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Nelling, Inc.

F r e n c h   D o l l s

page  1, 2

(Click on photos to enlarge)

First Period Jumeau E.J. Bebe $9800.

The early, first period Jumeau E.J. bebe with the incised mark on the back of her head of an "8" over "E J".  This doll was born just after the Jumeau portrait bebe, and the two models often look like each other, with outgoing and incoming design getting combined on the production line.  The one resounding description of Jumeau's early dolls is the word "gentle", which can be applied to the painting of her features, the cut of her soulful, brown paperweight eyes, and the soft complexion of her pale bisque.

Inside her head is the original coil "screwgle" that firmly mounts her head to her sturdy, chunky early French body.  It is stamped with the Jumeau mark on the lower back, is jointed at the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees with floating or loose balls, and has its original finish and patina except for some retouch on the right lower leg.

Her costume is such a unique representation of Victorian child style, being a fully knitted frock of teal blue wool, covering the back closure buttons,  joining with a brimmed, knitted cap of the same yarn, and charming, cozy leg warmers or knee length spats that cover her signed E. Jumeau factory shoes.  Completing the wintery ensemble is a Jumeau, fawn wool coat with cape collar and a hand-warming muff with crimson silk lining.

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Jumeau E.7 J. Bebe $5450.

A beautiful E.J. Jumeau from the middle period of production, just marked on the back of the head with "E7J" and having the luscious appeal that we love from this era of the E.J. line.  She has big, blue paperweight eyes with lush, deep taupe brows, sweeping lashes, apricot stained lips and a pair of pale peach blushed cheeks.  Her antique, blond mohair wig is abundant with bangs and cascading curls, falling around her pierced ears and turquoise earrings.

Her Jumeau stamped, chunky French body is jointed at the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees, with its original and lovely finish. It does have two areas of paint missing, one on the left abdomen and one on the rear back.  Her cotton undergarments and crocheted cotton socks are antique, and she wears a peach parfait dress made of antique fabrics, ribbon and netting in soft peach tones that melt together.

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French Character Young Man $995.

There were several firms like Lantenier, Limoge, Huret and Fleischman Bloedel, to name a few, that produced these amusing character faces that lent themselves so well to the theatrical French themes in toys and dolls.  This one (11")  is marked JE Masson, Lorraine, No 20, and is a product of the Limoge factory.  He has painted eyes and molded teeth, a mohair wig and a fully jointed French composition body.  Whether he portrays a magician or a dancer, his original tuxedo and top hat earn him a moment under the spotlight entertaining us, his audience.

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Bru Teteur 13"

Size 2 $7800.

A very young Bru bebe with the Circle Dot head featuring the Teteur open mouth and inside head mechanism that enabled the action of drinking from a bottle.  This done by turning the metal key at the back of the head, applying pressure to the rubber water compartment in the head and allowing the passage of fluid from a special glass bottle.

This lovely example has deep brown paperweight eyes and palest bisque with her original lambskin platinum wig, pierced ears, swivel neck, head and shoulder marked with "2" and a very clean leather body with bisque hands (one patch to leather at top of right leg).  Her infant gown and bonnet are antique cotton and lace with pale blue ribbon accents to compliment the blue underdress, and around her neck is a simple bone teething ring.

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Series C Steiner 12"

Lever Eyes $6975.

A museum treasure that lived at Angel's Attic Miniature and Doll Museum in Santa Monica CA until it was closed in 2017, this 12" Series C Bourgoin Steiner bebe is a keeper.  Not only is she an exquisite, early doll in a petite, cabinet size with the unusual feature of the lever eye mechanism,  she is preserved in her totally original ensemble, undergarments, shoes, wig and purple Steiner pate.

Her midnight blue enamel eyes are connected o a lever at the rear left side of the head that when lifted, opens and closes them.  The eyes are framed with feathery lashes and brows, accented with mauve eye-shadow that complements her soft, rosy cheeks.  She has a closed mouth, pierced ears, and her original long lambskin wig that is still attached to the much appreciated purple cardboard pate, a signature feature of the Steiner firm.

Her fully jointed, straight wrist early body, which is so much fun to pose due to its ingenious, graceful styling, has the exclusive Caduceus stamp on one hip and at the crown rim of her head is the red ink "Sie C Steiner Bourgoin" mark.  She is presented in her completely original outfit of teal velvet trimmed with coffee hued lace that repeats itself throughout the garment and on the matching teal velvet, fancy bonnet.  Even her thin, cotton socks that match the lace in color and leather slippers were probably hers from the start.

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Factory Original Clown 14"

Paper Mache Head SOLD

Several French firms adopted the theatrical charm of the clown by issuing a doll embodying a clown, with reality being taken over by whimsy in makeup, hair and costume and the sky was the limit.  From elaborate cartoon characters and Polichinelles to stage and circus performers, doll makers Huret, Jumeau and Steiner featured some wonderful examples, and lesser firms like Pintel and Gottschalk, Fleichman and Bloedel and later also SFBJ joined the ranks. This colorful fellow is from one of the latter firms and is all original.

He has a heavy paper mache head with porcelain like smoothness, and the painted face features hand drawn insects on the cheeks.  He has blue glass eyes, an open mouth with teeth, and his original curly auburn wig.  He has a five-piece Steiner type body that wears a silk costume of bold, blocked colors, black stockings and slippers a felt hat that just barely rides atop his head. In one photo, he is pictured with his mate currently available on our German page.

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SFBJ "Twirp" 247 ON LAYAWAY

In this larger size of 19 1/2", this SFBJ 247 mold called "Twirp" fills the room with her special brand of French character and personality.  She is a colorful girl with bright blue glass sleep eyes that have perky original eyelashes still intact, rosy cheeks and an open, smiling mouth with deep rouge lips. Her French toddler body with slanted hips has the identifiable, upturned SFBJ big toes, fully jointed articulation and still has its red and blue, round factory sticker on the center back

.  Her original, dark sandy blond human hair wig, reflects the bobbed and wavy style of the 1920's when she was made and she wears a turquoise silk factory dress with a peachy crepe silk, ruched bonnet.  No cuteness was spared with her undergarments as she has darling short bloomers attached to her baby corset with buttons all around, plus a cotton chemise and full slip.

 

more French Dolls go to page 2

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