10" (25 cm.) seated. 13" with cushion. Brown felt swivel head with mask pressed facial features, narrow painted brown eyes with dark grey all-around eyeliner, dot brows, broad nose, painted smiling lips of closed mouth, two accent dots on lower lip, brown felt pear-shaped plump torso, brown felt arms and legs which are modeled in seated pose, jointing at shoulders and hips. Wearing turquoise felt fitted jacket which is fully lined with yellow felt and decorated with embroidery of elephants, lions and symbols, wide white felt pants fitted at the ankles, yellow felt slippers with upturned toes, very full felt turban. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: (partial early rectangular paper label with model number 168). Comments: Lenci, early 1920s, from the firm's Asian series; the doll did not appear in any of the firm's catalogs and may have been a special commission. This actual doll is shown in Lenci, The History and The Dolls by Nancy Lazenby, page 153 in the chapter "Extremely Rare Dolls". Value Points: outstanding doll is very fine condition also includes its own felt padded cushion with applique designs and black tassels, and various wooden jewelry including one wooden bangle earring, two wooden bracelets, fan and necklace of carved elephant, each with hand painted detail.
Presale Estimate:
6500/8500
16" (41 cm.) Brown felt oval-shaped swivel head, painted brown side-glancing eyes, black curly upper lashes, one-stroke brows, tiny accented nostrils, closed mouth with very full lips, stitched-on black wiry hair with woven ties, slender elongated torso and limbs, jointing at shoulders and hips, separate big toe, unjointed fingers. Wearing reed skirt with colorful felt ribbons, wooden bead necklace, bangle earrings and bracelet. Condition: excellent. Comments: Lenci, early 1920s from the exotic series issued by the firm during that era. Value Points: perfectly-preserved doll with sturdy shape, artistic painting, original costume and accessories.
Presale Estimate:
800/1100
11" (28 cm.) Felt swivel head with pressed facial features, large brown side-glancing eyes, black upper eyeliner and curly lashes, grey eye shadow, single-stroke brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with two accent dots on lower lip, weft-stitched blonde mohair fleecy wig, felt torso and legs, jointing at shoulders and hips, mitten hands. Wearing brilliant orange felt dress with yellow felt banding and a lavish garland of eight colorful felt flowers, matching cloche with floral accents, organdy undergarment, socks, orange felt shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, series 111/M, 1924, this exact doll is shown in a full page photo in Lenci, The History and The Doll, page 193. Value Points: the charming fashionable costume is wonderfully preserved with vibrant colors.
Presale Estimate:
700/900
6" (15 cm.) A felt turtle with felt applique "shell" design and black bead eyes serves as the cushion for an all-felt Asian boy with swivel head, sienna-tinted complexion, painted facial features, closed eyes, accented nostrils, closed mouth, black mohair wig pulled sharply away from face and forming a narrow queue that extends beneath an attached straw hat. Wearing original yellow and red felt costume with woven straw slippers to match his hat. Condition: structurally excellent, very dusty. Comments: Lenci, early 1920s, model 3009, with stylistic resemblance to the opium smoker by Lenci of the same era. Value Points: very rare model with charming concept and portrayal.
Presale Estimate:
400/600
17 1/2" (44 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, dark brown side-glancing eyes, painted upper eyeliner and lashes, grey eye shadow, accented nostrils, closed mouth with accent dots on bottom lip, weft-stitched mohair fleecy curls, felt torso and limbs, jointing at shoulders and hips, mitten hands. Wearing lime green felt smoking jacket with two pockets and matching pants, each trimmed with purple and green diamond-patterned appliques, matching felt slippers, felt brown shirt with black felt tie, green braided sash. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, the doll appeared in the 1926 Lenci catalog as "Renato 300/G" and was one of the first of the 300 series. Value Points: very fine state of preservation with vibrant colors enhancing the imaginative design, with original wooden smoking pipe with "Lenci" signature on stem.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1600
4 1/2" (11 cm.) Firmly stuffed pink felt pig with tinted shading on cheeks and belly, stitched-on tinted ears, stitch-defined nose, tiny pink bead eyes, original neck ribbons, curled felt tail, attached felt hanging loop. Condition: near mint. Marks: Lenci Torino (cloth label on under-belly). Comments: Lenci, model 272, first appearing in the 1926 Lenci catalog and made for a number of years. The actual object is shown in Lenci, The History and the Dolls, page 161. Value Points: charming novelty is perfectly preserved, constructed with fine artistic details that add flavor.
