Posted 12 years ago
Rosemarie
(10 items)
Doll is 19". Dress is stitched on. She has a fabric body but she's not soft throughout. Her legs are jointed at the hips, not knees. Her glass eyes swivel, they don't close. She has soft arms. The thumb and index finger of her left hand are stitched together almost as if to say"ok."
I need a larger photo of her face and photo of body . Look on back of her neck for markings or a logo also . I would help you but your photo is just to small to see the details I need to see to ID her .
Bratjdd She has what is called googly eyes . There are collectors that just collect them . I can't tell from photo what she is made of her face or her features good enough . These tiny photo's are to hard to see .
How are you doing ? Finally cooled off here ! whew
I'll take more pictures. I took the first one with my phone. The ones taken with my camera should be better. I don't know how well you can see the back of her head and neck but there's nothing on it. Let me know what else to photograph.
I can't see her feet . But I can see what her face is made of now it is felt from back photo . That being the case she appears to be a Lenci Googly eye doll circa 1930's
Is the front of face made of same material as her neck on back ? Now I need you to look inside clothes carefully for a Lenci Tag . If she is a Lenci she is a valuable doll . I am going to try to get the front of her face better on my PC .
Lenci dolls were made in Italy and are very sought after . We have to be sure she is not a Lenci look a like as some companies copied them . But she appears to be a Lenci ! And that is a treasure . I will write more when I get get better look at her face . and you look in clothes for a tag ok
I put 2 new pictures of face and feet. I can't find a tag in the clothes. But the clothes are original and very fragile. The pinafore has beautiful lace trim and is stitched to the doll's shoulders. She has nicely trimmed pantaloons and a slip also trimmed with lace.
http://www.rubylane.com/item/755933-RL-113/20-Lenci-glass-flirty-eyed
another
http://www.rubylane.com/item/475424-KH1497/Lenci-Glass-Eye-Googly-Doll
The face on yours is felt right ? like the body . I posted some links for you to compare yours too. I am sure you will like them :-)
Manikin - awesome work! Thanks. Do you know how I go about putting a value on her?
Also, do you know anything about 1985 Naber dolls?
I actually dressed some of dolls in 85 :-) They have really decreased in value I can tell you that . Even the very early ones like Molly . They are unique . My friend worked with him and brought me some dolls I remember I dressed on as a Mammy doll
You can mark your mystery solved . You have a wonderful very hard to find glass eye Lenci . Since we can't quote what we think value is the 2 links I sent you should help establish it . I would go with lower price and hope for more :-)
Do you have any way to judge whether the clothes are original? This is how she was dressed when given to my family in the 1960's.
Lenci always dressed in felt or organdy . Their dress's done in organdy were always very good quaility and fancy . Your seems to fringe on whether it is original or not . How far down her legs does it go ? They generally had short skirts or long to floor ? It well could be original . Hard to see the detail real good on her dress . I seldom see with out some flowers on their clothes even organdy dress's but still it seems like it could be original . How was that for vague answer lol I guess I need to see her dress better in full veiw . Dress's were usually tagged but not always . Sometimes doll just had a Lenci Hang tag on her wrist to ID her .
Is there some sort of Lenci catalog with which you are familiar? My guess is that there was something in her left hand that never made it to us in the "60's. Her dress is below her knee with a longer lace-trimmed slip underneath and also with pantaloons that go even a little bit longer with two layers of trim on them.
They had so many clothes I am not sure you would find it . Some are very distinctly hers . There are Lenci books but you may buy several and still not see the dress . One with yours on cover .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LENCI-Exhibition-Catalogue-2007-Out-of-Print-/190689497014?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c65facfb6
another
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Out-of-Print-LENCI-Decorative-and-Extravagant-REINELT-/190689469987?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c65fa6623
Some dress's you can look at to get idea of their clothes . Your doll is a hard to find one and her clothes will not affect her value greatly if not original .She is not easily found. Usually they have painted eyes .
http://www.google.com/search?q=lenci+doll+dress&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nUvZT8H9IM2E2QW9ioypDw&ved=0CIABELAE&biw=1393&bih=644
Do the glass eyes add or detract from her value?
They add to her value greatly and that they are googly eyes (large bulging eyes raises her value ) do eyes also move side to side when you move head ?
yes - her eyes always move side to side when you move her.
yes I thought so . They called flirty googly eyes :-) Flirty is the term form the sideways movement . You have a very good doll ! She is very hard to find one and Lenci collectors would love her .
Now to find a collector. Any ideas?
Scandi Thank you :-)
Rose since we can not sell on this site I am wondering have you ever used Ebay ? I would say not to put her in a local auction but one that has online bidding included . As She is of great interest to many you need to consider Italy as they love love Lenci dolls . Are you in an area that is near a Auction house that sells on site and also is selling item and advertising for online bidders ?
Manikin - do you know about Lenci look-alikes? Were they so strikingly similar to Lenci that you couldn't see an obvious difference? In other words, do you know how I can verify her authenticity? I read that Lenci had leather shoes but I saw one online that were felt like mine. Mine has leather soles. thanks for all your help.
Your shoes are correct for her amd I never saw a look a like Lenci with glass googly eyes . There is some very vaque signs when a doll is not a lenci . The body is key and also the painting of the face . I only question is whether her dress is original lenci dress or someone redressed her at some time . Can I see her pantaloons and bottom of dress? You have a Valuable doll and I rarely tell anyone that if you have seen some of my notes to other posters . Many dolls are common to find and then a Gem like yours appears :-)
Manikin - I've replaced the last picture with one of pantaloons - 2 tiers of trim - and trim on slip and dress. Please let me know if you can see them. Thanks so much.
Here is a link to one on this site I helped with ,she has felt shoes also a tag . She sold high to italy
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/38719-my-lenci-doll?in=899
Pantaloons like right for Lenci
I've found pictures on the internet of only 3 dolls that look like mine. Two are listed for sale for very large sums. The third is not for sale. Do you think I could call my doll RARE?
Yes and I myself would normally say no but in this case she is A very hard to find doll . You need to also include italy they will pay higher . Are you in USA
Here is a Lenci type notice the differences ?
I see them all from eyelashes to mouth to quality
http://www.rubylane.com/item/615897-2064RL/Doll-Felt-Lenci-Type-Magis
I see the differences - they're striking. You've been very helpful.
I am in the USA but will look for a means to sell her in Italy. I'm going to research prices first. I'm not in a rush. She's been in my family a long time.
Well you would be able to sell in USA but better prices come out of Italy , Now one thing to consider when internationally selling is the conversion rate of Eur to dollars you will get less when they convert it to USA money . I would take my time also . Find her a good home where they will care for her to pass on to future . I always say we are the care takers to the past :-) Thank you for posting your wonderful doll for us to see . If you need any more answers about her you can email me . My email addy is under the about me page .
Thanks for the love. :)