BIG Antique Bisque Character Baby Doll "Jason" AM 327

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BIG Antique Bisque Character Baby Doll "Jason" AM 327 BIG 20" Antique Bisque Character Baby Doll "Jason" AM 327 This life-sized boy is an antique bisque baby doll, with a bisque head and composition body. He was purchased from the estate of his original owner. He measures a full 20" long, but he has curved baby legs; if he could straighten them out, he'd be more like 22". Baby is marked on the back of his head: Germany, G 327 B, D.R.G.M. 259, A 11 M. He was made circa 1913-1914 by Armand Marseille in Germany for Geo. Borgfeldt & Co. (the "German Doll Encyclopedia" by the Ciesliks dates him 1913; Patricia Smith has 1914.) The mold number 327 is a smiling character baby, interesting to me in that it was specifically designed to be a boy (according to the book, "Armand Marseille Dolls" by Patricia R. Smith), and not only a boy, but a boy named JASON. See page 140 in the book. The DRGM 259 in his markings refers to the registration of this mold. I was the first person to remove the doll's wig since his manufacture nearly 100 years ago. The grandson of the original owner told me that the doll's eyes had come detached inside the head many years ago, at which point grandma packed the doll in a box and put him away. And there he stayed until I bought him. I carefully removed the wig, which is still firmly glued to the original pate. The rocker piece that held the eyes was inside the head, along with a piece of bisque that had held the eyepiece to the inside of the head long ago. However, the eyeballs had shattered and were just tiny pieces, not fixable. Still, I'm including the rocker and I know that replacement eyeballs can be attached to it, and replaced inside the head by a good doll doctor; I called a doll repair person in my area and she assured me this was not hard for her to do. Baby's bisque socket head is in excellent condition. There are no chips, cracks or repairs. He has a darling face with big, chubby cheeks and a happy expression. He has an open mouth with one tooth (the other tooth is chipped off). The face paint is beautiful, original and nicely done, with multistroke brows, outlined coral lips, coral dots for tear ducts, tiny lower lashes, tiny coral dots in the nostrils. His cheeks are rosy with original blush. There is a factory incised line on the back of his head about 3/4" long, which looks like it was done with the same tool that incised the mark. It's to the right of the B. This has flesh tone color over it so it was obviously done at the factory. He has some old glue and tape remnants near the upper edge of the head, in several spots. The wig hides these completely. His compo body is pretty good but not perfect. The fingers are outlined in red, as was common on compo bodies of this era. On the right hand, the tip of the middle finger is broken off -- please see close up photo showing this. The compo is cracked and peeled away in the crotch area and leg openings -- see close up photo of this. I can hear little bits of loose compo rattling around inside the body. There are light surface cracks or crazing on his lower back. Again, a doll doctor can fix these things fairly easily. His stringing is remarkably good; the limbs and head still hold a pose nicely. Baby's wig is really nice!!! It is a full head of hair -- I think it is mohair? Not sure. The "hair" is thick, no thin patches, and it is a honey blond/brown in color. Suits him perfectly. Inside, it still has its original Made in Germany paper tag, still factory taped to the inside of the wig's skull cap. Jason is wearing an old, flannel diaper, and a simple old tank tee. I think he wants you to dress him in a WWI era boy's sailor suit -- that would be very appropriate. He is from a nonsmoking home. This boy is BIG. His gorgeous bisque head has survived 98 years and my intention is to be sure it survives another 98 years at least! Therefore, the head will be stuffed with tissue, wrapped in bubble wrap and double-boxed to protect it in transit. To accommodate this, the ... read more

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