This luscious lady, barely glad in a gold bra top, has been dubbed "Mata Hari" by collectors, although there is very little resemblance between this ravishing redhead and the famed courtesan and failed spy.
Her reddish hair, sultry amber eyes surrounded by smoky gray shading, and the elongated graceful hands are all characteristics of her creator, the German firm of Fasold and Stauch.
As big as she is beautiful, at 5.25 inches high and 5 inches wide, she is of excellent china and incised faintly incised "5905" on her lower back.
The Belgium firm, Mundial, under the name Keralouve, produces several modern versions of this half doll harem lady, with a gold or silver bra, as well as with a parrot perched on her left hand, but frankly they are all are just crude copies of the wonderful original. The Mundial models are not marked as reproductions, but because they were taken from the mold of the authentic antique, they carry a faint impression of the mold number. Unfortunately, these knockoffs have found their way into flea markets, antiques shows, and online venues where they are often offered as old. Although very poorly painted and modeled, the modern reproductions are just good enough to fool a collector or dealer who has not had the opportunity to see the antique original.
