RARE Early LENCI Felt Doll OPIUM SMOKER 12\" Logo Doll
![RARE Early LENCI Felt Doll OPIUM SMOKER 12\](img-large/g/B8UAAOSwl9BWLW8O/s-l1600/RARE-Early-LENCI-Felt-Doll-OPIUM-SMOKER-12-Logo-Do.jpg "RARE Early LENCI Felt Doll OPIUM SMOKER 12\"){kind=logo}
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
RARE Early LENCI Felt Doll OPIUM SMOKER 12\" Logo Doll:
$325.00
* * * EARLY LENCIOPIUM SMOKER * * *
1922 Logo Doll
Rarest of the Rare
This sale is for one of the earliest and most unusual of Lenci characters. He is called \"The Opium Smoker\" and is shown in Dorothy Coleman\'s 1977 book \"Lenci Dolls” on pages 12, 13 and 15 in advertisements for “Lenci di E. Scavini.”The ads appeared originally in Playthings magazine in 1922 and the Opium Smoker is sometimes called the \"Logo Doll\"because he accompanied ads for all new models of dolls created by the company.
The Opium Smoker is just 12” tall. He has a wonderfully molded little face with a serene, almost sleepy expression with closed eyes as he sublimely contemplates his opium pipe.
His pursed lips are ready for the next puff!
His hair is pulled taut away from his high forehead and ends in a large topknot capped with a little conical hat. A thin 7” long braid called a queue snakes down his back.
He has comical little hands with fingers on the left hand separated like a starfish and fingers on the right hand curled to hold the pipe between thumb and forefinger and then balanced between the second and third fingers.
His arms are slightly bent at the elbows and held at his sides.
He has a hard felt-covered torso with a large, funny, round protruding belly that looks like he has just pushed away from the dinner table after having a huge meal!
His head, arms and legs and legs are moveable, making him completely posable. He has large, prominent double-felt applied ears.
He is dressed in an unusual all-felt outfit consisting of a pale yellow jacket with a kind of peplum composed of six large petal-like flaps, all trimmed with turquoise edging and abstract characters. Wrist-length orange sleeves peek out from the elbow-length sleeves of the jacket.
Black pantsembellished with large orange pinwheel-like designs on both front and back legs, belly and butt complete the outfit.
He wears his original turquoise footwear with yellow soles.
And amazingly, he still carries his original 7” long wooden opium pipe. That this delicate prop has survived through the years without being lost or broken is unbelievable.
Condition: The Opium Smoker, with his arched brows, deeply lidded closed eyes, and puffy little jowls, is adorable and one of Lenci’s most lovable creations. He is precious as is, but he does have some flaws.
His face is all original and unretouched but there are a few nicks in the felt. There is some slight paint loss to his parted lips.
There is overall surface dust on his face and clothing, a nibble on the top of his right hand, and some pinholes on his jacket and hat.
His slippers have suffered the most felt loss, and there is a ½” area of damage on his right sleeve.
This precious doll is a must for anyone who is trying to assemble a complete collection of all the wonderful Lenci characters and models. Does let this imaginative design get away!
Please check my other sales this week for more fun items.
Thanks for looking and happy offerding!
.
RARE Early LENCI Felt Doll OPIUM SMOKER 12\" Logo Doll:
$325.00