SALE Large antique 1830's English slit head smiling wax doll 31"

Dolls : Antique : Wax Dolls

 

Such a charming old slit head English wax doll! She is a large doll about 31 1/2 inches but relatively light weight for her size.

The head alone is 6 3/4 inches tall, 7 inches wide and has a head circ. of 11 inches.

She has dark black/brown pupil-less glass eyes that do not sleep and a slightly smiling mouth. She has sparse brown human hair that looks like it may originally have been in braids. At some point in the last 50 years or so, a reddish brown mohair piece has been added for bangs.

The wax to her face does have some surface cracks but no lifting. Her facial coloring is ivory except on the edges under her clothing where the original pink is visible.

Her body is a very soft tan cotton, i think this is called sateen. The chest and hips are very wide with a thin waist that has a band wrapped around her middle to help reinforce her. I do not think the band is covering a repair or damage - the body is in very good condition for its age. I do think the upper arms have been replaced or recovered. The lower arms and fingers are white kid leather with obvious hand stitching. Both have damage but the right hand has been patched/glued with a white tape of some kind. The legs appear original with the white cotton socks with a red stripe to the knee - they are sewn in place at the knee.

The antique clothing is very nice but I don't believe it is as old as the doll. It appears to have been made for her long ago. It includes long cotton drawers, a chemise, a petticoat, the pink (chambray?) dress and white windowpane pinafore. The narrow leather sole brown leather lace up boots are awesome and likely original. I did not try to remove them or the socks. The straw bonnet is vintage. She DOES still have her original bonnet but it is in very fragile poor condition.

The antique carriage displayed with the doll is not included in this listing - however it is available in my Ruby Lane shop.

You will love this dolly!

Item ID: 215