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Wearing what are his original religious Medieval monk robes, we have a 16″ Beidermeier china man with white china head and shoulder plate,  solid dome head with painted black, center-parted hair, and finely painted features.   His body is of antique stuffed cloth, looks original, and the arms are of leather with separate fingers.  His footwear consists of antique, knitted stockings that act like fabric boots!

His long, white scapular rests front and back, over his black/brown wool tunic, and over that a dark wool long apron with a red, intricately  embroidered Crucifix on the chest.  He wears a long rope or “cinture” around the waist, along with an antique black rosary.

Her one-piece head and shoulder plate are wooden, while her body is stuffed cloth. The lower arms and hands are made of simple, narrow pieces of wood, subtly suggesting fingers. The original painted surface of her face shows slight rubbing on the forehead, minuscule paint crazing, and a tiny lift on the cheekbone. Her clothing is entirely original—rural in style, made of multiple tiny prints and dots—with leather boots (one missing its sole and hanging on for history’s sake).

In the early 1870’s, there was a circle of companies who produced these detailed, sturdy and unique jointed dolls, starting with Joel Ellis, who was known first for his carriages, Henry Mason, and Luke Taylor, to name the ones that are best known.  This example has the distinct details of what is called the Mason Taylor doll, made of carved and finely articulated maple wood, with lower arms and legs, hands and feet of heavy metal such as pewter. Extraordinary on this doll is the condition of her painted surfaces, namely the swivel head, shoulders and lower limbs, as usually the paint has either worn off or has been “played” off by children enjoying the great versatility of this sturdy subject.

She retains her sky blue painted eyes, richly carved curls, painted blond with some surface wear, a clean, smooth complexion, cream painted hands and stockings, with that sky vlue repeating on her metal boots.  The makers promoted the advantage of not having to dress this articulated doll, however that didn’t stop an enthusiastic mother or child to make a full cotton outfit, including a two-piece plaid cotton dress, a complimentary apron and cotton undergarments.  All look to be made during her early era and a so charming on her.  To find one in this condition is exciting!

Having first been a part of Austria, then called South Tyrol before World War I, the Grodnertal region near Germany was home to the production of these fascinating wooden dolls. Adding to the warm, inviting charm of these dainty works of art, some were dressed to represent local peddlers of assorted wares, carrying baskets of necessities and delights to be purchased on the street. This particular 12 ½” Grodnertal is an early one, identified by her egg-shaped carved head and the painted hair detail on her forehead. See the extended painted shadows and strokes that represent wisps of hair and curls below. She has painted blue eyes with human detail, prim red upturned lips, and gently rouged cheeks. Her head and torso are one piece, while the limbs are jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

Her feet are carved as her orange painted little slippers. Look at the impressive costume she wears, which consists of a bold black-and-white striped skirt, a tiny brown print long-sleeved blouse, a white cotton shawl, and long white lace-trimmed pantaloons—kept warm by her bright red hooded wool cape that can rest over her straw, silk-covered bonnet. Now let’s see what she has to sell in her original straw basket of wares… You can spot knitting yarn, scissors on a presentation card, as well as a knife and fork on their card, socks, needles and a needle container, household tools, a dangling glass bottle, a folding pocket knife, a pair of mittens, and some sewing trim on a card—and it goes on, the more you look!

Her feet are carved as her orange painted little slippers. Look at the impressive costume she wears, which consists of a bold black-and-white striped skirt, a tiny brown print long-sleeved blouse, a white cotton shawl, and long white lace-trimmed pantaloons—kept warm by her bright red hooded wool cape that can rest over her straw, silk-covered bonnet. Now let’s see what she has to sell in her original straw basket of wares… You can spot knitting yarn, scissors on a presentation card, as well as a knife and fork on their card, socks, needles and a needle container, household tools, a dangling glass bottle, a folding pocket knife, a pair of mittens, and some sewing trim on a card—and it goes on, the more you look!

In humble, original condition and attire, we have an early wooden doll from Grodnertal that is part of the regional history of Germany, 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 brushstrokes that mimic curls at her forehead, and her carved feet have painted cadmium red shoes. The multilayers 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!

A bit of French military nostalgia comes to life here with this endearing wartime “water boy” (12 ¾”) wearing the original uniform he would have worn on the battlegrounds, bringing water to the troops. He even carries his wooden barrel canteen 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 1845–1850, 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 1840s.

A bit of French military nostalgia comes to life here with this endearing wartime “water boy” (12 ¾”) wearing the original uniform he would have worn on the battlegrounds, bringing water to the troops. He even carries his wooden barrel canteen 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 1845–1850, 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 1840s.

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 cord trim, white cotton underclothing, and an apron as well. I recently sold a smaller French China water girl in a very similar outfit, also purchased in Paris!