This is the rare 12 1/2" Fany (actually about 12.25", to be exact), mold #230 -- the non-wigged version -- by Armand Marseille.

He is marked: "Fany 230 A.3.M." and "D.R.M.R. 248/1" (What you see on the left side of the neck, diagonally, is the "DRMR" and "248/1."  That is not an artist signature; it is the correct Marseille marking for this original 1912 Fany doll.)

According to the experts at Theriault's: "Marseille, circa 1912; the model was inspired by the 16th century Francois Duquesnoy sculpture of a young child.... Enchanting doll, whose rarity and historical significance are rivaled by finest sculpting and bisque..."  Of course, one twist Theriault's neglected to mention is that Armand Marseille actually copied (or, shall we say, outright plagiarized?) Käthe Kruse -- who first marketed her signature little boy doll in the early 1910s -- modeled after Duquesnoy.  But imitation is the finest (if not the most sincere) form of flattery, right?

Whatever his conception, though ... he is a sweet character doll with closed mouth, full cheeks, and downcast pouty lips.  He has a solid-dome bisque head with darling little blue glass sleep eyes, painted lashes, single-stroke eyebrows, and lightly-painted, sculpted boyish blond hair.  He is wonderfully modeled, with the highly-characterized features you expect in Marseille's high-end character dolls.

Best of all -- which you do not always see, even when this rare doll does come up for sale -- is that he's on his original Fany body with slant hips, curled fingers, and those distinctive, unusual cloth shoulders.

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PLEASE READ: NOTE ABOUT THIS DOLL'S ORIGINAL BODY
Some visitors to our store questioned why this rare doll has an unusual body -- with cloth upper arms as described above -- when they have found other examples of the Fany 230 doll with more "normal" bodies. The answer is that Armand Marseille ONLY used this unusual body on the 12.5" model, NOT on the other sizes of Fany dolls they produced. If you do see a 12.5" Fany 230 with a "normal" body, be aware that the body has been replaced, which renders that doll much less valuable, of course. The true original body for this size Fany 230 will have these special cloth upper arms. If you have questions, please send us a message. We are always GLAD to discuss our dolls, our listings, and any questions you may have! Thank you.
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He is dressed in the cutest outfit with overalls, Tom Sawyer straw hat, and his homemade bamboo fishing pole complete with fish.

This is a fine specimen of the rare 12.5" Fany, and he displays fabulously.  Fany has such a wistful face, -- a wonderful character doll that is highly sought after.

NOTE: The BOAT is a photo prop -- not included -- though he does come with his outfit, hat, and fishing pole!