Antique Roullet & Decamps 16 " Mechanical Doll LIMOGES Bisque Head FRANCE 5
Item History & Price
Antique French Limoges 16" Wind-up DollName: Size/Edition : I am not a doll expert and do not know her name, but here is what I do know: the doll measures about 16-17" tall including height with her hat. The back of her socket bisque head is marked: LIMOGES FRANCE 5. There is a symbol below Limoges but it is very difficult to make out. She has a good sized wind-up key on her side with the letters "RD" (which I believe to be Roullet & Decamps- best known for their automata, mechani...cal walking and moving dolls and toys who are marked on the wind up key RD.). Her legs move when you turn the key and hold her and allow her feet to touch a flat surface. I do not believe she was meant to walk on her own however; I have seen some dolls that were able to push a baby carriage. I have wound her up 3 times and each time she has worked. I have a recorded this and the potential buyer may message me and I will attach a copy via Ebay message.Clothes: Her clothes appear to be original and are faded, stained and have a tan-ish (yellowing) appearance from age and sunlight. Her off white satin slip looks great with all of its hook & eye closures intact. The undershirt and pantaloons are 1 piece and are sewn onto the doll, it has the same fading and vintage hue. I have NOT removed her satin slip or under garments, which are in original condition and unwashed. The linen type fabric dress is also in good condition (no major holes, has all closures etc) although it has completely faded and only sparse areas are still blue, its mostly an ecru vintage hue.It was carefully cleaned to remove some of the dust. The ribbon accents are a pretty light blue with some fading to the ribbon on the bottom. To further enhance the dress I added a similar aged piece of ribbon to the waist. I did not notice any rips or holes, but since it is very old, expect a few that I may have missed. Her socks are also faded and have a couple of holes, but you can make out the three light blue stripes at the top of her socks and her shoes look great. The socks have been washed and are clean. Her collard cape is an off white color with blue satin ribbon- no issues.I think all of her clothes are original because the past owner said that this doll had always been dressed this way since she could remember, but I can't be 100% sure. Also, each piece matches and is sewn in exactly the same way. However, I would like the buyer to use their own discretion in determining if it is original or not.Eyes/Head : Her head is made of bisque, her blue eyes are fixed open, I do not believe that they open and close. Her painted features look fine no major issues- see pics. She has an open mouth and top row of teeth. There is a small black dot on her chin. Please Note: I have NOT removed her wig to light check her head for hairline cracks. I DO NOT want to do this because her wig is glued down firmly and it was difficult enough to move it enough to see the manufacturer's name.She appears to have a human hair wig with some missing plugs of hair or maybe this wig was made that way see pics so you may determine its condition. The hair has been carefully cleaned and curled, but since no curling products were used they might not stay. I will ship her with a hairnet to help retain the curls. The hair ribbons were ironed and retied. Ribbons and black wire are all original.The hat has its original artificial flowers which have some wear but the hat is really nice considering its age. I encourage you to use your expertise to evaluate each item described.Body/Limbs : Her body and limbs appear to be composition with an uneven coloring or blotchy appearance- not cracked. There are a few dark spots on her legs and her shoulder. She is jointed at the wrists, but she missing 1 finger. She has straight unbent knees. Her head and arms are somewhat loose but the cords look as if they'll hold for awhile.Please review all of the photos for full detail of any imperfections; and consider age when evaluating this doll. (Dress form is NOT included)This auction includes insurancePlease ask all questions prior to bidding all sales are final :) Antique Roullet & Decamps 16" Mechanical Doll LIMOGES Bisque Head FRANCE #5
