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Nelling, Inc.
E a r l y D o l l s
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(Click on photos to enlarge)
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Diminutive Wooden and Cloth 3 1/4" |
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Circa 1840 $395. |
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An early mystery doll in mixed media, with a carved wood head and torso, cloth arms and upper legs, and lower legs and boots of molded and painted composition. She has that original look and feel that only time can give, with a style and silhouette dating her to 1840's. Her simple face and head have the original finish, and quite charming is her carved bun. She is presented in a little cardboard box that could possibly have been her home for quite some time now. If only she could tell us more about herself! |
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Continental Gentleman 11 1/2" |
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Wood and Composite $950. |
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Even after some intense research about this early male doll, his origin is not easy to define. His carved wood body with jointing at the knees, hips, shoulders and elbows, and his forearms and head of a terra cotta or clay composite put him in the family of Italian creche figures. However the decoration of the face differs from those, with its less detailed and dramatic expression, and a product of German or Austria would probably have at least more detail in the painting. He relates more closely to examples from Belgium and especially France, with his pivoting head and puppet-like presence. |
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The facial coloring is quite healthy, with simple painting of features, and the molding nicely defined, with a prominent profile. At some point most of his "hair and beard" of a wooly type covering has left him, revealing the base coloring that may have doubled as an adhesive. His clothing of bared velvet and fine upholstery fabric surely looks original and from the eighteenth century. His antique three-corner wool hat (PERFECT for him) and his sword have been added, but you could add a variety of accessories to him to suggest his vocation! |
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Little
Wooden Seamstress's Companion $2475. |
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Grodnertal peg wooden pin cushion, only 6 7/8"" tall, circa 1810, and totally delightful! She is a combination of a carved wooden doll with fully jointed arms, and also a pin cushion, retaining nearly every single of its tiny pins that form an intricate pattern on her "skirt". The dramatic, crimson silk of her detailed costume is in excellent condition for its age, with some loss to the cotton net trim around the collar and hem. The paint on her face and hands and the feathered bangs framing her forehead are in very nice original condition. A true example of a doll with form and function! |
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Original Grodner Tal with
Tuck Comb ON LAYAWAY |
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In the early 1800's, there were wooden dolls being produced in several areas of the Alps of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, such as this statuesque little lady "Grodner Tal', from the remote village of Groden Tal near the Austrian/Italian border. The entire area has been famous for wood carving since 1643, and wares from this region were carried door to door across Europe from Lisbon to Russia. Because of the close proximity of all these regions, the dolls made there are usually categorized as German woodens. |
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Standing a slender 15" tall, the Grodner Tal shown here is quite special in the fact that her silk Empire waist gown, cotton undergarments and glass bead earrings are all originally hers, with some expected melting and stain on the front of the skirt. Her fully jointed, carved wood body has painted lower legs with red-orange slippers, painted lower arms and carved hands, and of course, a painted shoulder and head with wisps of black curls detailing her forehead area. Under a black light, some touch up is seen to limited areas of her forehead and to the tip of her chin. Dating from 1820, she has the desirable "tuck comb" carved on top of her head that is painted the typical mustard yellow that her gown complements so well. Her sly little expression seems to catch her in a sideways glance and a semi-smile, as if she knows something we don't. She may be happy to own the pressed wool, tasseled tote bag that has been with her for ages! |
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"Annalise" 18" |
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Civil War China ON LAYAWAY |
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From a longtime and significant collection of early dolls, this 1860's china has a special something. Not only does she have a rich appearance with her rounded face, rosy cheeks, orange lined eyelids and content smiling expression, she feels good to hold. Almost like she has soul! Her wonderful, hand-sewn antique dress of floral cotton and red wool has unbelievable, hand embroidered botanical decoration and has the subtle feel that only the passage of time she herself has seen could provide. |
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And the vibrant detail doesn't stop there. Her stockings are also embroidered and she wears red crocheted wool slippers! Her multi-layered undergarments are all antique, as is her simple knitted red wool bonnet. An instant family treasure! |
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Post Office Box 4327 n Burbank, CA 91503
Cell (818) 738-4591 n Home Phone (818) 562-7839
Don't forget to look at the Miscellaneous page!
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