is this an 18th cent Limbach figurine? Their marks seem to vary a bit.

I guess my basic question is does it look 18th cent. and german or more like 19th cent. and english. thanks.

 

What's going on with the head? Looks like it's been heavily restored.

I'm not getting an 18th C vibe. Uneasy about the pastel colors.

 

Hello moreother: thanks for your time and expertise those were useful comments. Consider this example its said to be Limbach from 18th cent. there's a pontil on the bottom and a tap hole right near it that seems similar to my item. The mark on this one is faint and seems to be thinner, so maybe its different. Also the hair on this one is very finely constructed:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/730340...5cEt4WmxYYkhQZmc0REE5NUxDdyZ0PUFBQUFBR0J2Z3dv

 

That's not a pontil scar on the bottom. It's probably a stilt mark - stilts being bits of ceramic used to support other ceramic pieces in the kiln. Pontil rods are used in glass making.

But the colors match yours, so assuming that listing to be correct, it's a hopeful sign. Limbach is a place: the maker would be Gotthelf Greiner. Rontgen shows enough Greiner marks to show that there was a lot of variation. The mark on yours could fit.

This looks very off on both modeling and color:

 

I agree, it looks like someone made a replacement. I don't mean to be rude, but reminds me of those 'art restorations' by Spanish furniture makers.

 

You're not rude. I am learning so much.

Thanks so much for all your comments. The head looks so bad. I guess I should get the Roentgen book, I could not form a definite conclusion from the paid data base I was using although I still like the data base. The head: not so much.

moreother: what other reference works do you recommend? you seem highly knowledgeable.

 

Lots of people have Rontgen here.

It's a beautiful figurine. Maybe you can find someone local to have a look and give an opinion on what's happened to that head. Maybe nothing. Maybe I'm misreading the photo. If it's a restoration, someone thought enough of it to put in the effort.

 

when looking at a certain factory figure, to begin with, it helps to establish which sort/shape of base the figure is standing on ( round ,square other) pertaining to that manufacturer. Then the next is to look at the gilding as 18thc gilding is a lot different to 19thc gilding. When you have settled on both of these then look at the mark and these can be found as suggested above. This figure is not 18thc, unfortunately.

 

NOrman: I have no doubt you have good reason to say that. On what basis though? What strikes you as not 18th cent? to me the base seems very similar to the one that I linked that was on etsy. The colors also seem similar. The hair seems way different for sure, but the fine decoration on the dress also seems similar to the etsy one.

SO it would be helpful to know on which basis you believe its not 18th cent.

 

These are quite large by the way, the first one about 12.5" and the one on etsy is also about 12 or 13" if I recall.