Of the countless examples seen over the decades of the French cartoon character, Becassine, this version is so special in its unusual quality and construction.  Made in approximately 1900, she has a head of composition or paper mache, with a solid dome and a hole on the top. 

The original costume and chapeau of this glorious Bru Teteur (13") are so satisfying as they make an already outstanding doll stand apart even more.  She is the Teteur or “Nursing Bru”, patented with an ingenious metal mechanism in her head cavity that, when the outer handle is turned, squeezes the rubber bulb inside to expel whatever liquid she consumed.  To enable the supposed act of drinking or nursing, the Bru bebe has an open mouth to accommodate her bottle.  This is the only feature on this doll that is different from the early Bru bebes, as she has the paperweight eyes in rich brown, the gentlly stroked brows and lashes, youthful full cheeks, pale bisque with even shading, and a swivel neck attached to her bisque shoulder plate. 

Designed in 1925 by the French doll maker Poulbot for Roullet and Decamps, we have a very rare character named “Tata”.  Similar to the bisque Poulbot doll, she is a French character, key wound automaton (14 1/2") having wire armature but with a molded paper mache head that is exuberant in expression and color.   Her blue glass eyes play against her colorful cheeks and broad smile. 

She holds a small bisque baby, is original from head to toe, and when wound, amusingly rocks the baby from side to side, stepping forward, as her head sways right and left.  The mechanism works well, and she retains her original “RD” key.  There was also a boy mate made for her in similar fashion, named Toto.

The very strawberry blond, human hair wig has age and the body is a fine quality, chunky French composition body with jointed wrists.  Expertly dressed in antique fabrics and trim as a Pierrot or clown, no detours were taken, even with the matching satin slippers with black pom poms that are repeated throughout the costume.  A rarely seen type of theatrical character doll.

There is something about an all original doll that is intriguing, no matter the maker or the rarity.  Just the costume on this petite, Unis SFBJ, bisque head doll with painted features and five-piece composition body earns admiration, as she wears it as she has from day one of her production.  Depicting a girl of a country region of France, she is a study of late 19^th century rural costume and home life.  She could be a finishing touch in a small garden or outdoor setting with maybe a little lamb or two by her side! 

The special charm of beholding a small French bebe is provided with this 12” Portrait Jumeau, an early bebe in the Jumeau line that preceded the early E.J.   The two can be very similar in look, which happened often during the transitional periods between the evolving molds.  She has innocent, blue spiral paperweight eyes, a rose colored, closed mouth, lightly tinted lashes and multi-stroke brows, pierced ears, and the palest of peach-toned facial color.  The eight-ball, French composition body with straight wrists bears the Jumeau Medaille d’Or stamp on the back. Her blond mohair wig is antique as are her socks and French leather shoes.

The Jumeau portrait bebe went through a brisk evolution of looks in a very short period of time, being the first half of the 1880's. This fresh-faced girl (16")  is from the second series of about 1883 and you can see the refinement that took place with her very symmetrical and balanced features. She has ocean blue paperweight eyes, a closed mouth in pale rose, and smooth, even pale bisque with gentle shading and decoration. Her mohair wig is a very nice replacement, her ears are pierced and she has her cork pate, but not the Jumeau "screwgle" type attachment.

The chunky, marked Jumeau eight-ball body is jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, and has straight wrists. It looks like the arms and legs have an old repaint that has developed its own patina. She wears and antique, pale grey-blue frock of silk with lace trim that is gathered all around the lowered waist. Her undergarments are antique as is her flower-adorned, woven straw hat.

 Even the original antique wig that is part of the costume is made of strong, black human hair that is loosely styled, allowing the long locks to fall from the shoulders. She is also shown with an antique, blond mohair wig that she keeps to the side in case she needs it for a future extra outfit. She has warm brown paperweight eyes, lush lashes and finely stroked brows on a molded brow bone, creamy bisque with appealingly shaded cheeks and a closed mouth, in a delicate rose hue with fine outlining of the lips. She has pierced ears with the right earring hole having a chip. As Chevrot bodies go, hers is outstanding in condition and cleanliness of her leather torso, leather over wood upper arms, leather over metal armature upper legs and wood lower legs and carved feet.

Still mounted in their original, glass top presentation box is this delightful pair of 7” dolls, a girl and boy, dressed in fancy shepherds costumes of the eighteenth century. The dolls have bisque heads, hands and lower legs, glass eyes and closed mouths, with bodies of firmly stuffed cloth and of course their clothing is original right up to their satin-covered staffs and opulent chapeaux. 

On the pasture with them are four paper mache and wood, fleece covered toy sheep. Still secured in this original display, they have never been played with, therefore in mint condition!

Recently purchased in Paris, she is contained in her original store box with a large label on the lid that reads “Louvre” which was a thriving department store in her day and is still open on Rue de Rivoli. Quite an unusual piece in remarkable original condition! $950.