The Lynda Christian Collection
The Lynda Christian collection features Neapolitan dolls, porcelain dolls, Door of Hope dolls and wax dolls. 9" x 9". Softbound. 36 full-color pages.
$19.00
Catalog Lot List details
13" (33 cm.) The all-wooden doll has a one-piece head and torso of a very slender adult
man,with heart-shaped face and elongated throat,brown sculpted hair with very deep
combmarks,long sideburns in front of each sculpted ear,painted-over-gesso complexion with
small blue downward-glancing eyes,single stroke brows,closed mouth with firmly-set lips,all-
wooden body with articulation at shoulders,elbows,hips and knees. Condition: generally
excellent,few flakes at back of hair. Comments: Grodnertal,mid-19th century. Value Points: rare
gentleman doll,with brown hair and sideburns,he is wearing his superb original silk costume with
plaid long silk tunic under blue silk tunic,with brown patterned edging,brown kidskin
slippers,and wonderful magenta silk satin trousers.
Presale Estimate:
1800/2500
Realized Price:
$1,500
21" (53 cm.) Having one-piece carved head and torso with heart-shaped face,elongated
throat and modeled bosom,the lady has painted facial features over gesso,and sculpted and
painted hair that features a bevy of dainty ringlet curls onto her forehead and behind her
sculpted ears,with a sculpted high decorative comb or coronet at her crown,painted brown
outlined eyes with defined fringed lashes,painted brows,accented nostrils,closed mouth with
tiny pursed lips,blushed cheeks,pierced ear holes below the lobes,very long slender arms and
legs with ball and socket joints secured by a peg,mitten hands with fingers scored in the
wood,and painted stockings and shoes. Condition: fine original finish with some typical
craquelure,body sturdy and well-preserved. Comments: Grodnertal doll,very early 19th
century,with stylized body with high-waisted costumes of the 1820 era. Value Points: rare
large luxury model with superb detail of sculpted and painted hair,original finish and
articulated body,and wearing her original costume. The doll bears four blue ribbons from
UFDC conventions.
Presale Estimate:
8000/12,000
Realized Price:
$6,000
17" (43 cm.) Bisque shoulder head with brown sculpted hair in tiny ringlet curls framing her
face,her side hair pulled back into large arranged finger curls,pierced ears,cobalt blue glass
eyes,painted lashes and feathered brows,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with
center accent line,sculpted and painted bodice with rows of Dresden ruffles and sculpted gold
beads,new muslin stitch-jointed body with bisque lower limbs,nicely costumed. Condition: there
is restoration to the ribbon at the crown,otherwise excellent. Comments: attributed to C.F.
Kling,circa 1870. Value Points: rarity factors include brown hair,glass eyes,and superbly-ornate
sculpted and painted bodice.
Presale Estimate:
1500/1800
Realized Price:
$1,300
19" (48 cm.) His terra cotta head is turned sharply to the right,gazing into the distance,with
exceptional detail of profile and facial planes,enamel eyes,incised age wrinkles,strong nose
and chin,with sculpted long side-burns in front of each detailed ear,and bald pate above
deeply-sculpted nape curls. There is a sculpted wart at his cheek,and a hole at the side of his
mouth for the stem of the long pipe he is holding. His face is painted a shaded rosy color and
beard stubble is evident on his cheeks and chin. The body is hemp-wrapped with terra cotta
lower hands and legs,the fingers being very expressively posed. The man wearing his original
silk costume with an elaborately gilt-thread trimmed jacket. Condition: original finish
beautifully preserved,two fingers missing,two other fingers repaired. Comments:
Neopolitan,early 19th century,the servant figure presents a fascinating melange,wearing his
master's fine livery along with his own old mended stocking cap and stockings,his handsome
face with intelligent-seeming eyes worn with age and worry. Value Points: the large model has
superbly sculpted and preserved features with great expression.
Presale Estimate:
1200/1700
Realized Price:
$1,900
14" (36 cm.) Having a terra cotta sculpted head with angular features and pronounced cheek
and jaw lines,pronounced nose with upturned tip,high domed forehead with furrowed
brows,the brown-complexioned man has inset enamel eyes,closed mouth sculpted as though
open,with beaded upper teeth,well-defined ears. He has sculpted brows,very full
moustache,bald pate with an intriguing tuft of hair at the back of his head. His hemp-
wrapped armature body has terra cotta brown hands with expressively-posed fingers,and
lower legs with orange boots,and he is wearing a gold-thread embroidered vest with yellow
silk pants and green silk coat. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Neopolitan,late
18th/early 19th century,a retinue of Moorish figures surrounded the Kings in early presepio
scenes. Value Points: rare early figure with extraordinary sculpting,original painting is
flawlessly preserved,with an overall highly artistic presence.
