SALE 23" Early 19th Century European Creche Figure Child Doll

Dolls : Antique

 

This is a very fine large early church or creche figure. She is dressed as a girl and stands 23" tall. I estimate that she dates from the early 1800s. She may be Italian made. The Italians used a mixture of plaster and hemp called carta pesta to form the heads and arms.

The head, hands and feet are made from a very early composition material typical of some Italian pieces I have seen. The body appears to have a wooden base that is padded and wrapped with tow (linen fiber) and linen cloth. The upper arms are wired into the body and the wire is also padded out with tow and linen cloth. She has hair of tow as well. The face is simply painted and has a slight crackle to the paint.

She is wearing her original blouse with long sleeves. Over this is a dark velvet bodice trimmed in red silk. The skirt is an amazing red wool felt with pleats at the top and embroidery, sequins and bead work . Since this skirt is slightly large in the waist for this figure I judge that it is not original to her, but it is old and pleasing on her. I also suspect that her crocheted bonnet is a later addition. She has blue glazed cotton half pantaloons from the knee down that appear to be original.

Condition: There is a repair to the side of her nose. One finger tip on her left hand and two on the right have been repaired. Crackle to finish of painted parts. Some sparseness to her hair and old glue visible at the top of the hairline in front.

She has a very sweet and pleasing countenance, with a sweet and innocent expression.

Item ID: Hc908

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Layaways and offers considered. Combined shipping discounts on multiple purchases.