A Kammer & Reinhardt 108 dating to 1909 has set a new doll auction record at Bonhams' Fine and Rare Character Dolls sale in London.

The bisque head character doll realised £242,500 ($395,510), beating its £80,000 ($130,000) estimate by 203.1% on September 24.

Kammer & Reinhardt were founded in Germany in 1886 and operated until 1932

It achieved a 31.8% increase on the previous record, set at $300,000 for an Albert Marque doll at Theriault's last year.

The present lot is thought to be unique, hence its phenomenal success at yesterday's auction. It resembles models 103 and 109 but displays entirely different facial features.

Bonhams commented: "This doll has unique pierced ears and a more adult expression than the other dolls, capturing a striking portrait of a young lady.

"No other example of this doll is known. It is therefore possible that she was an experimental mould.

"[It] was secured by a bidder in the room who got a round of applause from fellow buyers."

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