Italian Character Googly-Eyed Dolls, Lenci from Shirley Temple's Childhood Collection

Live Auction

27" (69 cm.) Each has applied mask composition (celluloid?) face with large round disc googly eyes that flirt back and forth, painted features; including brown-complexioned girl with black mohair braids, brown muslin chubby softly stuffed body, sewn-on red and white checkered shoes to match her original pinafore dress and wide-brimmed sunbonnet that is decorated with vibrant felt flowers; and boy with glued-on black felt wig under an oversized black and white felt brimmed cap, softly stuffed felt body with hip jointing, wearing original red checkered shirt to match the girl's costume, black felt pants with patches and green suspenders, blue felt tie with black polka dots, felt-edged hankie, and carrying a nosegay of purple felt violets. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Lenci (silver foil and cloth tags, penciled Fay, or Kay, on the reverse of paper tag), on girl. Lenci (original cloth and silver foil labels, and with original parchment label "Cichin" with drawing of boy in an apple tree), on boy. Comments: Lenci, Italy, mid/late 1930s. Value Points: wonderful state of preservation of the rare dolls with vibrant costumes. From the private childhood collection of Shirley Temple, the dolls were featured in the auction catalog "Love, Shirley Temple".