LOT - 821
821 - A RARE SET OF FOUR FELT STEIFF MUSICIANS WITH IDS. Largest: 13 - 1/4” T. This remarkable quartet is part of an original Steiff “village band” or Dorf Musikkapelle. According to company records, this set was in the line from 1911-1913 and is simply documented as “village band, 5 dolls with instruments, item [number] states size in cm.” Over time, the instruments have included a variety of wind and stringed examples. It was not unusual for very early Steiff offerings that involved collections of objects - like these musicians and their instruments - that the actual product mix would vary a little, depending on what was on hand and what was in production. All four musician dolls are fully jointed and made from felt; have black shoebutton eyes and horizontal or vertical seamed faces; are stuffed with excelsior; and have their clothing integral to their bodies. Each has comically exaggerated body proportions and features typical to Steiff’s early turn-of-last century doll production. Each doll is mounted on a wooden stand that is most likely original to the set. The bass player wears a brown coat, a tan vest decorated with black shoebuttons, and a black hat and pants. His black oilcloth shoes have light overall losses to them. He has a trailing “f” Steiff button in both ears, which is rare overall but typical to this pattern. The doll holds a bow and plays a large wooden bass which has loose but original strings. His left felt hand has been professionally restored. The bass player is most likely Steiff’s Alb Farmer pattern, which appeared as a stand-alone item in the line from 1908-1919. The trombone player wears a black coat, pants, and hat. His black vest is remarkably detailed with 18 trailing “f” Steiff buttons. His shoes are made from black oilcloth; one has light losses on the back. He has a trailing “f” Steiff button in both ears, which is rare overall but typical to this pattern - which is quite similar to the bass player design. This doll plays a large wooden trombone, which has light losses and restorations. The trombone player is most likely Steiff’s Dachau Farmer pattern, which appeared as a stand-alone item in the line from 1908-1928. The clarinet player wears a black coat with brass buttons, blue professionally restored pants, a tan top hat, and felt “spat” style shoes. He retains his trailing “f” Steiff button in his left ear. This doll plays a large wooden clarinet. The clarinet player is most likely Alphonse, the character from the comic book series “Happy Hooligans.” Steiff made Alphonse as a stand-alone item in the line from 1904-1928. The design of this example’s hands, which are simple and digit-less, and his painted-on hair, suggest that this doll was made at the earliest portion of this time frame. The violin player wears a black coat, pants, and hat, and black oilcloth shoes. He retains his trailing “f” Steiff button in his left ear. This doll plays a wooden violin and holds a bow in one hand. He appears to have some restoration around both ankles. This violin player is most likely based on the character Lempel, the teacher character from the popular book “Max and Moritz.” Steiff made Lempel as a stand alone items in line in two sizes from 1909-1919 overall. Size: The violin player stands about 13” tall; all others are 12” tall. Condition: As noted. Overall good condition with surface dust and light to moderate general losses and wear commiserate with age, type of materials, and manner of construction. Provenance: From an outstanding East Coast collection. 5,000.00 - 10,000.00 M
www.MorphyAuctions.com | June 25, 2016
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