10" Baby Bo Kaye German Bisque Character Doll

When I bought this doll 30 years ago, Theriault's described it as a German Bisque Mystery Character Circa 1912. But the wheels of doll scholarship turn and we now know that the doll was designed by Joseph L. Kallus, that the bisque heads were produced in Germany by Alt, Beck & Gotttschalk, the bodies by K&K Toy Co of New York (1925), and finally that the dolls were distributed by George Borgfeldt & Co of New York. This is a rare doll, well worth hunting for. The bisque is of excellent quality, the presentation unusual and the expression wonderful.

This doll has a bisque socket head, small blue-grey glass sleep eyes and an open mouth with 2 barely noticeable lower teeth. The painting of the facial features is done with a light hand: the eyebrows are suggested. This, I believe, is intentional as all specimen I have seen are painted in the same manner. Maybe as not to compete with the wonderful sculpting of the head.

The body is original, a composition and wooden ball-jointed one. The doll has its original pate and brown wig. It is well costumed, maybe originally.

There are several marks on the back of the head. Low on the nape Germany is incised. High on the crown are the numbers 1407 and 20.

The condition is very good. The head is perfect.. The body has some areas showing wear. Please look at the pictures for details of condition. One thing to note is a tiny surface flake on the little finger of the right hand.

A very attractive little doll, hard to find, and of a perfect cabinet size.
Layaway available.

This item is on layaway.