However, there were passionate collectors who loved it and no doubt hoped it would sell around the £10-20 estimate when they saw it online catalogued with all the information needed: Bruno Schmidt German Bisque Dolls Head, With Blue Paper Weight Eyes, Stamped To Back BSW Number 537.
After it sold at £2000 in the April 20 sale, auctioneer Jenny Langley said: “The head was creepy – not my thing at all – but we were over the moon with the interest it caused. We had emails from all over the world requesting condition reports.
“It was sold to a lady in Norway for her collection. She told me it was made in 1912 and called Wendy. Apparently she was rare due to having blue eyes and no teeth.”
Juneau make
This c.1870 Juneau bisque-headed doll sold for £3200 at Hartley’s.
Another target for international collectors was the c.1870 Juneau bisque-headed doll, above, offered at Hartley’s (17.5% buyer’s premium).
The 15in (37cm) composition body with jointed limbs was stamped with the maker’s name, and the doll’s burgundy silk dress and under-garments were possibly original.
Estimated at £1600- 1800 at the April 21 sale at Ilkley, it sold to an Australian bidder at £3200.
