Four Wooden Grodnertal Dolls with Original Costumes and Family Provenance

Live Auction

8" (20 cm.) - 13". Each is all wooden with heart-shaped face, elongated throat, dowel-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, painted complexion and black hair with shaded tendril curls around the face (the two larger with tuck combs), carved and painted facial features, complexion painted arms and lower legs, painted shoes. Condition: generally excellent, original finish on each albeit some light craquelure. Comments: Grodnertal, circa 1840. Value Points: the dolls are wearing wonderful original costumes enhanced with passamenterie, silk flowers, and seed pearls. Provenance: the dolls have resided in the 16th century Griffith estate of Carreglwyd, Anglesey, England, likely acquired during her travels by Maria E.E. Conway-Griffith, a mid-1800s heir to the estate who was an inveterate adventurer and notable collector of curious and interesting objects of all nature.