Hand-Sewn Antique Matador Doll relief design acid-colored banded glaze

acid-colored banded glaze

marked sterling on back

The door to the cage opens

in which Punch (Punchinello) was the trickster figure or "lord of misrule"--which this puppet surely conveys

Hand-Sewn Antique Matador Doll relief design acid-colored banded glazeI have looked and looked but found no other matador doll out there as wonderful as this one. I'd guess it dates to the early 20th century if not a little earlier, and is just fantastically made, with raw linen face and body, hand embroidered face, and carefully tailored costume of perfectly fitted purple linen bolero jacket and pants, with fantastic beaded details and needlework; just look at those epaulets! While I am not a doll collector, the