FRENCH BISQUE

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Charming and rarely found in the closed mouth version is this 15” ( 38cm ) French bebe, incised only “ DEP 6 “, a very late 19th-very early 20th Century creation by the Franco-German collaborative firm of Fleischman-Bloedel, and the remainders of what had been the solely-French “S.F.B.J. “ conglomerate of private French firms, and in particular Jumeau which continued to market dolls under the Jumeau name despite it now being just a part of this newer ensemble. During this so-called “FB “ period, many of the bisque heads were outsourced for production to Simon & Halbig in Germany, but then assembled in France on French bodies, clothing, and French fashion styles of the day. One also often finds these dolls marked “DEP “, some with closed mouth heads, and ( more predominantly ), open mouth heads dressed and contained within Jumeau packing presentation boxes wearing recognized Jumeau floral chemises and fully marked “ Jumeau “ shoes as well. Despite the bi-national behind -the- scenes workings of this new iteration, all of these dolls were sold as “ French Dolls “. This beautiful smaller than average model, obviously has the rarer and more highly regarded closed mouth with huge bulbous blue paperweight eyes, a delicately painted mouth with hint of a smile, feathered eyebrows, tiny lashes, and pierced earlobes. The unmarked fully articulated wood and composition body with straight wrists is French and similar to many Jumeau bodies of the day with perhaps a slightly increased proportion of wood than the marked Jumeaux. The patina is original. She is most elegantly presented in an elaborate 1890’s-style one piece costume of various shades of olive colored silk overlapping panels and a huge bow at back of waist. The wide collar and upper chest panel are of an elegant, ruffled peach-pink silk brocade collar, enhanced by tiny brass buttons and lace trim, as well as wonderful heavy pink knit socks. The antique brown leather shoes with ankle straps and silk ribbon bows are almost identical to the “ Tete Jumeau “ type only without the Jumeau markings on the soles. The short blond French mohair wig with bangs is original and covers the old cork pate. Completing the ensemble is an elaborate antique bonnet made of silk and velvet, highlighting colors that are well-coordinated with the dress with lots of colorful silk ribbon bows. A delightful rarely found doll in a very desirable smaller size!…………………..US$ 2,950. 

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Lovely and hard to find 14” ( 35cm ) French Bisque Bebe made by Jumeau, but specifically as a unique mold and model to be sold by the Louvre Department Store in Paris circa 1890. She is incised “ B 5 L “ with no stamps or marks on the fully articulated French wood and composition body, also made by Jumeau and painted with a slightly more ‘” pinkish “ finish than the “ Tete Jumeaux “ of the same era to lend a slightly different look. When observing the facial modeling closely, one can detect a distinctly more narrow construction in the cheek area in particular. She has beautiful blue paperweight eyes, a closed mouth with well painted brows and lashes, and has pierced earlobes. The head is attached to the body by the original coil spring and maintains the original finish but with some overall paint crazing and minor flakes as is typical of the dolls produced by Jumeau in this period. The clothing consists of lovely costume made of all antique fabrics with ivory silk pleated skirt with fancy lace overlay covering all but the skirt, simple cotton and lace knickers, old antique knit stockings, and white leather shoes ( old, but not as old as the doll itself ). The wig is antique French light brown human hair with bangs exhibiting slight auburn highlights. The French pate is antique hard composition; the old ivory straw hat has pink ribbons and cloth flowers decorations. A most attractive and seldom found doll in a size still small enough to most to still qualify as a “ cabinet -size “ bebe…………….US$ 2,750. 

