SOLD CHOICE China Kinderkoph Doll Wind Blown Hair 12" Museum Piece

Dolls : Antique : China Head

 

Final Offering Sale Price~ CHOICE cabinet sized 12" early china head doll, circa 1850's, by Kestner & Co. with side-parted wind-blown hair on original firmly stuffed body, wearing original French Country style costume with red flannel skirt, apron, wool jacket. From a German museum collection. Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs.

This exceptionally fine china head has exquisitely molded and painted features, even more rare in such a small head. The hair has sharp modeling and has many brush strokes around the face. The facial features are beautifully rendered and have the red accents usually absent on smaller heads including red lid lines, black lash lines, partially-outlined irises, red eye corner accents, nostril accents, finely detailed mouth, and evenly blushed cheeks. The head has an overall shiny glaze and there is literally no wear whatsoever to the paint, which tells me it was rarely, if ever, played with.

Research tells us that heads we often consider to be male, were used interchangeably by children 150 years or more ago. Numerous antique dolls with heads we consider male have been found dressed as ladies, or if they were considered child dolls, then often dressed in the contemporary garments of the day which meant dresses for boys as well as girls. See the section on 1840-1850 china head dolls in 'Chinas, Dolls For Study and Admiration" by Mona Borger, pages 26-27 where you will find some wonderful photos which illustrate this.

The original costume was clearly made for the doll and fits perfectly from the fine lawn blouse and wool jacket to the red flannel skirt and lawn, lace-trimmed apron, over a complete set of undergarments, gold striped black stockings, and kid shoes.

Overall a stunning representation of a china Kinderkoph doll, originally presented and beautifully preserved.

Item ID: C-L456