Nelling, Inc.

Early Dolls 2

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Petite Early Wax Child

SOLD

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This dear little wax doll (6 ½”) is a delightful piece to hold in your hand, offering a close look at her toddler-like, full face with realistically painted blue eyes, a semi-smiling closed mouth, and faint remnants of her fine eyebrows on her pale wax complexion. The passage of time and handling have caused some surface rubs and abrasions on her chubby face. She wears a wig of fine blond human hair styled 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. She has wax on her lower arms and legs.

Her lightweight peach dress is made of antique wool, with a matching bonnet adorned with unruly tassel-like trim. She also 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

$1,695

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The added color on the molded shoulder plate of this 1870 Parian lady is an unexpected detail, which complements her muted plaid brown and black costume. She has white parian bisque, with blue painted eyes (eyelids highlighted in red), a pursed red mouth, an 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 with a blue glazed bow edged in gold at the center of her neck, with the collar detail continuing on the back. Her original body is made of linen cloth with white kid leather, and her cotton-stuffed arms (one of which is split at the seams) complete her composition. She is dressed in a finely made antique brown and black plaid silk dress, which remains sturdy despite its age. She also wears lovely, layered antique undergarments and antique leather slippers.

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Mason Taylor Doll

10 ½"

Wood and Pewter

$995.

round the time of the early American wooden and metal doll of Joel Ellis came this very similar doll (11 ½”) from Mason Taylor of Springfield, VT, circa 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. 

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, as evidenced by the equally aged color exposed. It is tempting to display this doll without clothing to appreciate her unique early construction.

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Early Tuck Comb

12 ½" — Grodnertal Wooden Doll in Box

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Lost by USPS (Gone)

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Reclining comfortably in her bent wood container, this endearing Grodnertal wooden doll appears very well-preserved. She features a yellow-painted tuck comb, black hair trimmed with spiraled wisps of bangs around her forehead, and an egg-shaped head with all her little painted features placed on the lower half of her face—typical of these early dolls. Only her nose has been restored, and there are only spots of wear to her fair complexion. She retains her blushed cheeks and pierced earrings. Her expression is unusually sweet!

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Her body is entirely made of wood, jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees for full articulation. Both her lower arms and legs have finished surfaces, and she wears signature cadmium red painted slippers. Her clothing is completely original to her 1820s time of production and consists of a sheer lavender-on-white cotton print dress with highly puffed upper sleeves, a fashion detail popular at the time. In addition, her delicate muslin cotton slip and pantaloons are original, and all her clothing is in very nice condition.

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