Lot #599: 1800s Antique Poured Wax Doll

Antique Poured Wax Doll, unsigned. All wax torso (not a cloth body). Real hair and real hair eyebrows. This doll was displayed in a glass cloche. No drying or cracking. The tag that came with it (from Marietta’s Doll Collection) states “Belived to be a Pierotti Wax Doll”. Research suggests: Poured Wax Construction: The wax was poured into heated plaster molds to create highly detailed, realistic facial features, and the excess wax was drained to keep the head lightweight. Poured wax dolls are distinct from "wax-over" dolls (which were papier-mâché or composition dipped in wax). Body Type: Dolls with an all-wax torso and bodies are less common than those with cloth bodies. This design typically used an inner armature of wire, composition, or wood to provide structure.String Limb Connectors: Also known as loop-strung or cord-attached joints, this method features loops or rods inside the limbs that are threaded with elastic or cotton cords, tied together through the body to allow articulation.Common Makers of this Era- Montanari (London): Famous for mid-19th-century luxury dolls with highly realistic features and inserted real hair. Pierotti (London): A prominent doll-making family that produced premium poured-wax dolls often featuring glass eyes and cloth or wax bodies with string-jointed limbs. German Manufacturers (e.g., Kestner or other firms): Germany also produced poured-wax and reinforced-wax dolls in the late 19th century, which sometimes had string or wire connectors. MMB-3693 Dimensions: 10-1/2h Pickup category timeslot {A}