Presale Estimate:
1800/2300
Realized Price:
$1,600
12" (30 cm.) Having a terra cotta head turned strongly to the right,with sculpted deeply-comb-
marked brown hair captured under a modeled blue cap with red border and bow,inset enamel
eyes,rich dark complexion with blushed cheeks,chin and nose tip,painted brows,closed mouth in
solemn expression. She has a hemp-wrapped body and terra cotta hands and lower legs,painted
green stockings and orange shoes. Condition: generally excellent,three finger tips broken on left
hand. Comments: Neopolitan from a presepio scene of an affluent Italian family,early 19th
century. Value Points: very beautiful face with artistic painting of complexion and features,rare
sculpted cap,and wearing her original richly braid-trimmed silk costume.
Presale Estimate:
800/1200
Realized Price:
$1,400
12" (30 cm.) Having a terra cotta head with very plump face,defined triple-chin,enamel inset
eyes,brown sculpted hair combed loosely away from her face and captured in a coiled chignon at
the back of her head,broad nose,painted brows,closed mouth with two painted teeth,modeled
bosom. She has a hemp-wrapped body and terra cotta hands and lower legs with painted blue
stockings and yellow shoes. Condition: generally excellent,some surface paint wear on her upper
forehead,but finish is all original. Comments: Neopolitan,early 19th century,the woman depicts a
young village woman with delighted expression. Value Points: wonderful expression enhanced
by plump features,beautiful complexion,wearing original well-preserved costume of silks with
silver and gold thread embroidery.
Presale Estimate:
900/1300
Realized Price:
$750
13" (33 cm.) Having a sculpted wax head of adult man with angular features,inset enamel
eyes,aquiline nose,closed mouth modeled as though open with sculpted teeth,blushed cheek
detail. His hair,brows,moustache and beard are also sculpted wax with comb-marked detail,and
he has a wooden fully-articulated body with expressive wooden hands and painted stockings
and shoes. Representing a priest,he wears a handwoven lace under-robe above a red woolen
skirt,and a rich gilt-thread tunic whose red velvet breastplate is overlaid with gold sequins.
Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Germany,early 19th century. Value Points: very
handsome figure with angular well-groomed features,fully-articulated wooden body.
Presale Estimate:
900/1400
Realized Price:
$600
15" (38 cm.) Having a terra cotta head with high domed head,and bald pate,the distinguished
figure has deeply sculpted facial features with brown enamel eyes,strong nose and cheek
bones,sculpted ears,and a long grey flowing beard that matches his sculpted grey brows. His
hemp-wrapped body has terra cotta hands with very expressive fingers and terra cotta feet
with fancily-painted leggings. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Neopolitan,late
18th/early 19th century. Comments: the figure was featured in article "Varieties of Creche
Figures" by Lynda Christian (Antique Doll Collector,December 2009) with this note: "the
hallmark of Italian figures is their extraordinary animation...many figures - like this wise man
- have a look of astonishment...". Value Points: remarkable quality and detail of sculpted
features with artistically blushed details enhanced by luminous patina,weaing his original
turban with metal gilt crown,and elaborate silk ensemble with metallic thread and
embroidery,rare belt,and very rare original dagger and dragon-head scimitar; the figure was
awarded a blue ribbon at 2008 UFDC national convention.
Presale Estimate:
2000/3000
Realized Price:
$3,300
16" (41 cm.) Of terra cotta,the angel is posed with head turned to the right and gazing
downward in a worshipful manner,having deeply-sculpted brown tousled hair with loose curls
onto the forehead and nape,enamel inset eyes with heavily-modeled eyelids,aquiline
nose,closed mouth with accented lips and two sculpted teeth,painted brows,nostrils,and
cheek and chin blush,deeply-defined throat hollow,hemp-wrapped body,terra cotta hands
with very expressive fingers and having defined nails and knuckles,and lower legs with
defined toes,there is a hole at the back scalp for dowel-attachment of a halo (not included).
Condition: generally excellent,all original finish. Comments: representing a male angel,the
figure is from the presepio of a very affluent Italian family of the late 18th century. Value
Points: the extraordinary artistry of the sculpting and painting are evident in its perfectly
preserved state. The angel wears a gown of spun silver with metallic fringe,carries a rare early
miniature silver censer,and has extraordinary painted and carved wooden wings (which insert
dowel-like in holes at the back torso). The figure carries a blue ribbon award from 2008
UFDC convention.
Presale Estimate:
4000/6500
Realized Price:
$5,200