511 - Antique Putnam "Bye-Lo Baby" Doll Early 20th century Artist/Designer/Manufacturer: Designed by Grace Storey Putnam (American, 1877–1947); porcelain head produced in Germany (typically by J.D. Kestner or Alt, Beck & Gottschalck) for George Borgfeldt & Co. (New York). Materials: Bisque porcelain head, glass sleep eyes, stuffed cloth body, and celluloid or composition hands. Cotton/linen Christening gown and lace bonnet. Marking(s): Back of neck (impressed/incised): "Copr. by / Grace S. Putnam" (partially visible in the neck photo, showing "Copr. by / Grace S. Putnam"). Cataloguer's Notes: Introduced in 1922 and patented in 1923, the "Bye-Lo Baby" was affectionately dubbed the "Million Dollar Baby" due to its astronomical commercial success during the 1920s. Dissatisfied with the idealized, stylized doll faces of the era, American sculptor Grace Storey Putnam visited a hospital to study and model a mold directly after a real, three-day-old newborn infant. The resulting doll features a highly distinct, realistically contoured face with a slight double chin, realistic squinted eyes, a closed mouth, and a flat-topped solid dome head mimicking a newborn hair pattern. While Putnam designed the doll in the United States, production of the high-quality bisque porcelain heads was outsourced to premier factories in Germany. H 15" x W (arms) 10.5"

Antique Putnam "Bye-Lo Baby" Doll Early 20th century Artist/Designer/Manufacturer: Designed by Grace Storey Putnam (American, 1877–1947); porcelain head produced in Germany (typically by J.D. Kestner or Alt, Beck & Gottschalck) for George Borgfeldt & Co. (New York). Materials: Bisque porcelain head, glass sleep eyes, stuffed cloth body, and celluloid or composition hands. Cotton/linen Christening gown and lace bonnet. Marking(s): Back of neck (impressed/incised): "Copr. by / Grace S. Putnam" (partially visible in the neck photo, showing "Copr. by / Grace S. Putnam"). Cataloguer's Notes: Introduced in 1922 and patented in 1923, the "Bye-Lo Baby" was affectionately dubbed the "Million Dollar Baby" due to its astronomical commercial success during the 1920s. Dissatisfied with the idealized, stylized doll faces of the era, American sculptor Grace Storey Putnam visited a hospital to study and model a mold directly after a real, three-day-old newborn infant. The resulting doll features a highly distinct, realistically contoured face with a slight double chin, realistic squinted eyes, a closed mouth, and a flat-topped solid dome head mimicking a newborn hair pattern. While Putnam designed the doll in the United States, production of the high-quality bisque porcelain heads was outsourced to premier factories in Germany. H 15" x W (arms) 10.5" Good condition. Some minor scratches at face. Minimal chip near right eye corner. Unless otherwise stated, all information provided is the opinion of our specialists. Should you have any specific questions regarding the condition of this lot, please use the ask question button or send us an email to info@akibaantiques.com