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Nelling, Inc.
E a r l y D o l l s
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Early Paper Mache ca. Late 1820's $895. |
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Attributed to Johann Friedrich Muller, this German paper mache has an early seriousness to it, almost like a Roman statue with its very pale complexion, down-glancing painted eyes, and slightly turned head. At 10" tall, the presentation is all original, and where they may be some paint missing on face and hair, the doll has a genuine important quality of the ages. Her costume hints at the 1830's with the puffed out shoulders, but is just before as her tightly gathered and form-fitting skirt completes the linear silhouette of the 1820's. Her sturdy reinforced cloth body has carved wood lower arms and legs with the feet being cloth covered. She has a blue ribbon from competition but there is no contest needed to know she is a winner. |
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Milliners Model in Country Costume $895. |
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Paper Mache shoulderhead Milliners model, circa 1840's, in her original costume of a German or Swiss countryside region, standing 10 1/2". Her braided rear bun with ears covered frames her peaceful expression, blue painted eyes, slightly blushed cheeks and subtle smile. She has a slim leather body with lower arms and legs of carved wood and painted yellow slippers. She wears a simple costume of an ecru cotton blouse, black velvet vest, and organdy diaphanous over-skirt with red cord trim appearing on each piece. Her ecru cotton undergarments are beneath. There is some expected surface wear to her original facial paint surface and at one point she must have carried a basket in her left hand of which the handle only remains. |
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Taufling Body China 15" |
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Rare Large Size $6950. |
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An already rare doll, the Taufling, or Motchsman body child china becomes almost a fantasy in this larger than large size of 15". And what's more is the hard to find "Alice" hairdo, making her a museum piece indeed. Her near-white china continues from her rounded, youthful head, flange neck, lower arms with lovely detailed fingers to her lower legs with realistically molded calves. Then come her china feet that are molded black boots. At her left temple runs a very fine line that is very difficult to see and it also faintly appears across the bridge of the nose. |
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Her hair, once gold-luster hairband, shy facial painting and shading are neat and understated. Her shoulderplate and hip section are of paper mache, with the original, cotton-filled linen joints providing ample movement. There is wear and soiling to these fabric sections, which is to be expected after over 175 years of handling, so there are areas that are fragile or restitched. Her cotton undergarments, that have some later dated provenance pinned on, and her simple and fine cotton wool dress are accessorized with a beaded shoulder bag that respectfully remains from when she was acquired. |
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Swivel Neck English Wooden SOLD |
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Once the doll collector's eye turns to English wooden dolls, everything changes. The personal standard for beauty experiences a broadening, but at the same time, a sophistication that understands a different genre. The earthiness of art in wood is a whole new study that is both complicated and, well, intoxicating! |
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The age of an English wooden is determined in a few ways, by the detail of the head and facial carving and the finishing of the body, which puts this tall girl of 23 1/2" at approximately 1760. Her profile is quite interesting with her dainty, upturned nose and feminine, weak chin, and she has demure, closed lips and detailed, carved ears. |
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The most interesting aspect of this wooden lady is her very rare, swivel neck, allowing extra flexibility to her posing ability. This is very seldom seen, in addition to her pronounced carved breasts and genital area, with a fine, finished paint surface to her wood body and limbs. Only her upper arms differ by being made of cloth for jointing. Her age appropriate costume, a three-piece silk gown and quilted silk underskirt have the added feature of two matching quilted pockets for portability of her small items. Her auburn human hair is covered by an antique, white cotton cap and she has antique, red leather slippers. |
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Early Tuck Comb 12 1/2" |
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Grodnertal Wooden in Box LOST BY USPS - GONE |
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Reclining in her bent wood container, this endearing Grodnertal wooden doll looks quite comfortable and very well preserved. She has a yellow painted tuck comb, black hair trimmed with spiraled wisps of bangs around the forehead, an egg shaped head with all her little painted features placed on the bottom half of her face, typical of these early girls. Only her nose has some restoration and there are only spots of wear to her fair complexion, while she retains her blushed cheeks and pierced earrings. Her expression is unusually sweet! |
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Her body is completely of wood, jointed at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, for full articulation, both her lower arms and legs have finished surfaces, and she has the signature cadmium red painted slippers. Her clothing is completely original to her 1820's time of production, and consists of a sheer, light lavender on white cotton print dress, with highly puffed upper sleeves that made fashion news around this time. In addition, her delicate muslin cotton slip and pantaloons are original and all clothing is in very nice condition. |
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more Early dolls back to page 1
Post Office Box 4327 n Burbank, CA 91503
Cell (818) 738-4591 n Home Phone (818) 562-7839
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