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Nelling, Inc.
E a r l y D o l l s
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English Wooden Child with Endearing Presence $10,500. |
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Along with representing a child, this late, George III English wooden (20") has that special something that only the esoteric changes of time and the natural combination of presentation details can provide. Carved by a wood worker at the very end of the eighteenth century, she has the simpler details of features typical of the examples from that time, but her simpatica personality makes her stand out and almost come to life. She has the darkest brown enamel eyes, one-stroke brows, long pronounced nose, demure smiling painted red lips, rosy complexion and rouged cheeks that combined together give her an endearing energy. |
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Her brunette, human hair curls are secured to the top of her head and the unrestored surface of her face shows the tracks of play and adoration starting 225 years ago! Acceptable and not distracting for a true lover of antique woodens. Her rounded head and simply carved torso are one piece, as are her carved wooden legs being only jointed at the hips. Her arms are of original kid leather, both of which have had a patch added at the elbows later on. Her feet are crudely carved then tinted in a cadmium red paint, with the left one having the front tip chipped off (hidden in the shoe). |
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Now to her original clothing, that consists of a pre-Regency, long gown of diaphenous fabric, having the new, linear silhouette that drew from the fashions of ancient Greece. She remarkably retains the matching cap in the same fabric, with the same silk ribbon pleated trim as the bodice of the dress. Not to mention the adorable silk slippers with a bit of metallic trim. The pillow with the embroidered “B” has been given to her, however the chair is not for sale and just a prop. |
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Early China in Orig. Military Costume $695. |
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A bit of French military nostalgia comes to life here with this endearing wartime “water boy” (12 3/4") with the original uniform he would have worn on the battle grounds bringing water to the troops. He even carries his wooden barrel cantene hanging from a leather strap. The whole outfit is original, including the wooden clogs and the fabric, pointed cap he wears. He is an early German china, circa 1845-50, with a short hairdo, exposed ears, and rare wisps of side hair painted on his temples. Probably depicting the time of the Franco Moroccan war of the 1840's. |
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| His original body is of cloth while his arms are leather with stitched fingers. Over his simple, red cotton trousers, is a quite elaborate, long military wool jacket in navy blue, with boldly placed rows of gold metal buttons, additional red coard trim, white cotton underclothing and and apron as well. I had recently sold a smaller, French china water girl in a very similar outfit, also purchased in Paris! |
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Mason Taylor Doll of Wood and Pewter $995. |
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Around the time of the early American wooden and metal doll of Joel Ellis came this very similar doll (11 1/2") from Mason Taylor of Springfield, VT, ca 1880. She has the distinctive, carved wood swivel head with different, blond painted hair, wood torso, arms and legs, and pewter hands and feet which are in a boot shape. |
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Much of the blue boot paint has worn off. Her meticulously jointed limbs
provide flexibility and ease of posing.
On the back of her right hip is some missing wood from some time ago
due to the equal aging color exposed.
It is tempting to display this doll without clothing so to appreciate
her unique, early construction. |
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Grodnertal Sisters 8" |
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Sold Separately or Together $795 EACH |
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What a fun couple of Grodnertal girls we have from a collection in Provence, in their original, complementary country attire. They are each approximately 8” tall, are all of carved wood, and are jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, with tiny, carved feet that are their painted slippers. |
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The
shape of their heads put them at around 1825, with their black painted hair
and eyes, prim red lips and healthy rouged cheeks.
Both of their ensembles are of antique printed cottons, with the
skirts actually being quilted, giving them an added crispness.
While they love each other’s company, they are not opposed to being
separated and sold apart. They are
priced separately, however, there will be a discount if they are
purchased as a pair. |
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German Wax Over Composition Motchsman Doll $950. |
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For some collectors, the early baby is a magical category all its own, where numerous mediums have been used to depict the history of the infant doll. This outstanding example (16") has an impeccable delicate layer of wax over a composition head, with cornflower blue enamel eyes, gentle decoration and shading of facial features, nicely molded ears, and strategically painted wisps of hair on the head. The wax covered head swivels on a pale, molded composition shoulder plate, whose material and surface is repeated at the hips, lower arms, lower legs and jointed hands and feet. These sections of the body are attached with stuffed linen fabric that provides a special softness of movement. |
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This is the style of body labeled taufling which was first seen in ancient Asian dolls ad was adopted by doll manufacturers of the mid-19th century in Germany and France, such as Motschman and Steiner. They continued to be an inspiration into the late 1800's. The historical importance of this doll in a collection does not stop with the ingenious head and body type. It is wearing its original, white cotton infant clothing and swaddling in its original white padded bunting, with rows of ruffled eyelet trim and closing in the front with double bow ties. So complete and tidy, and topped off with a simple, white cotton bonnet. Faint, short, minute line in wax on upper right eyelid. LW |
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Petite Early Wax Child $650. |
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What a dear little wax doll (61/2") to hold in your hand for a close look at her toddler-like, full face with realistically painted blue eyes, a semi-smiling closed mouth and remnants of her fine eyebrows on her pale wax complexion. The passage of time and handling has caused some surface rubs and abrasions on her chubby face. She has a wig of fine blond human hair in tiny curls, and her one-piece head and shoulder plate is mounted on a firm cloth body, jointed with stitching at the shoulders and hips, and having wax lower arms and legs. Her light-weight peach dress of antique wool has a matching bonnet with an unruly tassel-like trim and she wears snugly-fitting white leather slippers with tiny pearl buckles. |
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Highly Decorated Parian 18" |
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Fancy Hairdo and Pierced Ears $1,295. |
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The added color in the molded shoulder plate of this 1870 parian lady is an unexpected detail that plays off her muted costume of plaid brown and black tones. She has white parian bisque with blue painted eyes with eyelids highlighted in red, a pursed red mouth, elongated nose, pierced ears and a blond molded head full of separated curls and waves. |
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The colorful shoulder plate is decorated with a neat, white molded blouse, a ruffled and glazed pink trimmed collar, tied up with a blue glazed bow edged in gold at the center of the neck, with collar detail continuing on to the back. Her original body is of linen cloth with white kid leather, cotton-stuffed arms, one of which is quite split at the seams. Her finely made antique dress of the late 1860's is of a brown and black plaid silk which is quite sturdy and she has lovely, layered antique undergarments and antique leather slippers. |
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Grodnertal Girl 10 1/2" |
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Tuck Comb $1,650. ON LAYAWAY |
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In humble, original condition and attire, we have an early wooden doll from Grodnertal, that is part of the regional history of German, Austria and Northern Italy, circa 1820. She has the early, egg-shaped carved head and a yellow painted, carved hair ornament, or tuck comb, with her whole body being of carved wood and jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Her black hair has swirling brush strokes that mimic curls at her forehead and her carved feet have painted cadmium red shoes. The multi-layers of dark and light, fine cottons and undergarments that make up her original costume are in very good condition, even her little humble fabric purse! |
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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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