Presale Estimate:
400/500
17 1/2" (44 cm.) Felt swivel head with pressed and painted facial features, small brown side-glancing eyes, dark upper eyeliner with painted lashes, grey eye shadow, accented nostrils, closed mouth with accented lower lip, stitched-on ears, blonde mohair wig with ringlet curls, felt torso and limbs, jointing at shoulders and hips, two middle fingers stitched together. Wearing felt traditional dress with well-detailed embroidery and applique on bodice and sleeves, blue and white checkered upper skirt, brown felt skirt, blue felt apron, pink felt cap with elaborate embroidery over net undercap, stiffened muslin petticoat and pantalets with scalloped edging, heavy woolen stockings with colorful edging. Condition: generally excellent, slight fading. Marks: Lenci Di E Scavini Made in Italy 300 V (rectangular paper label). Comments: Lenci, series 300V, 1927, the first edition of the Dutch girl. Value Points: exceptional detail of embroidery and applique work, the girl also holds a wooden flower pot with felt tulip. The folklore models of the 300 series were often presented as pairs. The Dutch boy and girl were the first of these international folklore dolls.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1300
17 1/2" (44 cm.) Felt swivel head with pressed and painted facial features, brown side-glancing eyes, black upper eyeliner with curly lashes, grey eye shadow, accented nostrils, closed mouth, accent dots on lower lips, stitched ears, inserted light brown hair with side part, felt torso and limbs, jointing at shoulders and hips, two middle fingers stitched together. Wearing black felt double breasted jacket with silver buttons, red felt shirt, blue and green checkerboard full pants, wooden shoes, black felt cap with silky plush border, black leatherette brim and band. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, series 300/11, 1929. Value Points: the well-designed costume with intricate patchwork on pants is accentuated with wooden yoke with two wooden buckets.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1300
23" (58 cm.) Felt swivel head with mask face, pressed and painted facial features, light-amber complexion, very narrow side-glancing brown side-slant eyes, high arched brows, accented nostrils, full cheeks, closed mouth with accented lower lips, black human hair in bobbed style with long queue at the back, stitch-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees allowing the doll to be posed standing or seated, separately-sewn-on felt hands. Wearing one-piece purple felt body suit with fitted dark purple bands at the ankles, two layers of orange tunics with yellow and aqua banding at hem and cuffs, elaborate embroidery of dragon and foliage on outer tunic, orange stacked shoes with embroidered tips. Condition: very good/excellent, slight ding in chin, few moth holes in tunic, fading of pants, missing musical instrument shown in original catalog. Comments: Lenci, the doll appeared in the 1925 catalog described simply as model 188, and in subsequent catalogs with the name "Dschang-Go"; Dschang-Go was one of the eight Chinese immortals, and, interestingly, two other Chinese character dolls shown in the 1928 Lenci catalog have names of the Chinese immortals. Value Points: extremely rare Lenci doll with superb detail of silk dragon embroidery on the multi-layered felt costume, rich purple suit under the tunic, felt Chinese slippers with silk embroidery, and carries original wooden pick.
Presale Estimate:
7500/9500
17 1/2" (44 cm.) Felt swivel head, light amber tinted complexion, pressed and painted facial features, brown side-glancing eyes in side-slant sockets, heavily-modeled eyelids, black curly lashes, black eyeliner, black feathered brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth, black mohair bobbed wig with long queue, felt hollow torso, felt arms and legs, jointing at shoulders and hips. Wearing vibrant yellow felt tunic and pants with orange felt borders, under a black felt vest with signature medallion center, wooden stacked heels, woven hat and superb wooden lantern with painted decorations on the interior silk shade and vibrantly painted exterior. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, series, 300/59, the doll was shown in the 1930 Lenci catalog, its costume and accessories being a duplicate of that on the earlier Lenci doll, 188A Lo Tia Guai. Value Points: the rare character, with uniquely painted facial features on amber tinted complexion is superbly preserved.
Presale Estimate:
3500/4500