eye" Portraits by Jumeau will appear at auction. At times you can go years without even seeing one. They are far and few between. Yet, despite the rarity, they can come in varying levels of look and quality given the early production. This is the best one I have seen in 10 years. For those coming to the auction, to see her in person will confirm just this.