Featured Wax male doll - help dating it

Will do!

 

An 18th century gentleman of fashion couldn't be without, of course.

 

That silk has shattered. The colour is very Regency.

 

could be the remnants of a Fatschenkind that lost its glass case. they were made in convents with all materials that were available.
as daughters of rich and important families were forced into convents due to misalliances and politics the materials were sometimes of good quality.
hypocritical names like bambino, Jesuskind etc. were used to hide the tragedy of these women; they were rather an ersatz for real children.
today mostly found as popular art in Austria and Bavaria.

 

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Thanks, I will look into it but it is not a religious doll so I don't think it might be one of those!

 

This particular wax gent is not 'gefatscht', swaddled like baby Jesus. And he looks pretty grown up, with his beauty spot.
Maybe a substitute husband?

He could be French, rather than southern German, Austrian, etc.

 

If this was ever a Fatschenkind (which I think we all rather doubt ) then we're either looking at a truly terrible restoration attempt or its owner took such good care of the boy that he grew up.

 

might be a little Sedlmayr or Moshammer.

 

Forgive another take on this wax doll. Could be a salesman's sample from the late 18th, early 19th century (1770s-1810-ish). Tailors often sent doll samples of new fashions with messengers to the wealthy elite that could afford having the latest fashions interpreted. They were not played with, obviously. Dolls today are recreated in similar clothing and the Web is full of images, here's one selection:
https://www.pinterest.com/natalistern/historical-costumes-for-male-doll/

 

It might be helpful in dating if you can determine the fibers used in his clothing. I notice there is much more deterioration on the front than the back, presumably from light damage (as if he has been displayed for a long period of time, with the back protected), and that the deterioration seems to preferentially affect the fibers in one direction of the weave. Perhaps an unusual combination of fibers would suggest a date.

@Northern Lights Lodge might have some insights based on his lace cuffs as well.

 

WOW!!! Just looking at all of those dolls and/in their "encasements" really IS a bit SPOOKY to me as well.......

 

I agree with Obb, the silk has shattered... or "half-shattered", which happens when an antique fabric is made of half silk and half something else, such as wool. The silk threads have disintegrated, but the wool threads are intact.
This was quite common in the 19th and early/mid 20th century, when silks were often "weighted" with metallic salts which eventually destroyed the fabric.
(Some info and photo from vintagevixen)

EDIT: I've found other sources claiming uni-directional shattering can occur even when both the warp and the weft threads are silk. The warp threads may shatter more easily due to them having greater tension.

 

I agree - the shattered silk looks like some of the fabric purses I've found - 1860's thru 1920. The fact that the fabric runs one way one one sleeve and the other way on the second makes me think this is home made, probably by the child whose dollhouse he lived in.

Can you tell whether the hem of the coat in the back is hand or machine stitched?
Machine would put it later in the time spread.

 

Sad, creepy and seems like you could invent a tale about one creating a lost love of wax after being forced into a convent. Really interesting.

I did find this figure and in a general way it reminds me of the man in blue.


wax, wood, painted, clothes, height 28 cm, Germany, late 18th century, Munich City Museum

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-t...ed-clothes-height-28-cm-germany-18839360.html

 

I would happily be proven wrong but... I don't see old. Neither the design, materials, or the workmanship looks correct -- to my eye -- for a genuine period doll. And there's some things that raise questions. For instance, the coat approximates a justacorps coat of the period but is not right. The "silk" is shattered in different directions on each arm. The boots are clumsy and unfinished. All of these point -- in my mind -- to a contemporary artisan doll.

Debora

 

I have to agree. I have a huge dolly collection, mostly vintage fashion dolls like Sindy <3 but have gathered a few antiques along the way. Long way from an expert so please take this comment with that in mind.
This one, to me, does not look **old**. Nothing about it says antique doll, to me...(except the hair which of course could have been added at any time. Real hair is real hair)
Hope I am wrong,and tis not unheard of! But to me,looks contemporary and an approximation of what a real antique doll would look like. xx

 

When I bought it many years ago the silk was in better condition. It is old, at least 19th century but I have a feeling it is 18th century (end of) so Regency.

 

I'm no expert on dolls but I think this is someone's sewing project, and the fabrics etc rather than the style are what should give the date. The deterioration is quite extreme, I have handled two pieces of 18th century silk embroidery which show very little degrading, so the comment by Bluumz that 19th century and later silk contained elements which destroyed it may be the most relevant clue to the date, especially if it has continued to deteriorate in your possession. The buttons, the lace, and the knitted (?) stockings are all possible pointers to the date. A fashion museum might also be helpful in discussing the fabric. I think it is someone's homemade project, probably a child, a one-of-a-kind with a bit of a personality and worth preserving. At least your research will be fun and expand your knowledge, even if you are finally disappointed in the date.