#90

Very Rare English Glass-Eyed Wooden Doll, Late 1600s
22 Watching
Live Auction

Onsite
$65,000
sold
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Estimate
$30,000 / $40,000
Description
22" (56 cm.) One-piece carved wooden head and torso, rounded face and thick neck, shaped torso, small black enamel eyes in tiny cut eye sockets, painted "dot" lashes and single stroke brows with dot highlights, strong nose, closed mouth with thin wide lips, blushed cheeks, human hair adhered to dome of head, cloth upper arms, wooden lower arms with separately-carved fingers, wooden legs jointed at hips and knees. Condition: very good, museum notes indicate some restoration of face, although that is not perceptible. Comments: English, William and Mary era, circa 1695. Value Points: very rare early doll with glass eyes, early costume comprises burgundy gown with cream lace bodice, distinctive lower sleeves, with green underskirt, embroidered linen pocket, lace apron, cap, red kidskin fitted shoes. The doll is shown in the book The Heart of the Tree by Rosalie Whyel and Jill Gorman, page 19.