THE ISLAND OF NOD PORCELAIN DOLL - NATHAN FROM A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES COLLECTION

OVERVIEW:
THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF A LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTIBLE PORCELAIN DOLL PRODUCED BY THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST RESPECTED DOLL MANUFACTURERS. THE DOLL REPRESENTS NATHAN, THE CENTRAL CHARACTER FROM 'THE ISLAND OF NOD,' A POEM FROM ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S BELOVED 1885 COLLECTION A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES. THIS DOLL WAS PART OF THE INAUGURAL RELEASE IN THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES' A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES DOLL COLLECTION, A SERIES DESIGNED TO BRING STEVENSON'S TIMELESS CHILDREN'S POETRY TO LIFE THROUGH FINE PORCELAIN CRAFTSMANSHIP.

SPECIFICATIONS:

MAKER AND AUTHENTICATION:
- MANUFACTURER: THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES, A DIVISION OF RUSS BERRIE AND COMPANY
- ARTIST: JEANNE SINGER (SCULPTOR AND PAINTER)
- EDITION NUMBER: 5799B
- CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY: SIGNED BY BOTH JEANNE SINGER (ARTIST) AND DONALD JAMES (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES)
- PRODUCTION PERIOD: LIMITED EDITION ISSUED WITH A FINAL PRODUCTION DATE OF DECEMBER 31, 1992, AFTER WHICH ALL MOULDS FOR THIS DOLL WERE DESTROYED AND NO FURTHER PORCELAIN WOULD EVER BE CAST

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:
- PRIMARY MATERIAL: HAND-CRAFTED AND HAND-PAINTED PORCELAIN FOR HEAD, HANDS, AND FEET
- CLOTHING: AUTHENTIC RED TARTAN PLAID SHIRT WITH PERIOD-APPROPRIATE STYLING
- SECONDARY DETAILS: LACE TRIM ACCENTS ON SLEEVES
- ARTICULATION: POSEABLE LIMBS WITH FABRIC BODY CONSTRUCTION
- STAND: INCLUDED CLEAR PLASTIC DISPLAY STAND

DIMENSIONS:
- HEIGHT: APPROXIMATELY 50 CM (19.5 INCHES)

CONDITION ASSESSMENT:
THIS DOLL REMAINS IN EXCEPTIONAL, MUSEUM-QUALITY CONDITION. THE PORCELAIN IS ENTIRELY FREE FROM CHIPS, CRACKS, HAIRLINE FRACTURES, OR CRAZING. THE HAND-PAINTED FACIAL FEATURES ARE SHARP AND VIBRANT, WITH NO FADING OR PAINT LOSS. THE ORIGINAL FACTORY FINISH ON ALL PORCELAIN COMPONENTS REMAINS PRISTINE AND UNALTERED. THE TARTAN PLAID SHIRT AND LACE TRIM SHOW NO WEAR, STAINING, OR FADING, REMAINING IN UNWORN CONDITION. ALL ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PRESENT AND UNDAMAGED. THE DOLL REMAINS IN ITS ORIGINAL RETAIL PACKAGING WITH PROTECTIVE PLASTIC WRAPPING INTACT AROUND THE LOWER BODY AND LEGS, INDICATING IT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY STORED AND NEVER DISPLAYED OR HANDLED EXTENSIVELY.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
THIS DOLL REPRESENTS THE FIRST ISSUE IN THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES' AMBITIOUS A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES COLLECTION, INSPIRED BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S 1885 CLASSIC POETRY COLLECTION. THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION INCLUDES BOTH THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY AND AN INFORMATIONAL CARD FEATURING THE COMPLETE TEXT OF 'THE ISLAND OF NOD' POEM, WHICH READS IN PART: "FROM BREAKFAST ON THROUGH ALL THE DAY / AT HOME AMONG MY FRIENDS I STAY; / BUT EVERY NIGHT I GO ABROAD / AFAR INTO THE LAND OF NOD."

THE PRODUCTION WAS STRICTLY LIMITED, WITH ALL MOULDS DESTROYED ON DECEMBER 31, 1992, ENSURING THAT NO ADDITIONAL DOLLS IN THIS EDITION WOULD EVER BE MANUFACTURED. THIS DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION OF PRODUCTION MATERIALS IS A HALLMARK OF THE ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES' COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE EXCLUSIVITY AND COLLECTIBILITY OF THEIR LIMITED-EDITION RELEASES.

COLLECTIBILITY:
ASHTON-DRAKE GALLERIES DOLLS FROM THE EARLY 1990S, PARTICULARLY FIRST-ISSUE PIECES FROM NAMED COLLECTIONS, HAVE DEMONSTRATED STRONG COLLECTOR DEMAND AND APPRECIATION. THIS EXAMPLE BENEFITS FROM ITS PRISTINE CONDITION, COMPLETE ORIGINAL PACKAGING, FULL DOCUMENTATION, AND THE ARTISTIC REPUTATION OF SCULPTOR JEANNE SINGER. THE LITERARY CONNECTION TO ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S ENDURING CLASSIC ADDS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE BEYOND THE DOLL ITSELF.



Item Size: Height: 15cm, Width: 40cm, Depth: 22cm, Weight: 2Kg

Condition: Excellent

221420+10

Location of item: 69 Manchester Road, Carrara, QLD, Australia

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