17" (43 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, small brown side-glancing eyes, dark eyeliner, painted curly lashes, grey eyeshadow, accented nostrils, closed mouth, weft-stitched dark brunette bobbed hair, hollow felt torso, felt arms and legs jointed at shoulders and hips, middle fingers joined. Wearing black velvet best suit comprising tunic with double-layered organdy collar and cuffs with diamond-point edging, white felt faux-placket with tiny black buttons, matching short pants with black buttons, white knit socks with black tops, black leather shoes with little white bows. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Lenci (square tags). Comments: Lenci, series 300, circa 1933. Value Points: rarely found model with wonderfully detailed costume.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1400
16 1/2" (42 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, small brown painted side-glancing eyes, white eye dots, painted upper lashes, grey eye shadow, accented nostrils, closed mouth with smiling expression, row of teeth, rooted light brown mohair wig, firmly-stuffed muslin body, tab-jointed arms, jointed longer legs. Wearing yellow organdy dress with three tiers of scalloped ruffles at the hem, smocked yoke, white organdy collar, cuffs and pocket edging, organdy ruffled slip and pantalets, undergarments, socks, yellow felt shoes. Condition: excellent. Comments: Lenci, series 149/29, the doll was shown in the 1930 catalog with a variant hair style. Value Points: very rare smiling faced variation of the 149 model, lovely delicate costume.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1500
10 1/2" (27 cm.) Felt swivel head with plump face, pressed and painted facial features, painted large brown side-glancing eyes, curly upper lashes, grey eye shadow, fringed brows, accented nostrils, closed mouth with accented lower lip, side-parted weft-stitched brunette mohair wig, felt body, tab jointing at shoulders, jointed hips, middle fingers joined. Wearing dark brown felt overcoat with double-layered cape collar and duffle buttons at waist, teal felt vest, ruffled organdy collar, grey felt trousers, brown felt shoes, and carrying wooden walking stick. Condition: excellent. Comments: Lenci, series 70/6, 1933. Value Points: beautifully-constructed coat and artistically painted facial features of shy young lad, most appealing large brown eyes.
Presale Estimate:
600/800
10 1/2" (27 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, small brown side-glancing eyes, lushly painted lashes, fringed brows accented nostrils, closed mouth, accented lower lip, weft-stitched brunette mohair wig, firmly-stuffed muslin body, tab-jointed arms, disc-jointed legs. Wearing yellow organdy dress with three tiers of ruffles on skirt and felt rose at the waist, attached petticoat, puffed sleeves, undergarments, socks, yellow felt shoes, yellow wide-brimmed hat with black band. Condition: generally excellent, some fading of rose. Comments: Lenci, model 70/2, 193. This exact doll is shown in Lenci, The History and the Dolls by Nancy Lazenby page 122, which notes "these little cabinet-size dolls are very hard to find". Value Points: very dear shy-faced doll in fresh colorful spring costume.
Presale Estimate:
600/800
9" (23 cm.) Each has felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, side-glancing eyes looking at each other (the bride with blue eyes and the groom with brown eyes), "O" shaped closed mouth, bride with blonde mohair wig, and the groom with brunette short curly wig. The bride wearing organdy tiered gown, pale pink organdy petticoat and pantalets, lace gauntlets, socks, shoes, coronet of felt roses to match her bouquet of felt roses, pearls and veil; and the groom wearing grey felt trousers, black felt jacket, vest, shirt, tie, black leather shoes and black felt top hat. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Lenci (cloth and paper labels). Comments: Lenci, from their miniature series, early 1930s, models S/37 and S/41. Value Points: considered "one of the most desirable and elusive pairs" of miniatures, according to Lenci, The Dolls and the History by Nancy Lazenby, page 131.
Presale Estimate:
1800/2300
10" (25 cm.) Felt head with pressed and painted facial features, the right eye half-closed as though winking, the brown left eye wide open and side-glancing, painted crooked brows, lashes, closed mouth with smiling expression, row of teeth, hole in mouth with cigarette, red felt wig, designed for use as hand puppet with black felt coat, felt shirt, red felt tie and hankie, and black and tan brimmed cap with lattice design, felt hands. Condition: excellent. Comments: Lenci, the "winker" design was introduced in the first year of production, 1920, and continued in variations for many year. This example is a variation of the Jackie Coogan silent film child star issued by Lenci as one of their miniature series. Value Points: very rare early doll with outstanding detail of facial modeling and painting, original costume.
Presale Estimate:
600/800
9" (23 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, large brown side-glancing googly-shaped eyes, long painted upper lashes, arched brows, closed mouth with hole for cigarette, jointing at shoulders and legs. Black patched felt trousers, tan felt shirt, magenta scarf, brown brimmed hat with black felt lattice appliques, black felt shoes and with original cigarette. Condition: excellent. Marks: Lenci (original cloth and paper labels, paper label pencil marked "16 Miniature"). Comments Lenci, early 1930s, the doll is based on early Hollywood child star Jackie Coogan in his signature role as The Kid. Value Points: fresh vibrant condition of the rare to find doll with original labels.
Presale Estimate:
1100/1300
16" (41 cm.) Felt swivel head, pressed and painted facial features, large brown side-glancing eyes, brown curly upper lashes, grey eye shadow, closed mouth with accented bottom lip, light brown mohair bobbed wig, tab-jointed shoulders, jointed hips. Wearing grey felt costume comprising jodhpurs-style pants having lacing at the sides, reddish/brown felt edging on pockets, belt and collar, brown buttons, matching grey helmet, black leather shoes. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, 1928, series 149/17, the doll is said to be inspired by the famed aviator Amelia Earhart, although in the Lenci catalog the doll is simply shown along with other stylishly-dressed young girls. Value Points: rare model with outstanding detail of costume construction; the helmet, for example, with petal-shaped panels at the crown for a snug fit.
Presale Estimate:
2200/2700
16" (41 cm.) Black-complexioned felt, swivel head with very plump face, applied felt eye whites and lips, tinted nostrils, black shoe-button eye pupils, black tightly-looped yarn hair, black felt torso and limbs, plump torso, jointing at shoulders and hips, short plump legs, separate fingers. Wearing reed skirt that is interwoven with felt ribbons, wooden bead necklace with carved and painted snake, and snake and tiger wooden earrings. Marks: Lenci (2nd issue round metal button inscribed Lenci, attached to purple ribbon at back). Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Lenci, one of the rare earliest models, the doll was shown in the first Lenci advertisement of 1920 and was included in the 1919 Printemps ad described as "#15 Negre" for a price of 115 fr. Value Points: wonderfully-preserved early doll with hand-painted wooden jewelry. The model was known to be a particular favorite of early film star Marlene Dietrich as seen in this early photograph of her holding the doll.
Presale Estimate:
2600/3200
18" (46 cm.) Ebony-black felt doll, swivel head with very chubby cheeks, pressed and painted facial features, large googly-like side-glancing painted brown eyes, rounded nose with accent dots, red felt applique heart-shaped lips, black wiry hair, black felt torso and limbs, jointing at shoulders and hips, bow-legged chubby toddler legs, separate fingers. Wearing red felt dress with white felt puffed sleeves, white organdy apron with pocket, white felt scalloped-edge button panties, yellow wooden sandals with large red felt bow ties, and an extravagant yellow felt sunbonnet trimmed with a grand white felt ribbon and bow accented with red circle felt appliques. Condition: excellent. Comments: Lenci, model 573, 1928. Value Points: very rare model in pristine condition, unusual details of costume including wooden sandals and polka dot bonnet.
Presale Estimate:
3000/4000