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Nelling, Inc.

F r e n c h   D o l l s

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(Click on photos to enlarge

Rabery & Delphieu Bebe

$3,950.

What a warm face this 24" Rabery and Delphieu bebe has, from her chestnut brown paperweight eyes, lush dark lashes and chocolate brown brows, ripe peach, stained lips of her closed mouth, and contrasting pale bisque with the gentlest of shading on her cheeks.  She seems to have her original, rustic brunette, human hair wig in the original set, pierced ears, and a fully jointed, chunky French composition and wood body with straight wrists.  Her white cotton frock with red accents is of a semi sheer fabric and seems like an original garment from her time. 

  On her head rests an impressive bonnet whose construction and abundant trim give it an impressive height.   Her socks and luxurious leather, lace up shoes are antique. The anitque, white cotton frock with red accents is of a semi sheer fabric and seems like an original garment from her time.  On her head rests an impressive bonnet whose construction and frothy trim give it an impressive height.  Her socks and luxurious leather, lace up shoes are antique.

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Mysteriously Rare SFBJ 243 Character

$850.

SFBJ is known for its wide range of French character dolls, most of which can be researched and studied in numerous books and articles.  In this situation, we have an incised mold number (243) that is listed on the mold roster in the noted SFBJ book by Theimer, but there is no information, description or photo provided for that number.  Was it a prototype that did not make it to production or a doll specially commissioned that wasn’t sold a part of the regular product line?  Whatever the answer, it is the ultimate RARE mold that not only raises questions and the compulsion for further study, but it definitely provides a darling addition to your cabinet of elusive dolls.  She does have a left forehead factory hairline.

 This tiny 9" character has ocean blue glass set eyes, peeking out from her chubby peachy bisque face, closed mouth and wears and antique, human hair long wig on top of her cork pate.  It’s also pleasing to see the wonderful quality and condition of the fully jointed French composition SFBJ body, where no shortcuts were taken despite the diminutive size of the doll.  Wearing an endearing cotton print dress with pleated skirt, under a white cotton pinafore with eyelet detail that matched the detail on the layers of cotton undergarments, this girl is a little gem.  Not to mention the tiny, high quality, antique French leather bebe shoes and Jumeau-type antique rust crocheted stockings.  A real find!

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Heartwarming Early Steiner Gigoteur

SOLD
The moment I laid eyes on this 18" doll, peering at me from a cabinet in a Parisian shop, I knew I was going to bring her home.  Already being a lover of the early Steiner Gigoteur, she is truly the sweetest one ever in my arms, from her smaller size, to her brilliant beauty and her unquestionable originality.  Her vibrant, blue enamel eyes are so alive and her painting quite gentle, being from somewhere around the pre-1880, or mid-era of gigoteur production.

 She has an open mouth with tiny teeth, pale bisque with soft tint, and her original mohair skin wig, still retaining the pink ribbon and side bows that frame her forehead.  The flange-type bisque head is mounted on the wire armature, heavy cardboard/ paper mache and leather covered body that encases the ingenious mechanism that brings her to life. Her arms and lower legs are of rose tinted composition and you can see hints of the typical purple coloring of the inner body.  When the gold-toned key on her left hip is wound briskly, and the lever is released, her head pivots from side to side, her arms move up and down, and her legs subtly kick, while she clearly cries “Mama” AND “Papa”!   Thus she adopted the name of the crying, kicking Steiner.   

The thick woven cotton gown she wears has fine detailing and closures, and the workmaship is continued into the matching coat and cape included.  There is even a white pique bib with gold metal :Baby: pin, she wears cotton woven stockings and she has a snug, antique lace bonnet that fits perfectly over her head.  She can stand or sit, and she also loves to lie down or even better, to be held!

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Etienne Denamur Bebe

$3,250.

Looking like a close relative of  the other French bebe on the site by R.D., this lovely brown-eyed 21" girl by Etienne Denamur has the same cozy aura with her very similar features and coloring.  Her warmly-hued, paperweight eyes have the dark, lush lashes and feathered brown brows, full, peach-toned lips and a closed mouth, and pristine pale bisque with the hint of even, overall shading on the cheeks. 

The auburn brown human hair wig is antique and luxurious, she has pierced ears and a fully jointed, chunky French composition and wood body with straight wrists.  Her antique French frock is of fine cotton, with a dramatic, oversized collar that surrounds her shoulders and her antique straw hat is accented with antique millinery flowers.  For footwear, she sports a pair of antique, lace-up leather boots.

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Bru Jne R Walker

11"
Diminutive Size Bebe

SOLD

Here is a super small, French bebe that really wants to play!  No being limited to standing on a shelf for her, as she is a tiny Bru Jne R bebe who is also a walker with a special body, whose the legs are moved forward and back, tin a walking motion..  She has shy blue, paperweight eyes, a closed mouth with full painted lips, creamy bisque, pierced ears and a vintage French human hair wig. 

Her arms and legs are the one-piece type to allow for the walking motion, however the wrists are jointed for extra posing.  You can see the walking machanism at the sides of the hips, peeking out from the original cotton bloomers that are secured on to the body.  The lace adorned frock and matching big bonnet are made with antique fabric and trims, the socks are antique and so are the side-button, leather boots.

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Luminous Jumeau Portrait Bebe

$6,850.

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.

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Bru Jne 5 on Chevrot Body

16"
Antique Costume of the Orient

$29,500.
With the influx of Asian influence in 19th century Europe, it is no surprise that it would inspire the presentations of antique dolls, such as with this luscious Bru Jne. 5 bebe. Everything from furniture, art, music, home décor accents and fabrics, jewelry and fashion offered examples having Asian themes, prints, patterns and accents. And that is clearly visible with her antique Chinese silk costume with jumpsuit, embroidered robe, hat and platform silk shoes, all displaying colorful fabrics, motifs and trims genuinely Asian.

 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.

Her lovely bisque hands in their ballerina pose are perfect and on her chest is her original, Bru Jne factory label, still very intact! The era in which this Bru was made is about the time that Casimir Bru introduced the elusive Asian featured Bru Jne, and these brown-eyed examples with traditional Bru Jne. features were also offered in the costumes of the Orient.

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Pair of French Children and Sheep in Original Box

$2,850.

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!

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Patriotic Candy Container

15 1/2"
In Original "Louvre Dept. Store Box"

$950.

Wearing what appears to be a wartime service or nurse costume, we have an SFBJ bisque head with an almost cornflower blue paperwight eyes and open mouth with teeth, on a limbless body that serves as a large candy container. Her costume, dating during World War I, is of light wool in cream and an orange-red, while underneath is the cylindrical cardboard storage box for anything from sweets to anything else that will stay hidden until needed!

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.

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More French Dolls go to page 2

nellingdolls@gmail.com

Post Office Box 4327  n   Burbank, CA 91503

      Cell (818) 738-4591   n Home Phone (818) 562-7839 

Don't forget to look at the Miscellaneous page!

 home ] [ about us ] [ accessories ] [ all bisques ] [cloth dolls] [ early ]  [ fashion dolls ] [ french dolls ] [ furniture ] [ german dolls ] [ misc. dolls ] [ policies ] [clothing]