Gesso

Antique Dolls Admin — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 14:53:47 +0000

Gesso is a white paint mixture used to coat rigid surfaces as a permanent absorbent primer substrate for painting. It consists of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment, or any combination of these. It was often used on wooden dolls. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples and price guides of antique gesso dolls including a Japanese male doll and a Midwestern folk art doll.

JAPANESE IKI NINGYO (LIVING DOLL) OF A MAN WITH A BELL MEIJI PERIOD

carved wood painted with gesso and pigment, inset glass eyes, real hair, with a bell and beater in his hands

Sold for £240 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

19TH C. WOOD AND FABRIC DOLL.

Early doll with carved wooden head with gesso and painted features and wood feet and hands, with a stuffed fabric body. Includes pinstripe dress and undergarments. 12.5”H.

Sold for US$375 at William Smith Auctions in 2022

Wood Jointed early 19th c Doll

9th c doll, Composition molded jointed head on composition shoulders. Jointed wood body with painted gesso. Blue eyes, blonde hair. Original dress, bonnet, loses to face and body.

Sold for US$250 at Merrill’s Auctioneers and Appraisers in 2022

19th Century French fashion doll with closed mouth. Fixed glass eyes with pierced ears, jointed wood arms and legs with gesso hands. Composite torso. Curly blonde wig with bow. 19th Century wig and satin dress with leather shoes. Clothing toned with stains. No markings found on head. Approximate length 21 inches

Sold for US$1,100 at Tremont Auctions in 2022

MIDWESTERN FOLK ART CARVED AND PAINTED WOODEN JOINTED LADY DOLL, the blue-eyed figure with solid head featuring painted features over gesso, applied human hair wig, solid body and solid jointed legs which swivel at the hips, with applied stuffed cloth arms. Fitted in period attire, including undergarments and leather shoes (one lacking). Possibly Indiana. Circa 1860-1885. 23″ HOA.

Sold for US$750 at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in 2022

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Straw

Antique Dolls Admin — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:06:46 +0000

Straw. Before modern soft fillings, straw was used to fill soft bodies on dolls. It was also, and still is, used for bonnets and other accessories.

Below are some examples and price guides of dolls and accessories which have used straw in their making including a stuffed bodied Parian doll.

Original 1928 Regal Charles Lindburgh Pilot “Our Lindy” Doll. Composition head with straw stuffed body. Has original flight suit and boots. Goggles have been added. Nice original condition. 30″ Excellent

Sold for US$800 at Milestone Auctions in 2023

Late 1880’s Parian doll, 15″, molded elaborate braided upswept hair, painted eyes, pierced ears with earrings, painted bow around neck, leather straw stuffed body

Sold for US$210 at Stephenson’s Auction in 2023

American Sweet Sue doll, hard plastic socket head, vinyl arms, blue sleep eyes, closed mouth, green satin dress, green rhinestone ring on finger, straw hat, silk stockings, black high heeled shoes (elastic stretched out), unmarked, 20″ h

Sold for US$200 at William Bunch Auctions & Appraisals in 2023

DOLL BONNET. Fine straw bonnet with intricate woven detail, shaped tall crown and three-inch deep brim, adorned with ivory silk ribbon, pastel flowers, sized for about eight-inch head circumference.

Sold for US$200 at Frasher’s Doll Auction in 2023

22″ early 1900’s handmade doll stuffed with straw, with yarn hair, button eyes, stuffed nose and sewn mouth. She wears a green dress with black trim and lace, white/red crocheted scarf, white undergarments and leather shoes.

Sold for US$350 at Apple Tree Auction Center in 2023

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Gesso

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