14" (36 cm.) Bisque socket head, blue glass sleep and flirty eyes, painted long curly lashes, brushstroked and feathered brows, accented nostrils, open mouth, four tiny porcelain teeth, brunette side-parted bobbed mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed flapper era body with elongated limbs, above the knee jointing, original rubber hands introduced by the firm. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: K*R Simon & Halbig 117x Germany 34. Comments: Kammer and Reinhardt, circa 1917, a rare variation of their beloved "Mein Liebling" (my darling) model that reflected the changing fashions of the times. Value Points: most endearing little child with well-functioning flirty eyes, fine matte bisque, original body, body finish, wig, and wearing wonderful antique costume and accessories.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1600
Realized Price:
$1,400
9" (23 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque torso, blue glass sleep eyes, delicately painted lashes and brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with very pert expression, accented lips, blonde mohair wig, peg-jointing at shoulders and hips, attached ball-jointing at knees, plump limbs, painted white ribbed stockings with magenta rims, grey ankle boots with black heels and laces, cupped fingers, pretty antique costume. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 111. Comments: Kestner, circa 1880. Value Points: very rare jointed knees allowing the doll to assume many poses, wonderful face and fancifully painted boots.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1700
Realized Price:
$3,000
17" (43 cm.) Bisque socket head, brown glass sleep eyes, painted curly lashes, lightly-feathered brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with very full outlined lips, impressed philtrum and chin dimples. pierced ears, blonde mohair wig, composition and wooden ball-jointed body, pretty antique costume. Condition: generally excellent, light retouch to body finish. Marks: 2033 BSW (in heart) 537 5. Comments: Bruno Schmidt, the model known as "Wendy", circa 1912. The model became known as "Wendy" after it appeared on the cover of an early doll book, Wendy and Friends by Madelaine Selfridge. The doll was acquired by Madame X of Texas from a Theriault auction of 1979 and bears a Gold Horse tag from that auction. Value Points: especially beautiful model with distinctive sculpting, especially of nose and mouth.
Presale Estimate:
5500/7500
Realized Price:
$5,750
10" (25 cm.) Bisque socket head with plump face, dark blue sleep eyes which operate from wire lever at the back of the head, painted features, rose-blushed eye shadow, painted lashes with dot highlights, brushstroked brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with center accent line, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over Steiner pate, Steiner composition fully-jointed body. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Sie C 3/0 Steiner J. Bourgoin (head) S. Steiner (eyes). Comments: Jules Steiner, circa 1884. Value Points: all original very dear bebe has original wig, eyes, body, body finish, muslin chemise, leather shoes signed C.C., socks, silk dress, and sepia photograph depicting the original owner of the doll, alongside this doll.
Presale Estimate:
4500/6500
Realized Price:
$4,500
3 1/2" (9 cm.) h. chair. Each of gilt metal and bronze, and with porcelain enameled scenes in the 18th century romantic genre, including piano with hinged lid for use as trinket box, and salon chair with unusual wreath-like edging on the seat. Excellent condition. Austria, circa 1890.
Presale Estimate:
300/500
Realized Price:
$350
11" (28 cm.) The slender tall clock has an ornate cast brass frame with scrolled and acanthus styling, enclosing a wooden case and with beveled glass cover over porcelain clock face. The case is excellent, porcelain face has old hairline; clock works intact but needs adjustment. Late 1800s.
Presale Estimate:
600/800
Realized Price:
$950
12" (30 cm.) Pressed bisque socket head, blue glass enamel inset eyes with spiral threading, dark eyeliner, painted lashes and brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with primly set lips having shaded and accented details, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, French composition and wooden eight-loose-ball jointed body with straight wrists. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 4 (head) Jumeau Medaille d'Or Paris (body). Comments: Emile Jumeau, circa 1878, the early premiere bebe model with endearing shy expression. Value Points: rare early bebe, wearing original rose silk/linen dress with black velvet trim and pearl buttons, undergarments, Jumeau earrings, black knit socks, and black leather shoes (one signed E.J.).
Presale Estimate:
3800/5000
Realized Price:
$4,250
5" (13 cm.) The elegantly shaped salon chairs with acanthus and garland surround frames, and cabriole legs are original silk seats with hand-painted courtly scenes. The frames are excellent, the silk is frail and worn. French, circa 1885.
Presale Estimate:
300/500
Realized Price:
$500
19" (48 cm.) The gold and ebony-rimmed Sevres porcelain jardiniere, which is exquisitely hand-painted with a very colorful flowers and a multi-colored bird, has porcelain lion head grips and brass ring handles, is filled with a luxurious arrangement of colorful silk flowers, berries, and leaves. Perched atop the arrangement is a feathered blue bird, while a butterfly is hidden in the leaves. When wound, the bird turns its head side to side, flits its tail feathers, and merrily chirps while opening and closing its mouth. Meanwhile a butterfly, hidden in the leaves, flutters back and forth. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism functions well. Comments: Bontems, Paris, 1880. Value Points: superb example of Bontems' felicitous presentation of most realistic nature sounds and movements is enhanced by the fine luxurious French porcelain work of Sevres.
Presale Estimate:
7500/9500
Realized Price:
$7,000
9" (23 cm.) A very heavy cast brass and bronze pistol with faux-leather grip cover ornamented by elaborate cast brass floral and garland appliques disguises a very special secret. When wound, and trigger pulled, a beautiful feathered bird emerges. The original key is included as well as a brass perch upon which the pistol rests for display. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Bontems, circa 1900, the imaginative and creative designs of Lucien Bontems are evident, not only in the more classic bird cages, but also in decorative works such as the jardiniere shown in the previous page, and in this extraordinary statement work, the Pistolet a Oiseau Chanteur (the singing bird pistol). The 2001 book, Flights of Fancy, by Sharon and Christian Bailly, note that two examples were sold to the Geneva firms of Bremond and S. Troll in 1905; the Bremond pistolet a oiseau chanteur was a cost of 400 francs. Value Points: extraordinary state of preservation, the mechanism functioning well, and the casework superb; only two other examples of this extremely rare piece are known to exist, one in Siegfried (Wendel) Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Ruedesheim, Germany and the other in the Kyoto Arishiyama Orgel Museum in Kyoto, Japan.
Presale Estimate:
27,000/38,000
Realized Price:
$33,000