Very Rare Italian Felt Character Doll by Lenci Portraying Dancer Josephine Baker

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18" (46 cm.) Plumply-cheeked light brown wool felt swivel head with pressed and painted facial features, dark brown side-glancing painted eyes with white eye dots, curly upper lashes, rounded nose with accent dots, very full red felt stitched-on lips, black mohair wig in short bobbed style with forelock curl, stitched-on ears, uniquely-constructed body with voluptuous pose, sculpted bosom, constructed bent elbows, bow-legged knee. Condition: generally excellent, slight banding fade at midriff, few very tiny moth holes. Comments: Lenci, circa 1926, the doll portrays the American-born Parisian dancer, Josephine Baker, in the costume of her most famous performance, "Danse Banane" at the Folies Bergere; the doll was named Josephine in the Lenci catalog. Value Points: extremely rare Lenci model with uniquely-stitch-sculpted body and highly-stylized unique face, wearing well-preserved original costume of felt bananas and leaves, bangle necklace, wrist and ankle bracelets.