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 Although indeed typical of her era, this particular cabinet size ( 15”, 39cm ) French closed mouth bebe has an exceptionally pretty face and a great amount of appeal on all levels. As expected , her head is stamped in red in back “ DEPOSE TETE JUMEAU Bte S.G.D.G. 6 “ ( and some red artist checkmarks/initials ), and her all- original French fully articulated wood and composition body is stamped in blue “ Jumeau Medaille d’Or PARIS “. She has excellent quality bisque with well painted lips, lovely bulbous brown paperweight eyes, multistroke arched brows, and tiny upper and lower lashes; earlobes of the realistically modeled ears are pierced. Although stringing is tight and probably original, there is no coil spring inside the head. Body finish appears mostly original with only some understandable age- wear mostly at joints as well as a few tiny spots of repaint on a few fingers. She has been beautifully re-costumed in a one-piece pleated antique burgundy silk dress with antique ecru lace overlay and trim, and brocade ribbon sash on left at waist. The shoes are antique black leather, socks are white crocheted. Covering the original cork pate is a curly antique mohair wig with bangs. Completing the clothing is a simple but appropriate wide brimmed straw hat with single silk ribbon and garland of cloth flowers. A very nice doll indeed; offered reasonably at only……………………………RESERVED.

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 Unusually tall ( 22 ½” , 56cm ) French Character boy, circa 1910-1914, with head incised “ SFBJ 237 Paris 8 “, having well molded and painted hair, a smiling expression exhibiting four molded upper teeth, and a very slight opening between the teeth and the upper lip. As is customary with this series, he has fixed light brown glass eyes, tiny well- painted upper and lower lashes, separately molded upper eyelids, and multi-stroke enameled lashes. He is on his original good quality French wood and composition fully articulated body with very good original finish. He is appropriately costumed in a two- piece navy blue wool schoolboy’s outfit with knee-length trousers, an open- neck jacket with brass buttons, and an attached black ribbon tie. Beneath the coat is a hand crocheted sweater-shirt with big lapels at collar, with an additional white cotton shirt underneath. The wonderful tiny knit argyle stockings are well coordinated with two-toned antique canvas period shoes. As the trousers are permanently sewn around the torso and legs, as well as the lower sleeves of the white shirt sewn securely at the wrists, we are unable to show him entirely undressed. You can be assured nonetheless that the covered body parts are in the same condition to visible parts on hands and lower legs. An impressive doll of fine quality waiting for a collector to purchase to ( hopefully ) reunite him with his similarly designed SFBJ 238 “ sister “, whose only difference is that she has a cut head with a wig, whereas the 237 obviously does not……………………US$ 1,450. 

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Classic and extremely beautiful 19” ( 48cm ) Jumeau bebe with bisque head stamped in red “ Depose Tete Jumeau 8 “ ( as well as some red artist’s initials ) with bulbous brown paperweight glass eyes, well painted lashes and multi-stroke arched brows, a softly painted closed mouth with the illusion of a space between the lips, pierced earlobes, and mounted on the original fully jointed French wood and composition body with a rectangular paper sticker on the small of the back torso reading “FRANCE “. The paint finish is perhaps a slightly bit richer in color than usual but original and overall in good condition with a few specks of peeling ( primarily on upper right leg ). She does not have a coil spring attachment at the neck. She is beautifully costumed and a cream horizontally ribbed antique brocade two -piece dress with big bow on back of jacket and beautiful lace overlay on the skirt. Shoes are antique “ Jumeau-style “ leather with ankle straps, socks are antique black knit, and atop her head a stunning bonnet in similar style and fabrics corresponding with rest of costume. Covering the original cork pate she wears a fabulous long dark blond curly mohair wig with bangs. The head has no hairlines or restorations, just a slight firing separation outlining back right ear where it joins the back of the head. A LOVELY DOLL!!! ……..  RESERVED.

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Adorable little smiling 7” ( 18cm ) boy with stationary blue glass eyes, open mouth with upper teeth, wearing an all original French regional costume including wide brim hat. He wears the original curly human hair wig, and, is on the original five -piece papier-mache body with molded and painted shoes. The head is fully incised “ S.F.B.J 301 PARIS 5/0 “. It is becoming harder and harder to find truly all original dolls and this boy does not disappoint!……………………………US$ 165.