EARLY DOLLS

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 Unusual and relatively rare 22” ( 55cm ) German glazed porcelain shoulder head doll circa 1860 with oval shaped face, well painted pale blue eyes, one stroke curved eyebrows, separately molded upper and lower eyelids with black eyeliner one top lid and a parallel red line above that one. The cheeks have a smooth even blush and the mouth is in a tight- lipped pursed position with the hint of a smile. The elaborate coiffure is elegantly styled arranging obviously very long hair into a well -organized grouping of braided vertical curls pulled back and framing the face with ears totally covered, all gathered up and just to the neckline in back of the head. The body is a ( very heavy ) antique stuffed muslin covered one with long white porcelain arms and thick heavy porcelain lower legs with molded white stockings with brown painted “ribbon “ bows acting as garters, and also long white painted stockings with molded and painted brown boots with slight raised heel. There is an old repair at the ankle area of the left foot but well done, apparently a long time ago. The two -piece dark brown and red embroidered wool costume is antique if indeed not original. At the collar and sleeve edges are white crocheted fancy trim. On front of chest plate there is a black speck ( kiln dust particle ) fired in during the manufacture but this is not a later damage and is totally obscured with clothing in place. For the advanced and sophisticated collector of so-called “ china dolls “, seldom found, and in a impressive size yet not “ too big and/or clumsy “ to easily exhibit!…………………………US$ 1,375. 

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 Unusual and highly attractive 24” ( 61cm ) tall German glazed porcelain shoulder head doll fitting into the generic characteristics of what collectors refer to as a “ Biedermeier “ as it has a rounded solid dome head instead of the molded and painted hair styles. She is wearing what appears to be her original dark human hair wig with side part and long curls that extend to the upper chest area. What sets her apart from the more traditional Biedermeier dolls is that she has no painted black pate ( or skull cap ) on top of head and also this doll has a broader face evoking a more childlike/ young lady-like quality whereas many of the others have a more elongated and more mature countenance sometimes appearing quite stern almost to the point of being disagreeable. The facial painting is excellent with deep rouged cheeks, well painted lips emoting a faint smiling expression, a well modeled double chin, light blue eyes with white highlight dots, one stroke moon-shaped brows, and black eyeliner on upper lids with a parallel red line just above. In addition, they took great effort to sculpt the ears. The body is firmly stuffed muslin with narrow waist with sewn joints at elbows, hips, and knees. The lower arms are well modeled long porcelain with detailed fingers and thumbs. In addition to the antique wig, she wears all antique undergarments, a knee-length antique cotton print dress trimmed in lace, carefully detailed black side button leather boots, with the upper parts of the lower legs covered by antique horizontally striped fabric to simulate stockings. A most impressive mid -19th Century doll with rare and distinctive qualities………………………US$ 1,275. 

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Important 15” ( 38cm ) so-called “ Milliners Model “ -style German doll with papier-mache head, all molded and painted hair style and facial features, of arguably “ museum quality and rarity “ from the late 1830s- early 1840s era as defined by the elaborate and meticulous coiffure. The hair is parted in the top center and then formed into elaborately gathered tight wavy clusters of five curls on each side framing the forehead with all the hair in back upswept leaving the neckline in back completely bare to form an even larger, higher collection of five similar style curls protruding upward on top center of head, and held in place with a modeled hair comb just in front. The head is attached to the typical narrow waisted firm body with white leather outer covering and the prerequisite long carved wooden limbs consisting of arms with “spoon”- shaped hands, and legs with separately attached wood flat feet with mustard yellow painted slippers. At the knees and elbows where the wooden limbs join the leather body, the original red paper strips remain to this day still intact. The printed cotton 1840s style dress is well made with old fabric but unlikely not as old as the doll itself. The papier- mache head has all original excellent patina with only a surface craze line at right lower neck and emitting about ½” onto the shoulder. A beautiful early doll in much better than average condition, and one now approximately 180 years of age!…………………………US$ 1,100. 

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 Very nice 26” ( 66cm ) papier-mache shoulder head doll, circa mid to late 1850s-very early 1860s, with center part hairstyle with deeply modeled wavy hair extending to top of ears then drawn back leaving them exposed while forming eight clusters of vertical curls in back ending where the neck meets the shoulders. This particular hairdo is commonly known to doll collectors as a “ covered- wagon “. In addition to the detailed artistry shown in the deep comb marks in the hair there are fine wispy brush strokes simulating loose hairs framing the face at the hairline. The dark brown painted eyes are well painted as are the separately molded upper eyelids, one stroke thick eyebrows, and nicely rouged cheeks and well- defined lips and nostrils. The painted finish appears to be totally original with only a slight depression in the mache in center of forehead and a surface crack on back at bottom left shoulder edge. The body is firm stuffed muslin with ( somewhat brittle ) long leather forearms with individually stitched fingers and separate thumbs. There is a horizonal craze line in center of right forearm but it has not split all the way through and maintains firmly intact. There are sewn joints at shoulders, hips, and knees. All clothing is all of the period and features all antique undergarments, a cotton print dress, a cotton print apron, white cotton knit stockings, and wonderful antique brown leather shoes with silk ribbon ties across the ankles. The back seam of the dress is sewn firmly affixed with no fasteners so unable to remove fully from waist upwards. Although very “ Greiner-like” in style and overall appearance, the most likely attribution as to manufacturer would be that it is from a quality German dollmaker in the same era as when Greiner re-established his business in North America after emigrating from Germany shortly beforehand. A slightly different and very good quality doll!…………………..US$ 975. 

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Stunning, elegant, and with a regal flair is this 20″ ( 51cm ) parian shoulder head doll known to collectors as ” Princess Eugenie “. The nearly white head has all molded and painted features with blue painted eyes, with black eyeliner on upper lid, tiny lashes on both, a closed mouth with the hint of a smile, blond molded and painted hair with the distinctive hair net snood covering the hair in back with a pink lustre and gold lustre trim headband holding all in place with a large decorated white feather on the left front, also with lustre highlights. She is on an antique all white leather firmly stuffed body with gusset joints at elbows, hips, and knees, and individually stitched fingers . The costume is all antique with a white cotton blouse, a beautiful ” dotted Swiss” white cotton and fine lace skirt, a cream silk top with braid trim at neckline, sleeve openings, and at the base. Undergarments are antique, as are superb antique black leather flat soled shoes.  She also retains a bracelet on left wrist. One could say that this doll is a forerunner to what was to be later known as a ” French Fashion “  and understandably so!……..USS 1,050.

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Attractive 16” ( 41cm ) German papier-mache shoulder head doll. circa 1855-’60, with blue painted eyes, a center part black wavy hairstyle covering both ears and in back formed into nine short vertical curl clusters reaching to just below the neckline. This classic style is commonly referred by collectors as a “ covered wagon “ determined by its coiffure. The style of the body, commonly referred to as a “ milliners model “-type, is a firm stuffed cloth body with long wooden arms with “ spoon “ hands and similarly constructed legs which begin at the knees then nailed to separately carved and painted feet with green painted slippers. The body is very solid and wooden limbs uncharacteristically clean and bright. There is an old leather patch reinforcement on cloth on left knee. The papier-mache head has a miniscule indentation in left cheek. Paint on facial area excellent and original and, although not immediately detected by casual observation, there is some old and very well done repaint on both front and back shoulder, confirmed by passing a black light. Clothing and undergarments original. Although not “ perfect “, still most attractive with overall conditions commensurate with extreme old age, as well as materials in which constructed…………………………………………………..US$ 595.

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